Scott goal wins sixth Bowl title

Wallace High School

U13s 0

THE Friday finals would prove to be a sterner affair and the U13 side captained by Johnny McKee faced a confident Wallace High School side at their own home patch.

The game started well for the Academy with Farson and Kennedy doing well but any shots created found the Lisburn keeper in fine form.

The defence of Hurst, Armstrong, Rowe and Watt stood firm and Ben Knox in particular simply snuffed out the Wallace threat of Murray who couldn’t find a route through. The threat from simple balls, though, eventually paid off for Wallace when a seemingly high through pass was allowed to continue resulting in a volleyed shot which looked to be looping in over Academy keeper Tom Brown. The U13 number one has been in amazing form this season and his agile reflexes meant he tipped wide the shot to the delight of the Banbridge support.

With minutes remaining in the first half it was time to turn up the heat and the ever reliable and impressive Robert Scott made an immediate impact by smashing home from close in to give the Academy a deserved 1-0 lead on the stroke of half time.

The second period saw Knox again in great form and the burley midfielder enjoyed some great penetrating runs before putting Kennedy, Farson and Scott away on a breakaway. The final pass to Scott saw him round the keeper well, but a heavy touch meant a chase and Wallace regained possession with some solid defending.

The pace and work rate of Reid on the left and Sayers on the right, backed up by some attractive hockey from McKee, helped the Academy take the speed out of the game and McKee at times ran the show by holding up the play in the corners to frustrate the opposition.

Just as it looked like the game had ended a head high ball delivered into the Academy circle went unnoticed and the resulting passage of play led to a fifth Wallace set play. Their earlier slip to the keeper’s left was intelligently worked out by the defensive back four but it needed a superb double save from Tom Brown to send McKee and Farson up the other end to relieve the pressure.

The game ended with scenes of delight from the Academy U13s, another Ulster title, another group of dedicated hockey players coming through the ranks and a sixth Cup for the cabinet.

Team: Tom Brown. Luke Skillen. Andrew Adair. Matthew Hurst. Timothy Watt. David Armstrong. Joshua Rowe. Johnny McKee , Christopher Sayers, Aaron Reid, Ben Knox, Craig Kennedy, Sam Farson, Robert Scott, Scott Donnelly, Luke McAnespie, Luke McCracken, Graeme Smyrl, Aled McCluskey, James Beattie. Coach: Mr Mark Cordner.