South Antrim finish season strongly with a win at PSNI

Wednesday night saw South Antrim Firsts travel to Stormont for their last match of the season, to face a PSNI side that had caused them problems in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

South headed into this game with added confidence following last week’s home victory.

Despite South Antrim’s recent good form, they started the match poorly, in what was to be a scrappy first half. PSNI took the lead 15 minutes into the game.

This was not the start South Antrim had been hoping for; however after the initial shock of going behind faded, the away side began to claw their way back into the game.

Adam Glass and Paul Maguire both forced the PSNI goalkeeper into making good saves as South began to increase the pressure. Before the end of the first half, Adam Glass put South Antrim back on level terms with an expertly taken drag flick from a short corner.

The second half started brightly for South Antrim as they began to play a more attacking, free flowing style of hockey. Ward Phillips and Adam Marshall began to control the game in midfield for the away side, creating chances for Paul Maguire and Nathan Gamble.

Nevertheless, South Antrim finally made the breakthrough halfway through the second half, as Paul Maguire squeezed the ball passed the onrushing goalkeeper following a defence splitting pass from Adam Marshall.

After finally taking the lead, South Antrim began to control the match even more. South were unlucky not to double their lead in the final minutes, after debutant Neil Wilson struck the post with an unorthodox effort from the by-line.

This victory meant South finished their season strongly, with 13 points from their last five matches, helping to set what they hope to be a promising basis for next season.

Big thanks as always to Club Sponsor, Phillips Volkswagen Lisburn.