League Table

1	Bangor Rangers	0	0
2	Annalong Swifts	0	0
3	Kirkcubbin	0	0
4	Queens II	0	0
5	Temple Rangers	0	0
6	Rooftop	0	0
7	Queens Grads	0	0
8	Grange Rangers	0	0
9	Newtownbreda	0	0
10	18th Newtownabbey	0	0
11	McQuiston Rec	0	0
12	Santos	0	0
13	Bangor Swifts	0	0
14	Kilroot Rec	0	0

Santos Ko Cup Holders Ford

The bump of the cup holders falling at the first hurdle may have caused a few gasps in West Belfast but in the South it was more a sigh of appreciation for those who know that Santos on their day are a match for the best.

Knowing the quality and the experience of the opposition, Santos manager Eugene McGeehan opted to counteract it with pace.

A re-shuffled team missing skipper Joseph McGeehan, the influential Paddy Parker and right back Gerry Brady was further hit with the late withdrawal of new keeper James Birch.

The Santos midfield pairing of Johnny Agnew and Michael McCullagh were to prove the two trump cards for Santos.

Backed by the speed of McCormack and McAuley in the wide positions, they harried and hassled the Ford midfield into submission.
Up front Paul Brady was unstoppable and as early as the sixth minute took a magnificent pass from McCullagh on his chest he lobbed the experienced McInhill in the Ford goal only to see his effort drop inches over the bar.

But that only set the scene for the goal of this, or any other season. From a well worked set piece throw in McCormack headed on and Brady outpaced Deccy Burns down the left wing to suddenly cut in and send a delicious cross/shot thudding against the far post and into the net.

The quality of the goal was the tonic Santos needed and McCullagh, McCormack and O’Gorman powered efforts just wide in a sparkling 20 minute period.
Incredibly the self same post was to prove a friend to Santos as twice in the second half it was struck by shots from Ford players only for the ball to rebound out each time.

In the fashion of true champions Ford responded and Kevin Scannell and Alan Smith fashioned chances but Aidan Hughes, restored again as stand-in keeper, was immaculate in his handling and broke Ford hearts.

Stevie Walker too, restored at centre back marshalled the back four to perfection and the pace of the Squire Maguire playing as sweeper mopped up all danger Ford could muster.

HT: 1-0

Paul ‘Kiddo’ Hamilton, just returned to training, was replaced by Bartosz who injected a new element of further pace to worry the Ford rearguard.
Santos continued the brisk one-touch passing and as Byrne dithered in defence Bartosz swooped and dispatched a cool shot into the net.

Five minutes later Bartosz exchanged a one-two with McAuley who sent the perfect ball into the box where three predatory Santos men were swooping in.

Bartosz and McCormack contested the touch and the ball was in the net for the Santos’ third goal, McCormack claiming the plaudits.

Now Ford played their final card of four up front and in an amazing five minutes Santos really should have gone six up as Brady and Bartosz twice failed to roll the ball into a gaping empty net.

Even sub Conor McCarthy missed an open goal with his first touch before Ford finally pulled a goal back. But the fight had gone from the holders and Santos swept on to a famous victory and to the congratulations of the Ford team.

The man of the match performance from Jonny Agnew is one he will remember for many a day. Round two sees Santos face a difficult tie against old rivals Wesley in October while on Saturday Santos travel to Armagh to face Armagh Celtic in Round 1 of the Irish Junior Cup.


Player	Position	Rating	Info
Aidan Hughes	Goalkeeper
Barry Doherty	Left Back
Manus O'Gorman	Right Back
Liam Maguire	Centreback
Stephen Walker	Centreback
Conor McAuley	Right Winger
Conor McCormack	Left Midfield
Michael Burns	Center Midfielder
Johnathan Agnew	Center Midfielder
Paul Hamilton	Forward
Paul Brady	Striker