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League - Saturday 3rd November 2007 14:00 Venue: hENRY JONES

SUPERB SANTOS

Mc Quiston Rec 2  Santos 0      Mirror Amateur League  Div 2B    Sat 3^rd Nov 07

When  28 committed footballers decide to play the game the way it should be played to the level of their ability, fierce and competative but with the absence of malice then a great game is guaranteed. Add a magnificent refereeing performance and you get a classic.  Some weeks ago these two teams played out a turgid game this time it was “the beautiful game”…..possibly the best game Santos have been involved in over 5 years in the Amateur league.

With referee John Lewis letting things flow, yet keeping tight control the game ebbed and flowed magnificently.  Santos sparkled from the start, with “Doc” Doherty at left back delivering a succession of inch perfect passes to the mercurial duo of Brady and Mc Carthy.   On the other flank Gerry Brady was impeccable and when  Paul Brady in awesome form raced clear and whistled a screamer inches wide everyone knew a great game was in prospect.  Then Phil Galbraith for Mc Quiston found his striker with an exquisite pass but Finlay nudged his first timer inches wide.  Mc Cullagh to Mc Carthy and a rasper just over for Santos before Patterson raced clear to test the Santos keeper with a thundering drive.  So it went… tit for tat in excellence.  “Lazio” Mc Carthy , lacking in years of experience, but youthful and willing harried Spencer at the back, won the ball and delivered to Brady on the wing.  Brady’s wonder shot thudded the base of a post rebounding some twenty yards ,such was its ferocity.  .  Then Finlay was inches over the bar from 25 yds. For the Mc Quiston boys.

Not that it was all down to strikers: the midfield trios were battling, probing, passing and supporting: none more so than Paddy Parker holding the anchor role for Santos  and Philip Gilbraith  playing magnificently. in the heart of Mc Qs midfield. Defenders to were having their say  . “Squire “ Maguire was invincible in the air, winning ball after ball as skipper Walker was his usual “ sheet anchor” beside him.

 So little between the sides meant 0-0 was just about right at half time.

 Then a body blow to Santos.  Right from kick off Maguire had one second of a lapse, letting Sammy Patterson get goal side and in a flash the Mc Quiston man had rippled the net with a bullet strike.with  just 10 secs gone on the clock.  Santos came under the cosh for a little as players tired and just as Manager Mc Geehan had his  3 planned substitutes just waiting to come on, a carbon copy goal wrecked the young Candystripes.  Walker, this time, gave the prolific  Lee Finlay a half yard and   Finlay (Mc Qs leading striker) dispatched the goal with precision.  Sticking with the pre arranged plan Mc Geehan immediately introduced fresh legs and a slight change of formation and Santos opened up. Playing blistering, breathtaking football they stormed the Mc Quiston defence. And here Mc Quiston found their matchwinner.   Young Ian Lester in the Mc Quiston goal produced three saves of great class to deny Santos.   First sub O Gorman rose majestically to play Brady in and the young striker blasted the ball but astonishingly Lester parried it away.  Then O Gorman himself rifled a screamer to the top corner only for the amazing Lester to parry this too. Finally  Nigel Stevenson ( on his comeback day after a year out with injury) stole up from R back to smash the ball goalward only to see the acrobatic Lester tip it over.

 But still Santos refused to accept defeat  Brady missed a sitter, Hughes headed a   corner over Lester only for a defender to head away on the line then O Gorman finally beat Lester only for the ball to clip a post and stay out.

  So a great ,great game and two deserved points for the table toppers. A magnificent Santos performance with Michael Mc Cullagh having his greatest game in the famous jersey dominating the whole mid field but the Man Of the Match going to the impeccable referring of John Lewis,   who surely  is destined for top honours.

Manager Mc Geehan was overjoyed, “ The result does not bother me because my faith in the “ beautiful game” has been restored.   Congratulations to all at Mc Quiston in their run to the top and to all the magnificent squad   BRAVO.   But today FOOTBALL was the winner.

Lineup
		Player	Position	Rating	Info
		Seamus Moore	Goalkeeper
		Gerard Brady	Right Back
		Barry Doherty	Left Back
		Liam Maguire	Centreback
		Stephen Walker	Centreback
		Patrick Parker	Defensive Midfielder
		Michael Burns	Attacking Midfielder
		Johnathan Agnew	Left Midfield
		Paul Brady	Striker
		Conor McCarthy	Target Man
		Aaron Harmon	Attacking Midfielder

Substitutes
		Player	Position	Rating	Info
		Nigel Stevenson	Right Back
		Aidan Hughes	Centreback
		Manus O'Gorman	Striker

Man of the Match
		Player	Notes
		Michael Burns	BEST PLAYER ON PITCH BEST EVER SANTOS GAME