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

not pretty But????

Santos3 Kilroot Rec 1 Mirror Amateur League Sat 24^th Nov 07

With the first major downpour of Winter and a pitch cut up badly by the morning matches Santos and Kilroot experienced their first “sticky pudding” surface of the season and it was Kilroot who were happiest at first, in the morass., with their direct style. But Santos remaining true to their passing traditions adapted quickly and only for a litany of missed chances should, at the end, been more comfortable. Early exchanges saw the passes die in the pools of water at halfway, so the Santos full backs Brady and Ossawy struggled to involve their midfield and the strikers were isolated. Kilroot went Route 1 and here Manager Mc Geehan’s best signing of the season Ger Mv Veigh in goals was supreme. Handling impeccably and sweeping up behind the dominant Walker and Maguire he shut up shop on any Kilroot attacks. The game was 7 mins in when Mc Cullagh dispatched a long ball to Paul Brady. The Kilroot keeper Davis misread the youngsters pace and came too late. He got to the ball outside the box but Brady’s challenge robbed him and he netted a superb goal. 15 mins later after intense pressure Aaron Harmon took a pass under pressure from 3 defenders and squirmed past all three before laying back to Brady to gloriously fire to the roof of the net from just inside the box. It appeared that Santos would sweep on to more goals when Kilroot had a slice of luck. As the linesman signalled a Santos throw, in the referee, (as the Santos defenders moved forward to take) reversed the decision. Kilroot took the throw at once and the entire Santos defence was caught as Spencer blasted home. Then Kilroot self destructed as their centre back in a moment of rashness scythed Paul Brady down and the referee adjudged it a red card. So 10 man Kilroot went in 1-2 down at half time.

The second half saw Santos adapt better. Brady was having a marvellous game and the early ball up to him was proving dangerous. Unfortunately Paul had left his shooting boots behind at half time because in spite of his sparkling footwork setting up chances, he spurned 4 open goal chances which would have seen Santos comfortable. Conor “Lazio” Mc Carthy caught the ‘missing bug’ too, when from on the goal line he failed to head Harmon’s inch perfect cross. Now with the pitch cutting badly and Santos tiring, the opportunity was afforded manager Mc Geehan to introduce 3 first class subs. The strength of the squad now meant that there is superb quality available on the bench-- including club captain Joseph Mc Geehan -- the powerful Aidan Hughes -- and the lethal Manus O Gorman. The substitutions worked so well Hughes dominated all the high ball Mc Geehan’s craft and passing expertise and O Gorman’s pace with Brady up front all combined to tear holes in the Kilroot defence. But even more, it released Michael Mc Cullagh to support his two strikers and as Walker played in Brady ,Mc Cullagh charged forward in support and as the ball was laid back, he produced a wonder strike from 30 yds to seal the result. After that O Gorman managed to completely miss from 2 yards and the unfortunate Brady fluffed a penalty which would have given him a deserved hat trick. Significantly the game ended with a superlative save by Mc Veigh at the base of the post from a thundering Kilroot free kick . With Keeper Mc Veigh and Walker sharing Man Of The Match awards it was a good performance, without touching the heady heights of recent weeks, but it shows that this Santos squad can adapt and produce the goods even on surfaces like this.

Next is the 3^rd round Cochrane /Corry Cup tie away to Ardglass a game being relished by all at the club. After knocking out holders Ford and disposing of a talented Wesley side Santos feel this might be their year for the Cup.


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