League - Saturday 27th September 2008 14:00 Venue: Sydenham PF
| Santos | 2-1 | Kirkcubbin |
| Stephen Walker (10), Conor McCarthy (30) | HT ( 2- 0 ) |
Santos turn over Kirkcubbin
Santos went into their second league game of the season on a high after picking up three points in their previous match against Temple Rangers and were hoping for more of the same.
Santos were without inspirational captain Joseph McGeehan, while john ossawy made way for Barry Doherty at left back. Michael Burns and Connor McCormack retained their positions at the heart of the defence and proved once again they are a formidable partnership at the back, this time with Aidan Hughes in betweem the sticks coming back after suspension.
A physically tough Kirkcubbin side came to the Blanchflower Playing Fields determinded to take full points after a high scoring victory over Santos in a pre-season friendly.
The game sarted lively but it was Santos who looked sharper in the opening stages and indeed it was they who drew first blood.
Within ten minutes Santos had the lead through stand-in captain Stephen Walker. Barry Doherty played a delightful ball up to Connor McCarthy who controlled well on the chest.
Walker opened the scoring
A deft drag-back fed Liam Maguire on the left flank. Maguire raced clear to the bye-line and cut the ball back across the box to the oncoming Walker who made no mistake from 14 yards to finish well in the top corner.
An early boost for Santos but Kirkcubbin would not be rolled over so easy. Indeed it was Aidan Hughes' safe hands that kept Santos in the lead with a couple of fine saves.
However, Santos doubled their lead after 30 minutes when Aaron Harmon played a magnificent diagonal pass to the right which fullback Michael kane latched onto.
Kane lined up the shot before squaring the ball to Connor McCarthy who duly curled the ball home.
The first half of pretty football was in short supply in the second.
Kirkcubbin endeavoured to change their fortunes and pressed for a goal but found Hughes in stirring form.
Burns and McCormack were leading the backline immensely but a scramble from a long throw-in almost allowed Kirkcubbin into the game with ten minutes to go - the Kirkcubbin number 6 failing to find the net from seven yards. [Watch this in the video above]
After a long spell under Kirkcubbin pressure the Santos defence finally caved. A free kick was pulled down inside the Santos box and neatly slotted in at the near post. The goal came with only ten minutes remaining and led to a nervy last few minutes but Santos held firm to take full points.
With two wins on the trot Santos will go positively into this week's game against Grange Rangers.
Lineup |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Rating | Info | ||
 |  | Aidan Hughes | Goalkeeper |  | |
 |  | Michael Kane | Right Back |  | |
| | Michael Burns | Centreback | | |
 | | Conor McCormack | Centreback | | |
 | | Barry Doherty | Centreback |  | |
 | | Stephen Walker | Defensive Midfielder | | |
| | Roger Theis | Right Midfield | | |
 | | Gerard Brady | Right Winger | | |
 | | Liam Maguire | Left Winger | | |
| | Aaron Harmon | Forward | | |
 | | Conor McCarthy | Striker | | |
| Substitutes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Rating | Info | ||
| Man of the Match | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Notes | ||
| | Aidan Hughes | Some vital saves. |