Mals Crash Out Of Walter Moore Cup

Mals skipper Marty McKee, referee Ryan Abraham and Bloomfield captain Glen Davidson

Malachians 2nds crashed out of the Walter Moore Cup on Saturday at the first hurdle going down to a 2-0 defeat at home to Bloomfield 2nds.

The game opened in bright sunshine and the Mals central midfield partnership of Crossey and Johnston immediately got a grip on the game linking well and creating several half chances for the strike partnership of Quigley and Mickey Burns making his debut. The first real opening came on twelve minutes when Michael McVeigh played a one two with Johnston, cut in and drove a shot from just outside the penalty area narrowly wide.

Bloomfield were content to sit tight as the game developed and depend on quick breaks with their speedy wingers threatening on occasions but being kept at bay by the home defence well marshalled by Burns.

Mickey Burns was winning his fair share of high balls and from a flick on on just after the twenty minute mark Quigley got in with a shot at goal that the young Bloomfield keeper did well to save pushing the ball out for a corner.  Both Mals full backs pushed well up to support the midfield and from a cross from Marty McKee the ball fell to Crossey again just outside the box but his well hit shot finished a foot on the wrong side of the post with the keeper beaten.

The Mals at this stage were on top enjoying the majority of possession, but having failed to register on the scoresheet the home team then conceded a soft goal which came out of nothing. On the half hour mark Mals gave a free kick away about thirty yards out. The ball was crossed into the box where a Bloomfield player standing all on his own on the edge of the six yard box jumped but failed to make contact with the ball. However this was enough to wrong foot Murphy in goal and the ball sailed into the net.

The goal totally knocked the Mals out of their rhythm and Bloomfield showing more of a cutting edge were unlucky not to increase their lead on several occasions, not least when their winger was allowed a free header from a corner but failed to make a clean connection with the ball. This apart, that they did not was due to some robust defending from Burns and Reilly with Big John in goal making several stops. Mals rhythm was further upset just before half time when McVeigh sustained an injury and had to be replaced by McLaughlin.

HT: Malachians II 0 Bloomfield II 1

The home team were sent out for the second half under instructions not to become frustrated and to again get control of the ball and to get back to a passing game. However within two minutes Bloomfield could have scored again when for the third time a player was left unmarked at a corner but the ball went wide.

Slowly Mals dragged themselves back into the game with Crossey picking
out passes and the influential Devine coming more into the game. It was Devine picking the ball up deep who started Mals best move of the match. Exchanging passes with Reilly and Burns the ball was played wide to Tony McVeigh and his cross to the far post found McLaughlin who shot narrowly wide.

As the half progressed the pressure grew on Bloomfield who stood firm and constantly looked for a second on the break. Mickey Burns who had given his all was then replaced by McStravick.

With ten minutes left Mals had their best chance when Marty Reilly came through two tackles in midfield and played McLaughlin in on the Mals right. His shot was parried by the keeper with the ball falling to Reilly who had followed his pass in but his shot was blocked by a defender on the edge of the six yard box and this time the ball fell to Devine who managed to steer his shot over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

With just two minutes left and Mals all pushing forward for an equalizer Bloomfield finished the game when they eventually created a one on one break and their winger shot home.

So for the third game in succession Mals came away with nothing to show for their efforts in a game which was there for the taking. Hopefully the Mals can reverse their fortunes with a win at home to Holywood this Saturday. Up the Mals!

FT: Malachians II 0 Bloomfield II 2