More Frustration For Mals Seconds

No luck for Micky Devine at Killyleagh

Mals Seconds made the trip to Killyleagh on Saturday hoping to pick up some points and to move up the table, and were boosted by the welcome return of Stephen Devine, with Lawrence Mervyn making his debut in goal, but rather disappointingly came away on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline.

On a heavy pitch Mals kicked off and Reilly worked a half chance for himself on five minutes which was blocked by a defender. The same player had another chance within minutes when Quigley collected the ball on the wing and the cross found his strike partner on the edge of the penalty area, but after pulling the ball across two defenders Reilly's shot was saved by the keeper.

After a bright opening Mals slowly lost their way giving away a number of free kicks in dangerous positions and Mervyn in goal had to be alert to save two shots on target as Killyleagh began to see more of the possession. Indeed it was the home team who adopted better to the conditions hitting longer passes and making the ball do the work whilst Mals put four or five passes together just inside the Killyleagh half but really went nowhere and ended up frustratingly
losing posession.

On twenty minutes Mals put together their best move of the half when McKee collected a short goal kick and ran to the half way line before finding Crossey. After an interchange of passes with Devine, Crossey found Quigley who used his pace to get past two defenders but then shot wide of the target.

As the half progressed the Mals back line of Connolly, McKee, Kavanagh and Devine were caught on at least five occasions with nobody picking up and allowing the Killyleagh forwards through on goal. On one occasion the referee blew for offside whilst on two occasions Mervyn pulled off good saves, one forward fired narrowly wide on another occasion, before the home team did eventually register a deserved score with the same player who had missed narrowly earlier lifting the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Johnston and Crossey tried to lift their team approaching half time but in truth Mals were lucky to reach half time only one goal in arrears.

HT: Killyleagh YC II 1 Malachians II 0

A more determined Mals took to the pitch in the second half and the home team were soon on the back foot but maintaining heir lead with some determined defending. Connolly at right back started to push on and won a free kick on the right. Johnston's free into the box caused some confusion but was scrambled away.

Mickey Devine then had a run on the left where he combined well with Reilly before crossing. The ball was headed clear but feel only to Crossey but his shot was wide of the target. Mals were now dominating the middle of the park but Killyleagh continued to threaten on the break and Devine and Connolly both made important tackles to keep the deficit to a single goal.

On sixty minutes Mals missed a great chance to equalize. Kavanagh, who was becoming more influential, intercepted a pass in the middle of the park and threaded the ball through to Quigley. The Killyleagh keeper was quickly off his line to block the shot but Quigley chased the ball out wide and put in a great cross low and hard across the goal. With the keeper beaten the cross found Johnston three yards out but the ball hit his standing foot and rebounded away from goal.

Within minutes however the visitors pressure did bring an equalizer. Quigley challenged the Killyleagh centre half from a corner to the back post and this resulted in the defender heading past his own keeper.  At this point it looked as if Mals could kick on and win the game but within minutes Killyleagh were back in front. With Mals pressing forward Reilly lost the ball on the half way line and the ball was quickly played down the Mals left. The winger outpaced McKee and
crossed to the six yard box where home forward Strain side footed home.

This was a bitter pill for Mals to swallow having worked so hard to get back into the game. Small then came on and within minutes linked well with Kavanagh to create a one on one for the Mals winger but again the keeper was quickly out and managed to get his hand up to block the shot.

With ten minutes to go Killyleagh scored again. Mals tracked back to concede a corner and although Mervyn saved an initial header the ball fell to a forward who drilled the ball high into the net.

Again Mals piled forward with McCurry and McStravick having come on and they could have set up a grandstand finish. Quigley was fouled just at the edge of the area but just as the referee, who had a good game throughout, blew for a foul the ball fell to Johnston who made up for his earlier miss by firing home from thirty yards but to no avail. The free was cleared and Killyleagh closed the game out to take all three points. All in all a very frustrating day out for the team!!

This week Mals are again on the road with a difficult away trip to
Crumlin United seconds.

FT: Killyleagh YC II 3 Malachians II 1