Seconds Unlucky

Peter Johnston, best for Mals

The Mals made the short trip to Seapark on Saturday to take on Holywood Seconds, and for the second week in a row, despite commendable effort and commitment failed to take anything from the game for their efforts.

The game began in light rain and soon developed into a downpour which continued through the first half an hour and certainly, together with the long grass, did not not help the Mals passing game. With Crossey partnering Johnston in central midfield Mals took a grip on proceedings from the start enjoying the majority of early possession. The first chance came seven minutes in when the hard working Devine threaded a precision pass through to Quigley who was forced wide by the home keeper and could only shoot into the side netting.

Holywood seemed content to keep things tight and to rely on breaks with their right winger threatening on a number of occasions down the Mals right but McKee, ably supported by McLaughlin, was able to keep the danger at bay. Marty Reilly gave notice of his intentions on fifteen minutes when he played a one two with Devine and worked himself some space on the edge of the penalty area only to fire inches past the post.

The warning signs were there for Holywood and Mals deservedly went in front just after the twenty minute mark. Burns won a header on half way and Johnston picked the ball up in the middle, drifted passed two players and timed his pass to release Quigley through on goal. This time the pacy front man sped away from his marker and drilled a low shot passed the Holywood keeper.

However within two minutes the teams were all square. Mals gave away possession on half way and the ball found it's way to the Holywood right winger who managed to cross to the far post where the centre forward rose unchallenged to head down into the corner of the net. A set back for the Mals and for the next ten minutes Holywood got on top. However Burns and Sharp used all their experience and guile and soon had the visitors on the front foot again.

As the half progressed McVeigh came more into the game and started getting forward linking well with Devine on several occasions, but also overrunning the ball out of defence on one occasion and ending up in the referee's book attempting to retrieve possession. Mals had three other good chances and should have gone in at half time ahead when Devine had a great run, cut inside and went past the keeper out wide. Realizing the angle was too narrow he crossed the ball back to find the inrushing Reilly who despite pressure from a defender, made good contact with the ball only to see it sail over an open net.

HT: Holywood FC II 1 Malachians II 1

Holywood came out in determined fashion for the second half and within ten minutes Mals were behind. From a Mals throw just in their own half the ball went back to McVeigh who tried to pass back to Murphy only for the ball to hold up in the long grass, and the Holywood player was straight onto it and fired low giving Murphy no chance.

Mals suffered another setback from the restart when the reliable McKee was injured and had to be replaced by Neill but the away team continued to push forward with McLaughlin crossing to the back post but just too high for the forwards. Quigley then intercepted a bad Holywood back pass and again found himself one on one with the home keeper. This time the striker tried to lob the ball over the keeper but the effort drifted wide.

Quigley to his credit continued to cause trouble for the home defence and combined  well with Crossey to put Reilly away. Despite being clattered from behind Reilly managed to find Devine and his inch perfect cross found Quigley who had continued his run at the back post only to head narrowly over. Adam Docherty replaced the injured Reilly and was soon in the action when he curled a shot into the arms of the Holywood keeper. McStravick then replaced Quigley for the last few minutes but despite pushing forward Mals could not find the equalizer their efforts deserved.

As the game entered three minutes of injury time Hollywood put the game to bed when they broke away and one of their midfielders curled a fine shot into the top corner of the net to run out 3 1 winners.

Whilst Mals played some fine football and put in great effort and commitment the bottom line is that goals win games, Holywood took their chances and Mals missed enough good chances to have won several games. However if all the players continue to put the same effort into both training and matches then there is no doubt the tide will turn sooner rather than later.

MOM: Peter Johnston

Up the Mals !

FT: Holywood FC II 3 Malachians II 1