TOALSBET.COM JUNIOR SHIELD THIRD ROUND
Greenwell Star 3
Bangor Swifts 1
Dennis S Nash reports from the West Winds Playing Fields
GREENWELL Star secured their ticket to the fourth round of the Junior Shield with victory over Bangor Swifts last Saturday lunchtime.
With Scrabo Tower edging its way from a cloudy sky, Ruaidhri McCarney kicked-off for the visitors, with the Swifts in the opening 45 minutes defending the goals at the school end of the West Winds pitch.
It was the home outfit who engineered the first attacking movement but, after Reece Dylan Atkinson had picked out Daniel Edgeworth down the right, his cross dropped away behind the target.
The visitors, who have enjoyed a great start to their season and currently occupy top spot in NAFL Division 2A, replied with a long ball down the right, but the move did not pose any serious threat for the home defence.
Play settled down into centre-field exchanges after the initial flurry by both attacks but, with 10 minutes played, Ruaidhri McCarney did cause some concern in the Greenwell backline after Adam Sandison had crossed well from the right.
The home side had made a very sound start to the game, with Daniel Edgeworth prominent in attack, James Smith always on hand to steady the defensive line and Michael Keable holding a sense of midfield supremacy.
As so often can happen however, after one team starts to look on top, it is the other who grabs the initiative.
Twenty-two minutes had ticked away when the visitors curled a corner kick into the Greenwell goalmouth and home ’keeper Miguel Conceicao was left stranded as the ball took a deflection off Michael Keable and found its way into the net.
It really was a startling development after Greenwell had looked to have matters well under control, but straight from the restart the home side drew level with a stunning reply from Adam Munn.
Greenwell reclaimed the balance and, with energetic forward movement and a solid defensive confidence, it was they who had the hallmark of progress and assurance back into their play.
This feeling spilled over and five minutes later, Keable wiped aside the own-goal incident from six minutes earlier when, after another long throw-in from the influential Scott Crawford, the number four fired home from inside the area to push the half-time score to 2-1 in favour of David Milligan’s team.
The second half produced an early corner kick for the home side and, with Kurtis McClure and Reece Atkinson pressing forward, the Greenwell side looked competent, forceful and very much in contention with a side from higher up the Amateur League pecking order.
The Bangor visitors however did continue to offer a threat of their own and a speculative effort from distance by Philip Fitzsimmons was ominous.
Christopher Boyd too had several moments for the Swifts and it was clear that Greenwell really needed another goal.
On 69 minutes that situation materialised and the highly-influential Munn got his second of the afternoon to hand the hosts a more comfortable cushion.
Sixteen minutes from the final whistle a penalty award offered hope to those on the Bangor touch-line but a super stop from Conceicao pushed aside any thought of a late comeback for the visitors.
THE MATCH CARD
Greenwell Star: Miguel Conceicao, Kurtis McClure, Corey Buchanan, Michael Keable, Alan Kenmore, Scott Crawford, Reece Atkinson, Curtis Houston, Adam Munn, Daniel Edgeworth, James Smith (C).
Substitutes: Nathan Crawford, Nathan Cousins, Kyle Moore, Finlay Milligan.
Officials: Brian Murphy, Billy Sproule, Alan King, Dennis Robinson, David Milligan.
Bangor Swifts: Jamie McBratney, Paul Magennis, William Fitzgerald, Ben McBride, Bryan Murtagh (C), Philip Fitzsimmons, Sam McCullough, Paddy Deery, Ruaidhri McCarney, Adam Sandison, Christopher Boyd.
Substitutes: Daniel Butler, Max Ferguson, Aodhan Keag.
Officials: John Murray, Stephen Doherty, Ryan Ferguson.
THE TEAMS
Greenwell Star FC
1984 was a highlight year in regard to local junior football.
Road House Royals announced their withdrawal from football after eight years in the Down Area League, Comber Star were introduced and Killyleagh YC were crowned Amateur League Division 1A champions.
At that time – under the influence of the Taggart family – Greenwell Star entered the local arena for the first time.
Within a year of their appearance Greenwell made instant headlines as they finished a very creditable third in the highly-competitive RBE summer competition.
By 1986 the team had clinched promotion to Division One of the Co Down Premier League and the story of Greenwell Star was well and truly started.
Greenwell created a youth division in 2022 and moved to the Northern Amateur Football League last season.
The club’s home ground is at the West Winds.
Bangor Swifts FC
Bangor Swifts play in Division 2A of the Northern Amateur Football League.
Their home ground is at St Columbanus College.
The club won the Division 2B in the 2007-2008 season.
Three senior men’s sides are currently in operation under the club name.
Bangor Swifts Juniors were formed in 2016. The club now boasts a thriving youth section with over 400 members catering for boys and girls aged four to 17.
Bangor Swifts recently announced John Hanna as second team management with his assistant Jack Crowshaw.
THE COMPETITION
The Co Antrim and District Football Association (CAFA) Junior Shield was inaugurated in 1900.
The CAFA is the largest of the four regional football associations within Northern Ireland and is affiliated to the Irish FA.
Its inaugural meeting was held on April 23, 1888 at the Commercial Hotel in Belfast.
The Junior Shield is open to approved junior clubs which are affiliated to the Association and are in membership of junior leagues sanctioned by the Irish Football Association.
Only one team from each club is admitted to the competition.
St Marys (Newtownabbey) are the current holders.
AT THE WEST WINDS
Thanks to everyone at Greenwell Star for the warm welcome and considerate reception and congratulations on adapting so positively to life in the Amateur League.
THE REFEREE
Mark O’Brien kept total command throughout and was always positioned well with the play and presented his decisions in a clear manner.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Neal Dorman was on photography duties at Saturday’s game.
