NI Football Youth League

Moyola Park 1 (Flanagan) Warrenpoint Town 0

Moyola looked to bounce back from their disappointing away defeat to Ards on Saturday against Warrenpoint Town at Mill Meadow.

The away side began with a flurry and settled in quickly. Some nice passing moves led to shots from distance in the final third, however despite their early possession, were unable to create anything of note. The Moyola team came roaring back over the next half hour. Some scintillating pressing and attacking play saw the Warrenpoint defenders having to commit last ditch tackles, give away dangerous free kicks and struggle in general to impose themselves. A corner from Dylan Coyle on the left landed to Rian Connery, whose shot was charged down just inside the box. A mazy run from Flanagan on the right ended with the ball flying across the six-yard box with McElhatton inches away from getting a touch. Some great play by Duggan on the left committed defenders and opened up space for a shot to cannon back off the post. Coyle’s running from the right created space for McElhatton to test the keeper, and another shot from Connery, this time a free header, sailed just wide. A free kick in a good position from Flanagan took a deflection and went behind for a corner. The delivery from Peter Stuart was perfect, and Flanagan met the ball with power to head beyond the keeper from 8 yards. Moyola went in at half time, comfortably the dominant team and looking very impressive.

The second half started with a spell of possession from the home side. Substitute McAllister helped the home side try and kill the game early on. They had the chance to do that with a killer second goal, when Flanagan beat three men, nodding the ball past the third into the box, however with only the keeper to beat, slid the ball wide of the post. From there Warrenpoint began to gain more control. Their passing able to pin Moyola back into their own half, however the U19s were very dangerous on the counter and the away side were unable to fully commit to attack without being exposed to Flanagan and Coyle on the counter. Led by Connery and Bradley, the defence were never truly troubled, and bar a few long balls into the box and shots from distance, the County Down outfit never got close to testing goalkeeper Cassidy.

In the end, the Moyola boys held on for their third win and clean sheet of the season.  They’ll now look to build on that and find more consistency over the coming weeks, particularly for their Harry Cavan Cup game versus Dungannon Swifts on Friday.

Under 19’s: Aaron Cassidy, Cody Brady, Eoin Crossan, Rian Connery, Adam Rowe, David Bradley, Peter Stuart, Dylan Coyle, Tiarnan Flanagan, Raymond Duggan, Stuart McElhatton. Subs: Hutchinson for Brady, McAllister for Duggan