Kilroot Rec FC

Tuesday 3rd April 2007, Kilroot Rec 3 v 1 Queens II @ Beltoy Kilroot scorers John Mathers (2) David Kidd. This hard earned victory against in form Queens II was slightly tinged with the injury to in form keeper Gary McClune who had to be replaced on 70 minutes after a collision with a Queens II forward, the injury a chipped bone on the elbow will keep him out for the rest of the season. Queens II on a high with a victory over title chasing Newington Rangers previous Saturday got a shock when John Mathers scored two goals against the run of play the first an acrobatic overhead kick assisted by Nicky Sharples and Mark Latimer the second one, one of dogmatic persistence assisted by David Armstrong and Nicky Sharples. Queens on the other hand missed an open net and had other goal scoring chances saved by Gary McClune. The second half Kilroot should have doubled the score with two beautiful measured crosses one to Mark Latimer and the other to John Mathers but both headed over the bar when well placed. Queens II had a free kick brilliantly saved by the Kilroot keeper. 65 minutes David Kidd who made a miraculous recovery from a groin strain replaced Philip Glover. 70 minutes Kilroot keeper Gary McClune had to be replaced with his elbow injury not responding to treatment, Chris Armstrong came on Stuart Hamilton went into goals and Darren McKinty went to full back. 75 minutes Paul Mathers was the unlikely hero setting up sub David Kidd to score number three and effetely finish the game as a contest. 80 minutes Paul Mawhinney replaced the injured David Armstrong. 85 minutes Queens II Ryan Murry scored a screamer against the motionless Stuart Hamilton from 22 yards. 87 minutes Murry again hit the Kilroot crossbar when well placed but too little to late from the very talented Queens II team. Kilroot team Gary McClune (Chris Armstrong 70) Stuart Hamilton, Paul Mathers, Phillip Burnside, Colin Adair, Mark Latimer, Darren McKinty, David Armstrong (Paul Mawhinney 80) Philip Glover (David Kidd 65) John Mathers and Nicky Sharples.

Saturday 31st March 2007 Semi final Templeton cup Temple Rangers II 2 v 1 Kilroot Rec II @ Newtownards Kilroot scorer Chris Armstrong (p) This was Kilroot’s second’s biggest match in their short history and the occasion got to some of the younger players who simply didn’t perform on the day and yet they still could have got something out of the game. Straight from the kick off Temple II had a clear header at the Kilroot goals and missed by a long shot, a let off. It was an open game and both teams had plenty of chances to score but none were taken. Kilroot culprits were Gary McCahon, Ricky Coulter, and Stephen McClean all wasted chances one of these from all of 6 yards. 55 minutes Temple Seconds took the lead when Mark McCormack received a good ball from the wing had all day to tee it up to score 1-0. 65 minutes Kilroot were level from the spot for a hand ball, Chris Armstrong sent the keeper the wrong way 1-1. 70 minutes Kilroot’s Gary McCahon had the chance to be a hero one on one with the keeper but somehow he shot wide of goals. 75 minutes it was Ricky Coulter turn to squander a goal scoring chance rounding the keeper he ran out of steam and the chance was gone. 87 minutes Kilroot’s Phillip Brownlee made a save sending the ball for a corner from the resulting corner Mark Dickson unmarked at the back post nodded the ball home for the winner 2-1. Kilroot team Phillip Brownlee, David Gillespie, Edd Armstrong, John Smiley, Barry Meek, Neill Hall ( Andy Mearns 60) Chris Armstrong, Trevor Cole, Stephen Mclean, Gary McCahon and Ricky Coulter. Other subs Chris Barry and David Hall not used.

Saturday 31st March 2007 4th round Clarence Cup Comber Rec 2 v 1 Kilroot Rec @ Comber Kilroot scorer John Mathers Premier league side Comber Rec finally distinguished any further flirtation in the Clarence Cup for junior side Kilroot Rec but not without an almighty battle on the pitch as the score suggests a close encounter. Comber had two glorious chances in the early part of the game but Kilroot keeper Gary McClune had other ideas and made two great stops. 25 minutes Kilroot had a glimmer of hope when Simon Hamilton was pushed in the box but the referee was having none of it. 30 minutes Kilroot shocked the home side and their large support by taking the lead a Nicky Sharples cross found John Mathers whose sweet left foot shot from 12 yards gave the home keeper no chance, 0-1. 40 minutes Comber level but not without controversy, Mark Miller looked offside but the goal stood.1-1. Second half Kilroot’s Nicky Sharples saw a goal bound shot brilliantly saved by the home keeper. Kilroot’s Phillip Burnside made a last ditch tackle on a fleeing Comber forward heading for the goals. Both teams had chances to go in front Comber had the clearer of these. Kilroot’s chances fell to Nicky Sharples, Mark Latimer and the unfortunate John Mathers who seemed to be clipped from behind when on a goal bound run; the appeals fell on deaf ears. 85 minutes with Kilroot visibly tiring James McClusky broke the hearts of the Kilroot faithful with the wining goal, 2-1. This was a formable team effort and the manager hopes that the cup form can be delivered in the remaining league games. Kilroot team Gary McClune, Stuart Hamilton, Phillip Burnside, Paul Mathers, Colin Adair, Simon Hamilton, Darren McKinty, David Armstrong, Mark Latimer, John Mathers and Nicky Sharples. Subs Paul Mawhinney, Philip Glover and Thomas Hammond not used.

Saturday 2007-03-24 Dundonald II 0 v 3 Kilroot rec II @ Billy Neill playing fields Kilroot scorers Gary McGahon (2) Chris Armstrong Kilroot avenged an earlier defeat at Whitehead by Dundonald II with an emphatic 3 nil victory in their own backyard, a good sent off for next weeks semi final of the Templeton cup against Temple rangers II @ Ards rangers ground. First 10 minutes Dundonald II had two great chances to take the lead but recently signed keeper Norman Alan standing in for the injured Phillip Brownlee thwarted both efforts. 26 minutes Kilroot broke the deadlock from a free kick by Chris Armstrong who found Gary McGahon at the back post to head home, 0-1 30 minutes Dundonald prised opened the Kilroot offside trap and again Norman Alan came to the rescue. 38 minutes a deft cross from Stephen McClean found Chris Armstrong, his header to strong. Dundonald wasted three more chances before Kilroot in the 62 minute doubled their lead started with a David Gillespie ball to Neil Hall to Stephen McClean who picked out Chris Armstrong he gave the home keeper no chance with a nifty lob, 0-2. 65 minutes Andy Mearns replaced the very tired Thomas Hammond. 72 minutes Chris Barry replaced Neill Hall who had covered every blade of grass. 75 minutes Kilroot scored goal number three from a corner with man of the match Chris Armstrong involved again and Gary McGahon scoring his second goal, 0-3 The remaining 15 minutes were played out by the confident Kilroot stroking the ball about and complementing the referee Thomas Hamilton on a competent 90 minutes. Kilroot team, Norman Alan, David Gillespie, Edd Armstrong, John Smiley, Barry Meek, Stephen McClean, Chris Armstrong, Trevor Cole, Neill Hall (Chris Barry 72) Gary McGahon, Thomas Hammond (Andy Mearns65) Third Sub Ricky Coulter not used

Saturday March 2007-03-25 Kilroot Rec 0 v 1 Holywood Rec @ Beltoy The honeymoon didn’t last long for manager Terry Thomas and assistant Tommy Wallace as another below par performance from the ailing Kilroot against a Holywood Rec (all stars) select belittled their league position as they were worthy winners. Kilroot had a few half chances first period 3 minutes David Kidd picked up a loose ball blasted it over the bar, the unusually subdued Nicky Sharples knocked on a ball from Gary McClune to Mark Latimer the shot was wide and David Armstrong from a Latimer cross headed weakly wide of goals. 12 minutes under pressure Phillip Burnside cleared a dangerous cross for a corner to Holywood. 22 minutes from a Kilroot corner Holywood countered down the right hand side had a couple of chances to clear, failed ball crossed to back post for the unmarked Eddie Burns to score the simplest of goals, 0-1. 31 minutes Hollywood’s Eddie burns should have scored their second goal but Paul Mathers cleared of the goal line. Holywood enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball up to half time without adding any further goals and Kilroot wasted one chance with a Latimer shot going high and wide. The second half it was Holywood who took the game to Kilroot but were less threatening around goals. 65 minutes players from both teams exchanged greetings, hugs and makeup for a short time in the centre of the pitch a bonding process I believe and after this get together it was Kilroot who were the more focused on the game. 70 minutes Kilroot first sub guest player Paul Mawhinney replaced Mark Latimer. 75 minutes Kilroot wasted a great chance to equalise when David Armstrong from 10 yards couldn’t keep his shot down. 85 minutes from a goalmouth ping pong Kilroot’s Stuart Hamilton sent in a stinging drive which the Holywood keeper with the fast fists made a great save paring the ball out it fell to John Mathers who continued his nightmare of a game to miscue the shot wide from or so close. All the Kilroot hot shots failed to perform on a day when so much was expected. Kilroot team Gary McClune, Stuart Hamilton, Paul Mathers, Phillip Burnside, Colin Adair, Mark Latimer ( Paul Mawhinney 70) David Armstrong, Darren McKinty, David Kidd, John Mathers, Nicky Sharples. Other two subs not used Jamie Campbell and Phillip Glover.