Kilroot Rec FC

Saturday 3rd March 2207. 3rd Round Clarence Cup Downshire YM 1 v 2 Kilroot rec @ Old Coach Road Kilroot scorers Nicky Sharples David Armstrong Another intermediate team another victory for Kilroot this time in Downshire’s own backyard. Kilroot started of like a house on fire, first to the ball, knocked the ball about with an authority and composure that mesmerised their more senior opponents. Kilroot opened the score on 15 minutes after a four man move down the left flank with David Kidd, David Armstrong to John Mathers who found leading goal scorer Nicky Sharples he cut inside and unleashed a cunning deceptive shot inside the near post, 0-1. 20 minutes Kilroot doubled the score from a long clearance from keeper Gary McClune instantly controlled by John Mathers played to Nicky Sharples who picked out David Armstrong and from 12 yards the home keeper didn’t see what part of the net it hit, 0-2. 25 minutes the Downshire keeper Gary Gibben denied David Kidd an expected goal with a stunning save. 35 minutes Downshire were back in contention when Kilroot’s Paul Mathers was slow to clear the ball Ashley McDowell nicked the ball from him supplied the pass for a simpler tap in by Ryan Cree giving the Kilroot keeper no chance, 1-2. This goal took a little wind out of the Kilroot sails and allowed Downshire more of the ball but they didn’t trouble the Kilroot rearguard with Burnside and Paul Mathers steadfast and sure. The second period was more even and as the game progressed Downshire carved out a couple of chances one that fell to Ashley McDowell on a one to one with the Kilroot keeper which was saved the other a Peter Hunt shot that hit the Kilroot bar. Kilroot in turn were the more eager to succeed into the next round after letting down their supporters in last weeks Junior Shield quarter finals had what seemed like a blatant hand ball appeal turned down a couple of half chances cleared out of the downshire danger area 70 minutes the prodigal son returned in the shape of Philip Glover replacing mark Latimer. 85 minutes Kilroot manager threw on the last two subs Ricky Coulter and Gary Mulholland who replaced David Kidd and the tireless John Mathers Kilroot comfortably seen out the last of the game without any further hiccups and look forward to meeting Comber Rec in the next round. Kilroot team, Gary McClune, Stuart Hamilton, Paul Mather, Phillip Burnside, Darren McKinty, David Kidd (Ricky Coulter 85) Simon Hamilton, David Armstrong, Mark Latimer (Phillip Glover 70) Nicky Sharples, John Mathers (Gary Mulholland 85)

6th Round Junior Shield Rathfern Rangers 3 v 2 Kilroot Rec @ The diamond Kilroot scorers Nicky Sharples Ricky Coulter. Kilroot having in the near past taken some big scalps travelled to Rathfern Rangers in the sixth round of the junior shield full of confidence and more than capable of giving them a match on their home turf a first time victory wasn’t out of the question. Yet in the first 20 minutes Rathfern could have been three or four goals ahead but for some abysmal finishing. 24 minutes it was Kilroot’s turn to miss chances a Mark Latimer header set John Mathers free in front of goals one on one with the keeper short wide. 26 minutes a Kilroot free kick taken by Nicky Sharples to Mark Latimer, keeper saved his shot. 27 minutes Rathfern let Kilroot know they hadn’t gone away by striking the cross bar with a shot Kilroot keeper sending it for a corner. 30 minutes the unthinkable happened free kick Kilroot 30 yards out centre, David Kidd back post Nicky Sharples headed unchallenged past home keeper,0-1. 32 minutes Rathfern were level from a cheaply conceded throw in some woeful marking and David Moore added the finishing touch to propel the ball goal bound, 1-1. 33 minutes Kilroot’s Nicky Sharples took a quick free kick and nearly caught the home keeper out but his shot slithered wide of goals. 44 minutes Rathfern took the lead after some pantomimic defending by the Kilroot rearguard Colin Andrews being the scorer, 2-1. 47 minutes a David Kidd cross found Mark Latimer his shot was high and wide. 51 minutes Kilroot manager Jim Pherson decided on change replacing Mark Latimer with David Armstrong. 62 minutes Rathfern missed a gift edged chance. 65 minutes Kilroot’s secret weapon James Pherson is unleashed on the unsuspecting Rathfern team replacing the injured Glen Crawford with Darren McKinty going into defence. 68 minutes a poor cross field ball from Nicky Sharples left the inrushing John Mathers and David Kidd cursing their misfortune. 84 minutes Rathfern ended any hope Kilroot had of staging a come back with another Colin Andrews goal ably assisted by the benevolent Kilroot defence, 3-1. 85 minutes Kilroot’s final substitution Ricky Coulter replacing John Mathers. 86 minutes a Ricky Coulter lob just wide of the Rathfern upright. 3 minutes into injury time Kilroot corner ball by David Kidd headed on by Phillip Burnside, Ricky Coulter scored at the back post, 3-2. The score was no reflection on the match as Rathfern should and could have won by a more convincing margin yet their inability to score early on in the game gave Kilroot the chance to cause an upset before the equilibrium was restored. Kilroot team Gary McClune, Stuart Hamilton, Paul Mathers, Phillip Burnside, Glen Crawford (inj) (James Pherson 65) Mark Latimer (David Armstrong 55) Darren McKinty, Simon Hamilton, David Kidd, Nicky Sharples , John Mathers (Ricky Coulter 85) .

Saturday 24th February 2007 Bangor Young Men II 3 v 6 Kilroot Rec II @ Valentine P F. Kilroot scorers Gary McCahon (3) Colin Adair Trevor Cole Thomas Hammond Kilroot seconds travelled to valentine playing fields Bangor to play Bangor Young Men II for the third and final time this season and the result went similar to the rest with another victory. Coasting into a four nil lead Kilroot surely thought the lottery had come early with a Gary McCahon hat trick and a rare Colin Adair goal but Bangor had others ideas reducing the arrears to just two goals. Kilroot added a fifth goal through substitute Thomas Hammond and Bangor Y M promptly added a third goal. 86 minutes Trevor Cole finished the match as a contest by scoring goal number six. The substitutes for Kilroot were 55 minutes young whiz kid Darren Nelson for Neill hall, 60 minutes Andy Mearns for hat trick hero Gary McCahon and finally Thomas Hammond for David Gillespie. Kilroot team, Phillip Brownlee, Jamie Campbell, Colin Adair, John Smiley, Barry Meek, Trevor Cole, David Gillespie (Thomas Hammond 70) Gary Mulholland, Gary McCahon (Andy Mearns 60) Neill Hall (Darren Nelson 55) Stephen McClean.

Saturday 17th February 2007 Annalong Swifts 0 v 3 Kilroot Rec Annalong Kilroot scorers Mark Latimer Nicky Sharples Ricky Coulter Kilroot’s longest away trip to Annalong had all the ingredients of a good match, But it was difficult to distinguish which team had the highest league position on today’s play. Kilroot were a pale shadow of lasts week performers and still repeated the score line of the home fixture in November wining three nil. 15 minutes Kilroot’s first real chance carved out by David Armstrong to Nicky Sharples he found Mark Latimer who ghosted past two defenders to beat keeper at near post, 0-1. Kilroot huffed and puffed only creating one more chance in the half a brave shot from full back Stuart Hamilton which the home keeper saved. Second half Annalong had more of the game playing down the hill and with a slight breeze at their backs. 46 minutes a john Mathers cross was wasted by David Kidd 60 minutes manager Jim Pherson decided change was needed David Armstrong off and the revitalised Simon Hamilton on. 63 minutes Glen Crawford played a ball to Nicky Sharples who found John Mathers his shot was saved by home keeper but spilled it and Sharples who had continued his run knocked the ball into the net, 0-2. 70 minutes a double substitution by Kilroot Glen Crawford who picked up an injury and Mark Latimer were replaced by Ricky Coulter and James Pherson. 73 minutes a mix up in the Kilroot defence almost let in Annalong for a goal scoring chance. 80 minutes Kilroot sewed the game up with a third goal involving James Pherson, Simon Hamilton another Sharples cross and sub Ricky coulter made amends for an earlier miss by heading home, 0-3. 88 minutes Nicky Sharples had another effort saved after a neat back hell from Coulter had wrong footed the Annalong defence. 90 minutes a skirmish on the left hand side of the field involving home spectators and some Kilroot players was quickly brought under control by experienced referee Harry Crymble. Kilroot team, Gary McClune, Stuart Hamilton, Phillip Burnside, Paul Mathers, Glen Crawford ( James Pherson 70) David Kidd, David Armstrong (Simon Hamilton 60) Darren McKinty, Mark Latimer (Ricky Coulter 70) John Mathers and Nicky Sharples.

Saturday 17th February 2007 Kilroot Rec II 2 v 4 Dundonald II @ Whitehead Kilroot scorers Chris Armstrong (2) Kilroot seconds a goal up in only 5 minutes from a great cross from Barry Meek Found Chris Armstrong at the back post, 1-0. The game was box to box for the next 25 minutes with Dundonald taking advantage of a mix up in the Kilroot defence to level the scores, 1-1. 40 minutes Kilroot in front again young Darren Nelson chopped down in the box Chris Armstrong converted from the spot, 2-1. 55 minute a double substitution by Kilroot manager Russell Wallace in a bold gamble to win the match bringing on Neill Hall and Darren White in place of David Gillespie and Andy Mearns. 65 minutes Kilroot’s third sub John Smiley returning from a bout of flue replaced Jamie Campbell. 70 minutes referee Fergy Hall pointed to the spot for an infringement by John Smiley Dundonald equalised for the second time ion the game, 2-2. 75 minutes Kilroot’s Chris Armstrong was dismissed for a second caution. 80 minutes the indiscipline was costing Kilroot dearly Edd Armstrong upended a forward in the box and joined his brother Chris in the early bath syndrome with Dundonald scoring from the resulting penalty, 2-3. 88 minutes Dundonald rubbed salt into the wound by scoring number four virtually unopposed, 2-4. Kilroot went from a wining position to losers in a few moments of indiscipline madness, will have to do better. Phillip Brownlee, Jamie Campbell (John Smiley65) Colin Adair, Edd Armstrong (sent off 80) Barry Meek, Trevor Cole, Chris Armstrong (sent off 75) David Gillespie (Neill Hall 55) Stephen McLean, Darren Nelson, Andy Mearns ( Darren White55)