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 Sat 5th August 2006 
Blades F.C. Youth 1 Orangefield F.C. 3
(Competition: Pre-Season Friendly Venue: Billy Neill Playing Fields K.O: 11.00am
Blades F.C. Goalscorer: Ruiséal McKimm
A Blades team missing several first-eleven players fielded a makeshift team against East Belfast rivals, Orangefield at Billy Neill today.
The first-half was strongly contested by both sides, but the Blades should take the most out of their first-half performance, given it was the first time they had played since May's East Antrim league Plate Final.
Chances were limited in the first half but each side did get a golden opportunity each. Ruis?al McKimm fired narrowly over with his left foot and Blades keeper Lewis Crothers denied Orangefield with a fine save down to his left. Craig McBride, Johnny Craig and Jason Harper did cause problems for Orangefield with some neat passing moves, but neither side could find the final ball. Martin Armstrong and Emmet McKimm performed well at left and right back, with McKimm not looking out of place despite being two years younger than most of both squads. Half time 0-0.
The second half saw more chances at either end, with both teams lacking in fitness at the start of their pre-season campaigns. Jason Harper caused more and more problems down the left flank and Johnny Craig and Craig McBride started to recieve more of the ball in promising positions and created chances. David Davies came close to opening, before last season's top-scorer Ruiséal McKimm let fly with a left foot volley to open his account for the season. Harper also came close to adding to the score.
The pressure then turned on the Blades with about ten minutes to go. Orangefield hit the bar, before levelling with a simple cross in from the left, leaving a tap-in for an Orangefield forward. The second came soon after with Crothers saving a low drive that luckily found an orange shirt for another tap-in. The Blades pushed for an equaliser and came close again but surrendered a third when Marty Armstrong got caught on the ball just outside the box and the Orangefield finished past Cameron in goals.
At the back E McKimm, Taylor, Patterson and Armstrong performed well until the last 10 minutes and Emmet McKimm was brought of injured. A good workout for the Blades who will look much stronger after pre-season and the return of several missing players from today's game.
HT: 0-0 FT: 1-3 YC: 0 RC: 0 Goalscorer: R. McKimm |
