Kelly magic helps Lisburn Youth U14s continue title charge

Youth U14s

Lisburn Youth maintained their title push with a 3-1 victory over Donegal Celtic at Ballymacoss with goals from Ross Hull, another long range wonder strike from Rhys Kelly and a brilliant free-kick from Thomas McComb.

The game was a scrappy affair with Lisburn trying to play football but DC worked hard to disrupt any football the orange and black team tried to play.

Ross Hull had an early chance when he ran through one on one but he couldn’t beat the keeper. Hull then did open the scoring when he picked the ball up on the left side of the DC area and hit a low in-swinging effort towards goal that the defender could only deflect over the top of his keeper and into the net.

Hull had another chance when he went through one on one again, this time from a slightly wider angle. He sent a shot across goal with his right foot but it didn’t find the far corner.

The moment of the match came from the impressive Rhys Kelly. Lisburn had DC penned in their own box and the keeper came out to clear the ball 40 yards out. It looked like he’d cleared it far enough to give his team some respite from the pressure but it had fallen to the feet of Rhys Kelly who has become something of a specialist at long range goals this season.

With the keeper about 12 yards out from his goal, Kelly looked up and pinged the ball over the top of the keeper and it hit the back of the net without bouncing. Fantastic technique and vision from arguably the best midfielder in the U14 Lisburn League.

The second half saw Lisburn keep the pressure on DC without creating many more clear cut chances. Skipper Thomas McComb did get a third goal for Lisburn when he smashed a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Ross Hull had another chance late on but yet again the keeper kept him out not once but twice.

It was another key three points as they stay level with Windmill at the top of the league with two games in hand. Windmill have only one league game left.

youth U13s

After four consecutive league wins, the boys were playing exceptionally well and more importantly, enjoying their football again.

Lisburn Youth took on a well organised Oxford Sunnyside, the boys started reasonably well and found a lot of space down the right side.

Jamie Kirkwood created a couple of half chances but unfortunately they couldn’t get the finish they were looking for.

Sunnyside became more involved and got their goal through a quick counter and good vision from the Sunnyside player before a neat finish into the corner made it 1-0 at half-time.

A free-kick doubled Sunnyside’s lead just after the break and the third and final blow came when a Sunnyside forward hit a wonder strike from outside the box.

The game finished 3-0 to Oxford Sunnyside.

It was a disappointing way for an in-form Lisburn Youth side to end the season but the previous four wins showed the side are more than capable of challenging. With a strong pre-season, the boys will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

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