Fresh hope for Amateurs in bid to avoid finishing bottom

Carniny Amateurs under-19s secured a welcome victory in their NIFL Youth League Section B with a 3-1 success over Carrick Rangers at the Showgrounds on Saturday.
Carniny Youth U19 player, Shane McKernan slots past the Carrick Keeper for the second goal in their 3-1 win on Saturday.Carniny Youth U19 player, Shane McKernan slots past the Carrick Keeper for the second goal in their 3-1 win on Saturday.
Carniny Youth U19 player, Shane McKernan slots past the Carrick Keeper for the second goal in their 3-1 win on Saturday.

Carniny put in a first class performance showing a lot of steel to come back from a goal down to eventually earn all three points.

Carniny had a lot to prove in this game having recently been eliminated by Rangers in the League Cup by the odd goal in five.

The visitors started well and looked strong although never really tested the home keeper. On 15 minutes though Carrick broke down the left and a cross into the box struck the arm of Amateurs defender Hart and a penalty was awarded.

The first attempt was well saved by Monaghan in goal for the home side but unfortunately the spot kick was ordered to be retaken due to an infringement in the box and this time was converted to give Rangers the lead.

Carniny though didn’t lie down and their persistence paid off when on 40 minutes a long throw from Waring was met by Mekdade who turned in the box to half volley the ball into the net and score an equaliser.

The second period was as competitive as the first with both sides throwing all into attack although neither keeper was really troubled.

On the hour the persistence of McKernan paid off when, after chasing a lost cause, the ball fell to the visiting keeper who sliced his clearance into the path of the striker and he coolly fired into the net to give Carniny the lead.

This seemed to lift Amateurs and they went for more goals and were rewarded on 80 minutes when a shot from McKernan fell to Mekdade who fired into the bottom of the net. Carniny held out to earn all three points and make for a happy holiday weekend.

The result gives Carniny fresh hope of avaoiding finishing in bottom place in their debut season in the NIFL Youth League.

They are now level on points with Carrick but, such is the tightness of the bottom half of the league, one victory could potentially see them rise to sixth in the 10 team division!

Carniny: Monaghan, McComb, Waring, Hart, Bunting, Rainey, Mekdade, Balmer, McKernan, Jaworski, Price, Hagan, Calderwood, Mairs, Burns.

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