Youngsters clinch title

Going into the game MCA knew one point would be enough and with the Sky Blues in second place needing a victory to have any chance of league success it was never going to be easy.

City started nervously and allowed the home side to come on to them. A long ball up field with the wind behind it caught the MCA defence out and a hesitation behind defender and keeper allowed the lively striker to take full advantage and put his side in front. City settled a little after that and Dale Armstrong was unlucky when about to shoot in good position inside the box the ball took a bad bounce and he shot over.

A misplaced pass in midfield by the visitors allowed the Magherfelt forward to put his side two goals to the good. After this goal City set about getting themselves back into the game and Jamie Robinson, Luke Toland and Cahir McMonagle all had shots on goal but couldn’t trouble the keeper.

With five minutes left in the half Cahir McMonagle thought he had won his side a penalty when through on goal the centre half bungled him over from behind inside the box only for the referee to wave play on.

With the wind now behind them in the second half City were confident they could get back into the game quickly and Cahir McMonagle obliged with forty minutes on the clock. Pushed wide by some good defending he was allowed on to his right foot and shot high and hard into top corner to give City a boost.

Most of the game was now being played in the Sky Blue half although they did commit men forward on the counter attack and gave City problems throughout.

MCA had plenty of possession and got to the edge of the Magherfelt box were they ran into a body of committed defenders, City managed a few shots but they were either wide or comfortable for the keeper.

The home side were defending well and did manage to create two guilt edge chances to kill the game off but with some good defending, goalkeeping and bad finishing City were still in the game. Marc Dixon who along with Cahir McMonagle was causing panic in the Blues backline and when they combined with five minutes to go Dixon worked the space for McMonagle to run into and when he was given a sight of goal he made no mistake to level the game.

The last five minutes were full of nerves but City were not going to give Magherfelt any way back into the game and when the final whistle was blown the celebrations began. City have one league game left when they host Causeway Colts next Saturday.

Huge congratulations to all the players involved with the Under 11’s from all the coaches, players and parents at Maiden City Academy, the success has been well earned with the commitment, effort and skill given in training every week.