Match Reports

YM DRAW AT WHITEHEAD 1-1

The YM travelled to Whitehead Eagles on Saturday to play in one of the few fixtures to escape the bad weather. Despite the heavy rain during the week the pitch was in excellent condition and both sides contributed to a good game of football.

The YM started the game in the same vein as the previous two matches; letting the home team dominate all over the pitch! Although the home side was having the lion's share of possession it was the YM who should have taken the lead. Jonny Small raced onto a through ball and with the keeper stranded at the edge of his box he lifted his effort over the keeper but unfortunately for the YM the ball bounced the wrong side of the upright!

With regular centre back Gardner missing Adam Howell filled in and took command as they home side piled on the pressure. The YM back four of Dickson, Patterson, Howell and Frazer were in terrific form and they had to be as the YM midfield failed to get a grip on the match.

The home side took the lead after half an hour when the right winger got goal side of the defence for the first time in the game! A great through ball and a well timed run and he was in to slot the ball past Chalmers in goal as the ball hit the post and rolled agonizingly along the goal line before it squeezed in at the other post.

Going into the second half a goal down the YM could count themselves lucky as it could have been much worse in a half dominated by the home side. The second half however was to be a totally different spectacle as the YM simply passed their opponents off the park.

From back to front the YM looked confident and comfortable on the ball, with young Joe Cole continuing to impress on the left and Lemmon causing havoc on the right the YM began to create chances. Big Jonny headed over from a Lemmon Cross before substitute Bests driven shot was well saved by the home keeper.

Ed Sprake and skipper Bailie were now totally in control in the middle and hard working debutant Jonny McAllister was causing all sorts of problems for the Eagles with his tireless running up front.

But neat football doesn't win games; goals win games and for all their dominance it looked like the YM were going to come away empty handed as the home defence rode their luck and the keeper pulled of save after save.

With time running out up stepped man of the match Lemmon as his run from his own box created the opening for Small to snatch the equalizer. Lemo picked the ball up on the edge of the box ran to the half way line, played a neat one-two with sub I Boyd before racing to the line and crossing for Small to nod home from a tight angle.

But for the Home keeper the YM could have taken all three points as Legg picked out Small in the box; Small turned the centre half 8 yards out and smashed the ball goalwards. The keeper somehow got his finger tips to the ball and it grazed the post and behind for a corner. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Adam Howell but his effort was smashed high over the bar and the ref brought the game to an end.

Definitely a game of two halves as the YM finally showed

what they are capable of with an inspired second half display that was just lacking that wee bit of luck in front of goal
 

Howell and Cole were excellent for the YM on the day but Michael Lemmon just pipped them for man of the match.

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