No complaints from either side in thrilling clash
WHAT a smashing game between two quite evenly matched sides who played admirably with a lot of players catching the eye at different stages.
And a draw was a fair outcome at the Rock Road in the under-12 first division .
The home side made more clear-cut chances, and really exerted strong pressure on Glenmuir in the early part of the second-half with Destiny Ezeke leading the charge with his power and pace on the right wing.
However, Glenmuir managed to keep their goal intact thanks in large measure to goalkeeper Acambu, and turned the tables to take the lead with a sweetly taken goal by Nojus Andizlous, drilling his shot low into the bottom corner of the net as the ball fell kindly to his feet inside the home team’s penalty box.
But Bay gained their just reward less than ten minutes later when the very accomplished and very effective defender Boris Bikou won a vital tackle on the left side just inside the Glenmuir half. He passed inside to namesake Bill Bikou who, in turn , transferred the ball to the very busy and skilful CJ McMahon in space on the right side of the penalty box and he finished with an emphatic strike inside the post.
Bay created three good chances to take all three points but the score stood at one all, and neither side could quibble much about the outcome. They provided great entertainment and it will be interesting in the future to see how several players displaying much potential from both sides progress.
In the early stage there was a great tussle between Glenmuir’s Sean Duffy and Bay’s right back Bill Bikou. The former’s pace troubled his marker and he had the better of his opponent at the start, but the Bay player got to grips with him and gained his measure.
However, it was not before Duffy sprinted past the right back and set up his side’s goalscorer in front of goal who was foiled by a point blank save by Sean Brennan.
The play swung quickly to the other end where Abraham Badmus spurned the first of a handful of opportunities where he got clear of the Glenmuir defence in the opening period with only the home goalkeeper to beat.
Bay goalkeeper Brennan proved his mettle again with a fine save at the foot of the post from Duffy, and his counterpart Acambu brought off excellent saves from Badmus and Ezeke ensuring the half ended scoreless.
But it just couldn’t stay that way with the clear-cut openings that were being made. Bay seemed destined to break the stalemate with Ezeke’s pace and power too much for the Glenmuir defence as he tore apart their left flank, but instead it was Glenmuir.
Duffy in a counter attack had a great opportunity but shot wide with Brennan only to beat. Then Acambu produced the best save of the match with Bay still in full cry and stringing together lovely combination moves.
They could easily have thrown in the towel after such a searching examination of the Glenmuir defence was fruitless, but bounced back and Badmus and Jamie Fealy might have won them all three points. BAY: Sean Brennan, Bill Biekou, Boris Biekou, Lee Hoey, CJ McMahon, Diarmuid Kelly, Daniel Gregory, Abraham Badmus, Jamie Fealy, Dylan Gilmore, Conor McCabe, Destiny Ezeke. Manager, Michael Dillon.
GLENMUIR Athletic: Acambu, Shane Lennon, Finn Flanagan, Sean Duffy, Aiou Alowale, Liam Rogers, Erik Nomika, Callum Clarke. Nojus Andizlous, Ben Mulholland, Jack Murphy, Daniel Craven, Josh Casey. Manager, Gary Rogers.