| Date | 06 May 2010 |
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| Competition | JUNIOR 6 (PLAYOFF FOR JUNIOR 5 PROMOTION) |
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| Scorers | STEPHEN MITCHELL LUKE MCCLURG CONOR WINNING CONOR BANNISTER |
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| Man of the Match | LUKE MCCLURG |
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PROMOTION SECURED!
The 2ndX1 played its best hockey of the season in this playoff for promotion to Junior 5, against Newry, at Deramore.
The 2s passed the ball quickly, using the full width of the pitch, with every member of the squad supporting each other brilliantly. Campbellians had already won two penalty corners, when a Newry defender stopped the ball on the line with his foot, giving away a penalty stroke. Stephen Mitchell expertly opened his account with a cracking strike to the bottom left corner, giving the opposition ‘keeper absolutely no chance.
Newry struggled to deal with the Campbellians onslaught, and started to give away a number of needless free hits, leading to more penalty corner opportunities for the men in green. The second goal came after a fantastic bit of play from the back. The defence secured possession and moved the ball quickly to the midfield, where it was picked up by Luke McClurg. A couple of quick passes between himself and Stephen Johnston, took McClurg into the Newry half where Conor Winning played the supporting role. A sublime interchange of passes followed. The two made several "1-2s" to get into the circle where they made another 2 passes in front of the keeper before Winning slotted it home.
A third and fourth quickly followed. Luke McClurg getting on the score sheet himself, with a great sweep from the edge of the circle, after a pinpoint cross from the right by captain Tristan Barry. Moments later, Conor Bannister left the opposition defence no chance with his speed and skill, charging into the Newry circle before drawing the keeper and sweeping the ball into the bottom left corner. Four Nil at the break; and Campbellians looked hungry for more.
In the second period, Campbellians still played some great hockey; but after the heroics of the first half, it was perhaps understandable that they seemed to take the collective foot off the gas, allowing Newry to get back into the match. The Newry team, determined to make some sort of impact and justify their presence in the playoff, struck back twice, and put Campbellians under pressure on a number of occasions. However, the seconds still created a number of chances at the other end; and although the clinical finishing of the first half had apparently deserted them, the initial blitzkrieg proved enough to secure the 3 points, and promotion to Junior 5.
This was a cracking performance by the entire squad. Stephen Johnston, Robbie Sholdis, Niall Gilmer and Adam Orr all led by example; but Luke McClurg edged the MOTM vote with a terrific game, having a hand in several of the best attacking moves and working hard with Adam Orr in the centre of midfield against some very skilled Newry players.
A fantastic end to a fantastic season.
TRISTAN BARRY.