The Year 10s kicked off the football season with the Douglas derby vs Ballakermeen. With this group of players previously winning the Year 8 and Year 9 competitions, it was an exciting team to watch play football again. This was demonstrated just 15 seconds into the game, when Captain Ffinlo Thomas picked up the ball on the touchline, beat a man and slid striker Thomas Lamb through on goal, who from a tight angle smashed the ball across the keeper to give the Saints a lightning quick start. The high intensity continued, with Harry Shields picking up on a lose ball in the box to fire home to make it 2-0, and a brilliant volley from Joel Prentice into the top corner to put St. Ninian's 3-0 after just 7 minutes played. The Saints then started to control the game at this moment, with midfielder Sam Sadler having a real influence on the game, progressing the ball from midfield to attack. The Saints struck again with a high press from Ffinlo from the goal kick, which panicked the Balla defender and Thomas Lamb slotted home for his second of the game and a 4-0 lead to the Saints. Fullback Joel Prentice then added a second goal of the game with an absolute wonder strike, hitting a volley from 30 yards which flew into the top corner to make it 5-0. Dynamic midfielder Harry Shields then matched this with a worldie of his own, shooting from the 35 yards past the scrambling keeper, giving the Saints a massive 6-0 lead at half time. Very few areas of improvement to be said at half time, with the only consideration that the lads would be playing against the wind in the second half. This proved a challenge for the Saints, struggling to really kick on. Goalkeeper Jacob Smith and defenders Josh Corran and JJ Cosgrove helped with this, playing long balls from the back. Despite the second half struggles, the Saints had room for one more goal. Ffinlo Thomas showed great resilience on the left hand side, chasing a lost cause, winning the ball back, beating 2 men and drilling the ball across the box, where Bobby Kewley slotted home nicely from a tight angle - a goal which his performance deserved, to make it 7-0. Ballakermeen showed fantastic character to keep pushing and were rewarded with a late consolation goal, which was a long shot from 25 yards. SNHS missed a lot of chances in the second half, but so many positives to take for the first game of the Year 10 Football season. The score line finished 7-1 to St. Ninian's in a statement victory. Man of the Match could have been any of the 14 lads who played, as every single player put in a brilliant performance. Captain Ffinlo Thomas, set a great example, both with his on and off the ball quality he demonstrated and special mentions to fullbacks Lenny Bumfrey for his calmness on the ball and Joel Prentice for his two fantastic volleys.
Year 10 Football v BHS
