Jamie treble is real deal

Jamie treble is real deal

7 March 2018

RED hot Killyleagh drove 40 miles through a snow storm to collect three important league points.

And it was a day to remember for Jamie Sharvin who bagged a hat-trick as the YC inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season on St Patrick’s YM.

Conditions could not have been any worse as Killyleagh set off for Larne and the 4G pitch at The Cliff on Saturday for one of only two games to be played in the entire Amateur League. 

But the pitch was perfect for play, even if conditions were cold for the brave-hearted Killyleagh fans who made the journey.

Lee Morrison and Jamie Sharvin showed up well in the early exchanges, although it was Adam Neale who came closest to breaking the deadlock when his pile driver beat the home ‘keeper. However, it bounced down off the crossbar and didn’t cross the line.

St Patrick’s had two early chances, shooting wide and over, before Sharvin opened the scoring.

Killyleagh’s high press worked to perfection with Neale and Darren McConnell applying pressure, and when the ball broke to Morrison, he played a delicious through ball for Jamie Sharvin, who rounded the ‘keeper and slotted into the empty net.

Keegan Rice and McConnell linked to create a shooting opportunity for Jon Joe Sharvin, but he blazed over. Killyleagh’s next chance came from a Niall Walsh free from the edge of the area.

Jamie Sharvin doubled Killyleagh’s lead when he raced on to brother Jon Joe’s measured pass and slotted home.

It was far from one-way traffic, though, and St Pat’s strung together a superb move which was snuffed out by Gary Carberry.

Within minutes Killyleagh were caught out playing the offside trap and when their attacker raced into the area, ‘keeper Aaron Carberry brought him down.

It earned him a yellow card, with St Pat’s looking for a red. In what was to prove to be one of the turning points of the game, Carberry dived low to save the resultant spot kick from Rab O’Neill and the big striker then blasted the rebound over the bar.

Sharvin, playing in a more advanced role due to the absence of his younger brother Jack, completed his hat-trick early in the second half.

It was a move of some quality, started in their own half and when Morrison threaded it through, Sharvin applied a clinical 

finish.

He had a chance to make it four soon afterwards, but side-footed wide from Morrison’s pass. He had another chance before Carberry brought off two outstanding saves to thwart the north Belfast side.

Much has been written about missing players in recent weeks, but how YC manager Paul Sharvin has missed Stevie Kennedy.

He was able to introduce him as a late substitute and with his first involvement, he made it 4-0. Kennedy controlled Jamie Sharvin’s pinpoint pass for his first touch of the game, and rattled it home with his second touch.

Killyleagh were rampant by this stage, enjoying every moment of it, and when Walsh won the ball and rolled it to Jamie Sharvin, he picked out Neale’s run from his own half to sprint through and make it 5-0.

The pick of the goals was the sixth and final one. Neale surged into the area and when the ‘keeper pushed his effort out, Kennedy followed up to bend the ball round a defender and into the top pocket. It was some goal.

There was still time for promising teenage substitute Keegan Domican to sprint through and come close to scoring his first goal for the senior team. His effort, though, hit the side netting.

Three important points for Sharvin’s side which moves them into fifth place in Division 1A. It is easy to forget that when they defeated the same team 4-2 at The Showgrounds in the week before Christmas, Killyleagh were 

anchored to the bottom of the table and enduring claims they were in a relegation 

battle. 

This weekend they have the distraction of a Clarence Cup encounter when they will relish their role as underdogs away to Premiership side 1st Bangor who are lying in second place in the Premier Section.

St Patrick’s YM 0

Killyleagh YC 6

DIVISION 1A