Match Report

Match : 1st XI v Antrim
Date : 2003-04-23
Venue : A
Score : 2-4
Scorers : Hermon, P. Reid

By Stephen Swann

The annual Billy Williamson trophy match saw yet another defeat for the Green Machine. However, considering the relative league positions of the two teams, the result was credible.

Indeed, East should've been 1-0 up before Antrim had touched the ball, but Burgess drove his shot wide of the target after having waltzed past most of the Antrim defenders.

That seemed to put a spring to Antrim's step, though as they upped a gear. With the extra fitness and the quicker tempo, the Antrim team began to exert pressure on the "green" goal. They were duly rewarded, not once, not even twice but three times in the first half.

A Hermon reverse stick goal following a short corner attempt gave the scoreline respectability at half-time.

The second half was a stunning affair as far as Graeme Cooke was concerned. No matter what was thrown at him by the Antrim forwards... he ensured that the ball didn't cross his goal-line. Watch out Hamill - your position is under threat!

A bizarre incident led to a Paul Reid goal, but by that stage Antrim had got the fourth goal they deserved.

The game ended in a 4-2 win for the home team, though all would agree that the game was competitive and enjoyable.

G Cooke
A Murphy
D Menaul
G Reid
M McDonald
A Burgess
D Caldwell
N Hermon
S Nicholl
L Currie
S Swann
P Reid

G Cooke - Outstanding