New Santos vs Sport and Leisure Swifts II
New Santos' first game back in the Premier Division saw them face last seasons rivals from Division 1, Sport and Leisure Swifts II. Both sides were much changed from the clubs last encounter on the last day of the season with Santos only fielding two players who started the game in May. David Thompson and David Ferguson were making their first team debuts in a new look centre midfield while Johnny Halliday also made his debut at centre half.
The youthful Leisure side made the slightly better start but couldn't break through a solid looking Santos defence. Santos had an excellent opportunity to take the lead on 20 minutes but Conor Chambers sliced wide from 16 yards following brilliant wing play from Ciaran Caldwell. Leisure maintained the majority of the possession throughout the rest of the half but couldn't seem to find the final ball as Santos battled hard but failed to create much more of note.
Half Time: New Santos 0-0 Sport and Leisure Swifts II
The game started to turn at the beginning of the second half as Santos started to cause the Leisure defence problems with Paddy O'Reilly chasing down relentlessly and Caldwell tormenting his marker down the left. They came close to opening the league with an excellent half-volley from O'Reilly beating the keeper only to crash against the cross bar to keep the game goalless. A great save from JP Byrne from a headed effort prevented Leisure from taking the lead soon after.
On 65 minutes, Santos took the lead. A throughball from Ferguson was bravely headed clear by the Leisure keeper diving at almost ground level to prevent O'Reilly latching on but his clearance reached Caldwell who finished with a sublime first time finish from near the sideline 30 yards out. Five minutes later, Anthony McGreevys throughball found O'Reilly who finished past the keeper only for the referee to harshly rule the goal out for offside.
The let off buoyed the Swifts who came back into the game late on and got an equaliser as they finally found the right ball to break through the otherwise faultless Santos defence and their player finished well past Byrne in the Santos goal. A few late Leisure efforts from range failed to snatch a winner and an entertaining game finished at 1-1.
Full time: New Santos 1-1 Sport and Leisure Swifts II
New Santos team:
GK - J.P. Byrne
LB - Kevin Carson
CB - Johnny Halliday
CB - Martin Magee (Capt.)
RB - Colm McDonald
LM - Ciaran Caldwell
CM - David Thompson
CM - David Ferguson
RM - Conor Chambers (David Harrigan)
ST - Anthony McGreevy
ST - Paddy O'Reilly (Mick Gallagher)
Goals - C Caldwell
MOTM - To be decided.
