SERC in Top Form in Schools Cup

Wellington 2 – 9 SERC

The soccer team at South Eastern Regional College Downpatrick campus got off to a flying start in the second round of the Under 18’s School Cup against Wellington College, when Ryan Montgomery evaded the defensive rearguard to score with just two minutes on the clock.

Wellington were dealt another blow soon after, when their keeper and defender collided when trying to clear the ball, resulting in the keeper having to be substituted with a defender stepping into goals!

The SERC team who played well in the Schools Cup against Wellington.

SERC tested the replacement with a few long range shots, but the new keeper equipped himself well and was more than up to the task.

After another fifteen minutes of football mostly contested between the midfielders, Wellington hit back with a superb 20 yard strike from William Sunstrum which SERC’s keeper could only get finger tips to.

SERC then got lucky just before half time with a cross shot from Jamie Morrow, catching the keeper unawares and flying into the back of the net, leaving SERC going into the break with the narrowest of margins – half-time score 2-1.

Again, SERC started the half the brighter with top marks man Ryan Montgomery once again outwitting the Wellington defense, to finish well one-on-one with the keeper.  SERC then scored two quick goals, both from Anton McGrattan, whose second goal was named ‘Goal of the Game’.

At 5-1 it would have been easy for Wellington to lie down but they continued to fight hard and their efforts were rewarded with a superb header from their best player on the day, Karl Bowen, to make it 5-2 setting off a wild celebration.

SERC, who played a fantastic match despite getting pounded repeatedly by defenders, had enough left in the tank to dribble into the penalty area at speed and slip a square pass.  SERC pushed on in the closing stage when Montgomery and McGrattan completed their hat-trick.

Goals from Stephen Kennedy and Coalan Dorrian finished of an overall great team performance from SERC who are through to the next round of the U-18’s Schools Cup. SERC will now play Banbridge Academy.

“The win is testament to the hard work, dedication and skills of the entire team,” said Philip Traynor, Team Coach and Sports Lecturer.

SERC Scorers:  Bowen, McGrattan (3), Sunstrum,  Montgomery, Morrow, Kennedy, Dorrian.