On Sunday 16th of February, Five teams from Glentoran Academy set off to represent the club in friendly matches against Manchester City (development squad), Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. The teams, spanning four age groups, gave a fine demonstration of the huge potential and emerging talent bursting out of the Oval Youth ranks at present with a series of magnificent performances.
On Arrival in Manchester on Sunday the boys received a tour of Manchester City’s training complex including a short video presentation of City’s £180million Academy Development Project, the boys took the opportunity to ask questions to City’s Academy Manager and suss out their opponents for the following day!
On Monday morning all our travelling teams played against Man City, first up was the under 14s who out played their illustrious opponents for long spells in the game before eventually succumbing to a 1-0 defeat.
Our talented under 13 squad, buoyed by the strong showing of the older boys, came out with no fear and had City stunned with a quick fire start as they raced into an early 2 goal lead. Eoin Brown and an OG. City pulled a goal back before Glentoran re-established the two goal advantage through Eoin Brown getting his second of the game. Manchester City grabbed a second late on to make for a nervy finish but the Glens held on for a well-deserved and impressive win.
Next up our under 12 took on their City counterparts and turned in the performance of the day securing a brilliant 3-1 win. Star in the making Barry Baggley opened the scoring with a glorious long range effort before Callum McVeigh scored to make it 2-0. Just as in the under 13 match – City made it a nervy finish by pulling back to 2-1 but Peter McKiernan settled those nerves with a thunderous right foot volley into the top corner.
Finally our under 11 squad split into two 7 aside teams and played four games in total against City’s youngest starlets and the boys produced some magic to secure 2 draws and two very narrow defeats against some very impressive young talent. The Glens scored goals through Callum Marshall and Seamus Duffy.
Following the games the boys went for a tour of Old Trafford before retiring to the Hotel for a well-deserved rest and dinner.
On Tuesday morning the Under 14s were dropped off at Bolton Wanderers training ground for a friendly against Bolton’s Academy side, who were fresh from a 4-1 league victory over Manchester United on the previous Sunday! The Glens went 2 goals down inside ten minutes as they struggled to cope with the class of their opponents, however, after the initial nerves settled Glentoran came storming back into the game and created several chances before Callum Carson scored direct from a free kick to halve the deficit.
Glentoran piled on the pressure but unfortunately a combination of resolute Bolton defending and an inspired goalkeeping performance kept the Glens at Bay and Bolton claimed a 2-1 win.
The rest of the party travelled 30 minutes on up the road to Blackburn where they all played against Blackburn Rovers Academy. The games took place inside Blackburn’s impressive training complex with the first team training just a few pitches over.
Blackburn’s elite players proved a tough nut to crack for the Glens teams, fresh from their heroics of the day before against City but Glentoran once again showed their own class as they produced some magnificent performances.
First off the u11s played some excellent football and scored some cracking goals through Charlie Lindsay, Conor Sullivan and Callum Marshall although they eventually lost their games.
Next the under 12, fresh from a 3-1 win over City produced a goal fest in a 5-5 draw!
The Glens went one nil up through Ritchie Patterson but a quick Blackburn turn around saw the Glens go 3-1 behind. Glentoran’s young stars then staged their own remarkable turnaround to storm into a 5-3 lead before Blackburn finished strongly and pulled back to 5 all in a trill a minute contest. Corai Quinn got on the score sheet in the amazing come back. The highlight of the game here being Ruairi Gallaghers quick fire 7 minute hat-trick.
The story of the trip unfolded in the under 13 game however, in another explosion of goals and drama where the Glens went into a 1 nil lead with a super strike by man of the match Ben Cushnie. Blackburn managed to equalise against the run of play to leave the game tied at 1-1 after the first period of 20 minutes. The second period saw the Glens rocked back on their heels as Blackburn blitzed them with three goals inside 5 minutes to leave the Glens faithful fearing the worst and staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat.
At 4-1 down, tired and up against quality opposition the players could have been forgiven for thinking of damage limitation but this young Glentoran side is made of sterner stuff and staged the most remarkable of come backs.
The Glens threw everything bar the kitchen sink at Blackburn and got back into the game when Eoin Brown scored to make it 4-2. Soon after Josh McAteer placed a cheeky back heel through the goal keepers legs for 4-3 and the comeback was on! Eoin Brown grabbed his second of the game, and fourth of the trip, for the equaliser to leave Blackburn stunned.
The Glens sensed the Blackburn players were shell shocked and went in for the knockout blow and after a series of probes at the Rovers back line Matthew Strain got on the end of a glorious cross from Cushnie to glance home the winner!
A breath taking game ending in a fabulous 5-4 win for the Glens that just encapsulated up the attitude, character and talent on display from all of the young players representing the club this week.
The coaches of the U11, U12, U13 and U14 would like to congratulate the players from all the teams for being such tremendous ambassadors for Glentoran FC.