Groomsport 2
Lower Shankill 0
GROOMSPORT marked their NAFL Division 2B title triumph with trophy celebrations after they rounded off a successful season with a comfortable victory at home to Lower Shankill.
Jack Ennis got the occasion off to the ideal start when he netted the opener after 16 minutes, and Harvey Armstrong quickly doubled the scoring, adding to celebratory mood of those in attendance before half-time.
The Port managed the second half with minimal fuss, confirming what was expected even before kick-off, a 15th straight league win for the kings of the division.
Surprisingly, it was the visitors who started the game on the attacking foot, creating the first two chances of a match-up that was expected to be one-sided from start to finish.
James Dodds was first to try his luck, after six minutes, rising to meet a long throw, directing a header goalward and forcing Ben Hollinger to make a crucial block in the six-yard box.
Less than a minute later, Jamie Haveron took aim from long range, testing goalkeeper David Hill with an ambitious, yet troublesome effort.
Groomsport, intent on protecting their winning streak and ending the season on a high, eventually got going and began to show the attacking threat that had seen them crowned champions.
Ennis swooped on a stray ball from the away defence, charged through on goal and kept his cool to beat ‘keeper Conan Russell with a classy dink, netting his 33rd goal of the season in all competitions.
Travis Carson came to within inches of doubling the home advantage just three minutes later, sprinting away from his marker, chopping inside and curling narrowly wide of the far post.
The Port created another opportunity almost immediately and although Ennis battled to win possession and cut back to Armstrong, the winger stabbed wide of the mark.
Still, they would not have long to wait to ripple the net for a second time, as Ennis skilfully flicked the ball over the head of Gary Anderson, controlled it with his head and found Armstrong for a tap-in.
The champions were dominating at that point, but they almost gifted their opponents a route back into the contest in the 32nd minute, when a wayward back pass from Carson sent Dodds into a one-on-one with Hill, who made a fantastic sprawling save.
The match descended into chaos in the run-up to the interval, after Shankill defender Philip Gordon was on the receiving end of an overzealous challenge and reacted by lifting his hands to the head of an opponent.
Gordon avoided a red card, but the toing and froing continued for several minutes and away manager Jason Haveron and his assistant, Jonathan McMeekin were dismissed, with the half-time whistle a welcome sound.
Tempers cooled during the break and although there was nothing riding on the result, that did not stop the two sides from playing a competitive end to the campaign after the restart.
The first meaningful shot of the second half came from the visiting Dodds, in the 53rd minute, who took Hill by surprise with a strike from distance, asking questions with an attempt that had to be tipped away from the top corner.
Russell, intent on matching the heroics of his goalkeeping counterpart, made an equally impressive stop moments later, denying the swivelling shot of Jamie Miller.
Ennis will have been frustrated to fall one goal short of 20 in the league, especially given his wasted opportunities in the second period, failing to pull off a second chipped effort and mishitting another shot from close range.
The season-ending victory was already in the bag for the home side as the clock reached 90 minutes, but that did not stop them from attempting to add to their tally.
Armstrong was close to doing just that on the final attack of the night, directing a free header into the ground at the back post, only for Russell to anticipate the bounce and palm clear.
Groomsport will now be looking ahead to next season, returning to Division 2A, and will aim to consolidate their position in the higher league.
Groomsport: D Hill, B Hollinger, A Ellis, T Kennedy (captain), C McCormick, S Robbie, H Armstrong, M Walsh, J Ennis, J Miller, T Carson. Subs: A Smyth, C Shaw, R Reid.
