The visitor’s had opened the scoring in the 9th minute after a defensive error, but Andy Hooke’s deserved equaliser just on the break, had the scores level at 1-1 at half-time, with everything to play for in this semi-final of the Shield. Unfortunately, we conceded a 2nd goal just 3 minutes after the re-start and never really recovered with Blackforge adding 3 more to advance to the Shield final.

VEC players celebrate Tom Wrynne’s 60th minute goal which decided this Premier Division Shield tie. It was a brilliant left foot low strike ‘out of the blue’ from outside the penalty area, which gave the visiting goalkeeper no chance.

Oisín Kinsella (left in pic.) opens the scoring in the 43rd minute to give VEC a 1-0 lead going into the break. However, the visitors equalised just 4 minutes after the re-start before Neill Love restored our lead on the hour mark with a fine header from Oisín’s lovely corner. The lead only lasted 10 minutes when Rialto scored their 2nd. But then, that man Oisín once again restored our lead with a blistering shot after a scorching run. Unfortunately, the visitors had the last say, when awarded and scoring a fortuitous penalty with just 5 minutes remaining.

Aidan Hyland’s equalizer for VEC in the 28th minute and his second goal in the 65th minute.

A slip in the wet conditions allowed Harding IF score the first goal / Oisin Kinsella taking on the visitors.