Match Reports – 05/02/22

CYFC

09 Feb Match Reports – 05/02/22

Posted at 15:23h in General News by

Loughgall Youth 0 – 4 CYFC u12s

 
The visiting team got off to the best possible start with an opening goal in the first two minutes. James Corrigan drilling the ball into top right hand corner of the Loughgall net from a direct free kick, giving the keeper no chance. Cookstown continued to dominate the first half and a thundering strike from Davidson rattled off the underside of the crossbar and bounced up off the line for the keeper to gather. Conway was dictating things in the middle of the pitch and slipped Halligan in on goal, his shot was palmed out by the keeper and despite razor sharp reactions from Halligan to pounce on the rebound, he failed to convert. A lapse in concentration from Rogers, in the Cookstown backline, let Loughgall in for what looked a certain goal. This was until Compton, made an unbelievable last ditch tackle to thwart the Loughgall striker, just as he was about to pull the trigger! The tackle proved crucial as seconds later Cookstown went up the pitch and scored making it 2-0, opposed to the possibility of 1-1.
This goal came direct from a corner, Hampsey deliberately curling his set piece into far top right hand corner! Sublime effort! Second half with wind against them, Cookstown invited Loughgall pressure onto themselves and O’Hagan was forced into a few good saves. The introduction of some fresh legs helped settle the visitors down again, with Timoney, Martin and Loughran making an immediate impact when they came on. Third goal came when good work from Timoney and Mc Cabe released Conway, his shot was parried by the keeper and Martin tapped in the rebound. Timoney forced the keeper into another smart save, after beating two men out wide and unleashing a fierce shot with his left foot. Timoney was creating havoc in the Loughgall defence and was brought down just outside the box with ten minutes to go. From the resulting free kick, Cookstown went 4-0 up. Up stepped Martin, who placed his strike directly into the top corner of the Loughgall net! 
Man of the Match – Matthew Compton 
Team: Ruairi O’Hagan • Andrew Keane •Tyler Rogers • Matthew Compton • Conall Hampsey • Jonah Davidson • Shea Conway • James Corrigan • Kori Halligan • Orann Timoney • Hayden Martin • Aodhan Loughran • Joshua Mc Cabe • Calum Walshe 

Armagh City 1-1 CYFC U12 Colts

After winning their last two fixtures, the Colts were full of confidence to face tough opponents Armagh (who had beaten the Colts 4-1 in the previous encounter).
Colts were unfortunate not to have key players E Montgomery, J Jeffers & H Jordan available for a match that would more or less decide the final group positions.
Blustery conditions played a significant role in the first goal. A high clearance by defender R Rushe hung up in the air and allowed the Armagh striker to nip in and win a 50\50 challenge with the Colts keeper R Watters. A very unlucky and undeserved start.

Colts were not to lose spirit and rallied together to get back in the game. A great chance was created with some direct football. An accurate goal kick by captain R Rushe to the feet of M Ward was controlled well and he switched an angled pass to the threatening T Gormley whos touch was perfect to unleash a fierce effort which the keeper could only push away leaving the Colts’ lads parents on the edge of their seats.

Midfield dynamo E McElhatton produced his consistent hard working display along side C McKeever who added extra strength to snuff out any Armagh attacks. Ethan intercepted a goal kick which allowed jinky Jake Mulligan to pressure the Armagh right back and win possession. He drove goalwards and shot from a narrow angle which flashed across the backpost.

Colts continued to control possession and it wasnt long before M Ward skinned his marker and crossed from a tight angle which evaded the keeper, hitting the inside of the post and rebounding to safety.

Further Colts pressure led to a corner whipped in by M Ward and met almost perfectly by T Gormley whose header just missed the top bin. The first half finished 1-0 but this Colts team knew they had the ability and work rate to get back in the match.

It only took 5 minutes of the second half for the Colts to find the breakthrough. Another well directed long free from R Rushe was dummied  by J Mulligan who burst behind his marker. He played an exquisite pass through two Armagh defenders to find M Ward who calmed slotted the ball home first time.

The Colts were now in control and centre backs Riley Cooke and R Rushe were quick to cancel out the Armagh attacks with their tackling and clever  offside traps. Riley Watters was superb to come off his line when needed and clear any danger.

Another J Mulligan attack found M Ward whose shot was blocked by the keeper but fell to the feet of T O’Hare who struck his shot solidly but just climbed over the crossbar.

The skillful Djorkieff was introduced to the left wing and he tormented the Armagh defence winning several free kicks and corners. Despite good further efforts by M Ward and J Mulligan, the winning goal just wouldn’t come to top off another fantastic performance from these lads who improve every week.

Team: R Watters, R Cooke, R Rushe(c), E McElhatton, C McKeever, T Gormley, T O’Hare, J Mulligan, M Ward, Djorkieff, J Hamill

CYFC u16s 2-1 Lurgan Town

Cookstown got back to winning ways on Saturday after a hard fought game in blustery conditions against Lurgan Town at Mid Ulster Sports Arena.

With a few players missing the home side had to drastically change several players positions however Cookstown started well and were well organised when Lurgan had the ball. Being against a strong wind made it hard for Cookstown to get out of their half in the opening part of the game. The back line of Jamie Barry, Tom Wilkinson, Benas Keturakis and Leon Martin were well disciplined and organised to restrict Lurgan to very few chances. The midfield of Shaun Og Shields, Aaron Whitten and Jude Murphy were also battling hard and this made it difficult for Lurgan to get a real grip on the game. Chris Ward also was having an impressive start, looking very confident and positive on the ball having just returned from injury. Despite the pressure from Lurgan, Cookstown took the lead from a well struck Leon Martin free kick after Ciaran Devlin had been fouled on the edge of the box. The strong winds then played their part minutes later when a short corner from Lurgan wasn’t tracked quickly enough and they then floated a cross in to the box which the wind carried into the net at the back post.

At half time, Cookstown were encouraged to keep doing what they had been and the boys continued to battle hard as the half began. Lurgan were now on the back foot and struggled to test really Ethan Gordon for the rest of the game. Tom Wilkinson and Benas Keturakis were frustrating the Lurgan forwards and this led to one of their strikers picking up a red card. The home side used this to their advantage and were now looking more likely to score. Shaun Og Shields was working extremely hard and was battling to help his team push for the win. Darragh McHugh was introduced to add some pace going forward. In the dying minutes it looked as though the game would finish as a draw when a chance fell to Aaron Whitten but his shot was fired over the bar. Then, Cookstown took the lead in final two minutes when again a chance fell at the back post, this time to Darragh McHugh who made no mistake and fired the ball into the net to the delight of all the players and coaches

Team: Ethan Gordon (c), Jamie Barry, Tom Wilkinson, Benas Keturakis, Leon Martin, Aaron Whitten, Shaun Og Shields, Jude Murphy, James Bell, Ciaran Devlin, Chris Ward, Darragh McHugh