18 Jan Match Reports – 14/01/23
CYFC u15’s 2-4 Portadown
Last Saturday the 2008’s travelled to Brownstown 3G to face Portadown in their opening National League fixture of 2023.
Buoyed by a fine result against Oxford Sunnyside in the League Cup the previous weekend and some good pre-Christmas results, the Blues started sharply with Caleb Talbot going close in the opening 10 minutes.
Cookstown raced into the lead a few minutes later with a superb finish by James Mulgrew.
Ten minutes later an audacious right footed strike from the Red’s left winger flew past keeper Benjamin Patterson to level proceedings.
On twenty-five minutes Joshua Burton met a superb corner from Jake Donnelly, powering his header home from 15 yards. But minutes later Cookstown’s defence stood off the Portadown striker on the edge who powered home the equaliser inside Patterson’s right hand post despite an offside appeal in the build up.
Into the second half in a physical and scrappy affair Portadown dominated possession and chances with the wind on their backs. Another offside appeal was waived on by the referee as Portadown took the lead in controversial circumstances. A deflated Cookstown had one chance mishit in the box before an error secured Portadown their fourth goal and all three points.
TEAM:- B. Patterson, G. Russo, H. McKenzie, J. Burton, J. Price, C. McCrory, J. Donnelly, I. Kelso, B. Mulgrew, J. Mulgrew, C. Talbot, J. Ferson, A. McElhatton.