08 Oct Match Reports – 07/10/23
CYFC u11’s Juniors 3 – 1 Bandbridge Town Panthers
First half started as a shock for this under 10 team playing their 1st 9-a-side a year up as they went 1-0 down in the first minute but they soon took control of the game and some good passing got them into their rhythm. Some good work from Adam toal and Jenson bell in midfield got the ball to ryan Mc’Cullagh who set up Luke fearon to take his goal well
Lots of pressure continued from the juniors with Ryan adding a second soon after to make it 2-1 at half time.
With the defence of zac, jack and Kyle being very steady at the back it give the team loads of confidence going forward ruairi kelly and James Lennox putting in tackles and covering lots of the pitch putting the banbridge team under pressure Reuben Gallagher set up Ryan to score his 2nd of the game. Harris hill in goals made a good save near the end to help the team go through to the next round
Squad: H.Hill, J.Kirkpatrick, Z.Johnston, K.Chambers, R.Kelly (C), A.Toal, J.Bell, L.Fearon, R.McCullagh, J.Lennox, R.Gallagher
MOTM – Ryan Mc’Cullagh
CYFC u12’s Youth 4 – 2 Moira
The boys made the journey to Lurgan Park for a first round game against Moira. Both teams showing a bit of nerves and not really creating many chances and were struggling to get any momentum. The game was looking like it would be a draw at half time until an own goal from the Moira defender seen the Cookstown lads go in at the break 1 nil up.
Second half the boys looked more like themselves creating more chances and some good passes from Liam, Cillian and Joshua. The boys were awarded a free kick around 20 yards out and up stepped Zack who smashed it home to double the lead. The skipper Keegan Kelly met an inswinging corner from the right to get his 2nd of the season and make it 3 nil.
Moira didn’t give up and some nice play seen them get a goal back, 3-1. A great kick out from Riley Donnell seen zack race onto the ball and grab his 2nd of the game to make it 4-1. A few minutes to go and moira weren’t ready to give up and seen them pull another goal back to make it 4-2. Game over, and another win for the boys from Cookstown and see them into the next round of the NIBFA Cup where they will play Dungannon united youth NL side at Musa next Saturday.
Man of the match for today was Liam Montgomery who defending really well and made some great passes.
Squad: Riley Donnell, Liam Montgomery, Keegan Kelly, Caiden Ohagan, Cathal Devlin, Reece Hughes, Cameron Donnelly, Cillian Conway, Jamie Loughran, Zack Nellins, Noah Young, Danny Kelly, Joshua Donnelly.
Craigavon City 2 – 3 CYFC u14’s MUYL
Cookstown came up the M1 with all three points, in what was a hugely entertaining game. With only the bare eleven players travelling down and facing last season’s league and cup winners, Craigavon City, things looked ominous for the visitors. Few minutes in and the boys started to find their rhythm, with Dobson and Rogers linking up well to release Timoney who’s shot was smartly saved by the Craigavon goalkeeper. With both teams looking to get the ball down and play, the game was open and end to end. Craigavon drew first blood, Cookstown had the chance to clear but were caught in possession on the edge of their own box and Craigavon’s #10 drove ball into top right hand corner. Just as the half was drawing to a close, with seconds left, Timoney unleashed a piledriver which cannoned off the post and Rogers was the quickest to react to the rebound and he duly slotted the ball home. Great way to end the first half.
Second half is were the game burst into life with three more goals and a red card. From a Cookstown goal kick, the ball was worked across the back line, via Compton and York, to the right back Keane, he took one touch and moved it up the line to Dobson. After some neat footwork from Dobson, dancing past a few Craigavon players and evading two or three challenges, his inch perfect through ball slid Timoney in towards goal, Timoney took one touch before nutmegging the oncoming defender and burying his shot into the bottom corner. Brilliant goal! Minutes later, Craigavon were reduced to ten as one of their subs, only on the pitch ten minutes, lashed out after being fouled in the middle of the park. Craigavon were still a threat with the ten men but Cookstown went 3-1 up after excellent work from Rogers and Burton released Timoney for his second of the day. Rogers was causing havoc, driving forward from midfield but after he got bottled up, he smartly laid the ball back to Burton who took one touch before playing a sublime ball over the top for Timoney, he took it down with an exquisite first touch, held off the defender before rifling his shot past the onrushing goalkeeper. Craigavon pulled one back with only minutes to spare after hesitant and indecisive defending left their centre forward with a free strike on goal and he made no mistake. This meant a nervy last minute or two for the visitors and only for a wonder save from O’Hagan in the Cookstown goal, Craigavon may have earned a point. From the resulting corner, Cookstown cleared their lines by hooking the ball up the field and the final whistle went, ensuring the Cookstown boys took all three points.
With everyone putting in an unreal shift, there was no clear and obvious player of the match but a few standout performers were York, Burton, Rogers and Timoney.
Squad: Ruairi O’Hagan, Andrew Keane, Lewis York, Matthew Compton, Luke Compton, Caleb Burton, Brooklyn Dobson, Tyler Rogers, Caleb Bell, Jonah Davidson, Orann Timoney
CYFC U17’s 3 – 2 Tollymore
Cookstown started off slowly and found themselves behind early on. Tollymore continued to dominate early on with Cookstown struggling to get their usual free-flowing football going. Slowly but surely the Cookstown lads worked their way into the game and started to play out from the back. But when Russo took a heavy touch on the edge of his own box it allowed Tollymore to double their lead. This kickstarted the youth you gained a new lease of life and took full advantage when a high press resulted in a poor kick out from the keeper who’s kick landed at Burns feet and he fired a rocket low into the keepers right hand corner.
After the break Cookstown continued to press high and assert more dominance on the game. But the back line of Ferson, Loughran, Burton and Grimes had to stay alert to the counter attack. Talbot and Mota worked tiredless up front and Quinn and Burns swapped wings to give the fullbacks a different task. Cookstown then found themselves level when good work down the left from Burns who cut it back to Donnelly and from 20 yards out rifled one into the top corner. Cookstown then found themselves in front for the 1st time in the game when a half cleared corner was put away by Mota for his 1st goal for Cookstown. Shortly after he was replaced by McElhatton who played a bit deeper adding the extra man in midfield. They game was nearly level again only for Murray making a wonderful stop with only 5 mins lefts on the clock. Cookstown continued to defend well and cleared their lines to see out the win.
A great win for the young lads who showed great determination and fight back to come from 2 goals down to claim all 3 points. But the win came at a cost with only a few mins left on the clock a shocking challenge on Loughran as he went to clear the ball left him unable to continue and will face a few weeks on the sidelines as a result.
Squad: Murray, Ferson, Loughran, Burton, Grimes, Burns, Donnelly, Russo, Quinn, Talbot, Mota, McElhatton, Price
CYFC u18’s NL 2 – 4 Larne Youth
The u18s went into this game against Larne in confident mood after last weekends fine win over top of the table Hillsborough boys but from the first whistle it was evident that Larne were going to be no pushover.
Larne started the game with real intent pushing the Cookstown defence of Kudrenko ,Martin ,Burton and Keturaris back with their high press ,Cookstown were struggling to get to grips with Larne’s quick attacking football and overlapping runs from their full-backs. On 15mins Cookstown conceded a penalty only for Ethan Gordon to pull off a fantastic save diving to his left to push the ball behind for a corner, unfortunately for Cookstown Larne kept the pressure on and scored two goals in quick concession to race into a two goal lead. Cookstown had a couple of half chances from set pieces which McClean got his head onto but just couldn’t get the direction. Larne made it 3 five minutes before half-time to almost all but end any hopes of a comeback for Cookstown seem possible.
Half time and the coaches message was simple ,start again from 0-0 and go out and take the game to Larne and that is what they did. Peter McClean grabbed his first of the night after a sole run and left foot finish low into the corner of the net. Wilkinson and Whitten were starting to win the midfield battle working extremely hard in an out of pocession but it was Larne who struck once again to make it 4-1. Fresh legs were needed with the introduction of Sean Devlin into full back and again Cookstown continued to probe when a mix up in the Larne defense allowed Murphy to just put the ball past the post with the goal at his mercy , 10 mind left and Barry and Donnelly entered the fray with Shields and Murphy making way and once again Cookstown created another chance when Kudrenko found space down the left but the defender done well just when the goal seem to open up . A combination from Donnelly and McClean once again found Kudrenko and this time he got the better of the defender drawing a foul to win a penalty to which McClean dispatched with ease . With 5 mins left Cookstown just hadn’t the time and Larne were good enough to see the game out and take the 3 point.
From Cookstown’s point of view a poor first half but a very good 2nd half against a excellent Larne side.
Squad: Gordon, Kudrenko, Keturaris, Burton, Martin , Whitten ,Wilkinson, McClean, Shields, Fabio , Murphy , Devlin , Donnelly, Barry