16 Oct Match Reports – 14/10/23
CYFC u11’s Juniors 1 – 1 Portadown u11s
(CYFC defeated on Penalties)
On a bright cool morning at MUSA, Cookstown were going in as underdogs in the NIFBA cup against a strong Portadown team, who have been going really well in the league so far this season. The game started slowly as both teams were struggling to get any flow in the game but an early free kick taken by Ryan MCCullagh narrowly missed the head of Adam Toal. On 9 minutes Portadown broke through only for Harris Hill to get out of his line and make a super block to keep the game goalless. Cookstown began to settle into the game and Adam Toal found Ruairi Kelly who drove his shot narrowly wide. Then just before half time Luke Fearon forced the Portadown centre back into a mistake and finding Ryan McCullagh who skipped past the last defender and drilled a shot heading just under the crossbar only for the keeper to make a fingertip save to keep the game level at half time.
Portadown began the second half strongly and continued to find Harris Hill in nets in top form. He made two great saves to keep Portadown out. A though ball from Jensen Bell to Ryan McCullagh, cleverly got past the last defender onlv for the Portadown keeper to make a strong save, which fell for Luke Fearon to smash towards the goal only for the keeper to somehow make a diving save and tip it around the post. Mid way through the second half Cookstown lost Jack Kirkpatrick due to an injury from a fantastic last ditch tackle. Again Portadown applied the pressure and the centre forward broke through again only for Hill in nets to smother the forward and make the save. Portadown did find the net but was rightly ruled offside. With a very tight last 5 mins the game ended nil each, which was a massive result for the boys as they were playing a strong Portadown team who are a year older.
Unfortunately, the boys lost in the penalty shootout.
The boys should be immensely proud of their performance this week and wish Portadown all the best in the rest of the competition.
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 – Adam Toal
CYFC u17’s 3 – 2 Lurgan Celtic
Cookstown started off well in the opening few mins but soon found themselves on the back foot as Lurgan took control and found themselves in front after a shot cannoned off the crossbar cookstown failed to clear and the Lurgan midfielder hammered home taking full advantage. Lurgan nearly doubled their lead only for a good stop from Murray to keep the game at 1-0. On the stroke of half time Cookstown nearly levelled against the run of play when a Donnelly corner was met on the volley by Burton only to see his effort graze the crossbar.
After a stern half time team talk Cookstown came out with more intensity in the 2nd half but with them pressing high up the pitch they nearly got caught out only for Murray to dive bravely at the feet of the attacker to keep the score at 1-0. Cookstown where soon level after good word down the right by Burns found Gibson in the box who passed it into the corner of the goal. Cookstown then found themselves in front when Donnelly tip toed through the Lurgan box and found that man again and Gibson fired the ball passed the outstretched leg of the keeper at his near post. Cookstown then thought the had the game wrapped up when again Burns beat his man and picked out Quinn who fired home from 12 yards. But all credit must go to Lurgan who refused to give in and their never say die attitude resulted in them scoring a 2nd. With 40 mins on the clock the game was deep deep into injury time when Lurgan won a corner and the resulting kick found an unmarked man in the box who could only find the top of the bar in what was a let off for the home side. Finally with 42 mins on the clock the Referee finally blew the full time whistle much to the delight of the home crowd after a staggering 7 mins of injury time.
Squad: Murray, Fearson, Mckenzie, Burton, Grimes, Burns, Donnelly, Russo, Quinn, Gibson, Talbot, McElhatton, Mota, Price, Cichero
Don Boscos 2 – 1 CYFC u18’s NL
The game began in congested fashion and this trend continued for large parts of the contest. Cookstown went in front after 15 minutes with a cross from Peter McClean somehow evading the keeper and dropping in at the far post. The Derry team equalised when Cookstown failed to deal with a high delivery from a free kick and after Ethan Gordon had parried away the initial effort the rebound was struck home. Minutes later the game turned full circle as a great piece of skill on the left flank sent Sean Devlin one way whilst a drilled in cross was finished off from close range.
Don Bosco set deep in an attempt to protect their narrow advantage though this played into the hands of Cookstown and they waisted several good chances to gain a positive outcome. Aren Kudrenko shot just over whilst Jude Murphy had a couple of efforts not far away Tom Wilkinson deflected an effort which skimmed the crossbar and the best opportunity came when the opposition keeper played a stray past till his defender and Jac McKnight failed to convert with the goal at his mercy.
The boys will be disappointed with a missed opportunity in a match which slipped away from their grasp in the space of a few minutes.
CYFC : E Gordon, L Martin, S Devlin, J Burton, B Keturakis, J Donnelly, P McClean, T Wilkinson, A Kudrenko, D De Campos, J Murphy, H McKenzie, J McKnight