13 Feb Match Reports – 10/02/24
CYFC u14’s 5 – 1 Armagh City
The boys were looking to make it two wins on the bounce, after last Friday night’s victory versus Banbridge Rangers. Cookstown near had the perfect start in the first minute. Right from the kick off, they worked the ball up the pitch through a neat interchange between Conway and Martin, with the latter slipping in Rogers who was thwarted by onrushing Armagh keeper. This was a sign of things to come as minutes later Cookstown took a deserved lead. Martin again, getting space and slipping Rogers in on goal, only this time he chose to lob the keeper as he came veering out of his goal. (1-0) Armagh got their equaliser against the run of play, a bit of hesitation in Cookstown’s midfield let Armagh’s #7 through on Cookstown’s back four & he fed their #17 who calmy slotted home. (1-1) The heads didn’t drop and 10 minutes later, just on the stroke of half time, the home team restored their lead. Martin drifted in from the right flank, jinking past one or two challenges before laying ball off to Timoney who’s first time pass released Rogers who was forced wide but his lobbed cross found Dobson who headed home from close range. (2-1)
Cookstown started the second half with same intensity they finished the first. Compton & York in the centre of defence were handling the physicality and directness of the Armagh forward line relatively easily and they had Keane and L.Compton either side as outlets when starting to build up their attacks. Third goal came from Keane bursting forward on the right hand side, he then fed Conway in the centre of midfield who drove forward towards the opposition’s penalty area before dropping the shoulder to send the Armagh defender into another realm & slipping in Davidson who took one touch out of his feet and unleashed a screamer into top left corner. (3-1) Cookstown were in total control at this stage, dominating possession and playing some great football and the fourth goal summed this up perfectly as it was a real team goal. Armagh were on the attack, York snuffed out the danger and played ball out to L.Compton at right back who instantly popped ball inside to Conway. He received the ball on half turn and immediately fed it into Davidson who switched the play to Rogers on the left wing, Timoney dropped out from centre forward position to take the ball from Rogers & took a defender or two with him. Whilst this was all taking place, O’Hare was making a lung bursting run from his own box to the other, Timoney spotted him & slid him through on goal. With only the keeper to beat, O’Hare showed unreal composure to round him and score, firstly he sold him a dummy with his right, sitting the keeper down in the process and then calmly slotted home with his left. Great goal!(4-1) Davidson got his second and the Town’s fifth of the day with another fierce strike, this time low into bottom corner but only after brilliant movement and skill on left wing from Rogers who laid it on a plate for him. (5-1) A superb team performance from start to finish, four of the goals coming from the bench speaks volumes.
That’s two wins and a draw in the last three in the league for the lads, bit of self belief starting to creep into the team which has been missing over the course of the season. Last 16 of the Mid Ulster Youth League Plate vs Lurgan Town is up next for the boys.
Squad: Ruairi O’Hagan • Andrew Keane • Lewis York • Matthew Compton • Luke Compton • Caleb Bell • Adam Mc Aleer • Shea Conway • Hayden Martin • Tyler Rogers • Orann Timoney • Jonah Davidson • Brooklyn Dobson • Aodhan Loughran • Tommy O’Hare • Benjamin Neville
CYFC u18’s 1 – 4 Glenavon
The 1st round of the Mid Ulster cup seen Cookstown get drawn against NIFIL league team Glenavon in what turned out to be a entertaining game.
Things didn’t exactly go to plan as Cookstown got off to the worst possible start with Glenavon capitalizing on a loose pass and their striker calmly slotting home from 6 yards out . A perfect response from the Cookstown boys 10 minutes later saw them level proceedings after great work from Jude Murphy who then found Aaron Whitten and he made no mistake to the delight of the home crowd. Soon after the referee awarded the away team a penalty with the striker sending Ethan Gordon the wrong way . Ten minutes later it was 3 after a long ball in between the two Cookstown defenders and again their striker made no mistake. Cookstown however had their chances in the first half , Josh Burton was making good progress down the left wing giving the Glenavon right back plenty to think about. Jake Donnelly had a volley on the edge of the box well saved and Josh Burton going close just slotting to the wrong side of the post . 1-3 at half time.
The 2nd half started and Cookstown were getting more of the ball with Glenavon sitting off a bit , Peter McClean was making a nuisance of himself and went close on a couple of occasions. At the other end Mckenzie, Keturaris, Martin and Kudrenko were equal to everything being thrown at them . Unfortunately an a bit harshly Tom Wilkinson got a 2nd booking witch left the boys down to 10 men with 30 mins left. Admirably the Cookstown boys worked so hard to contain Glenavon with Talbot and Russo coming on to replace tired legs and they did until the last 5 min with tired legs telling the tale.
A very positive performance from the Cookstown boys against a NIFL team and Cookstown finishing the game with 5 u16s on the pitch.
Squad: Gordon , Martin ,Mckenzie , Keturaris, Kudrenko , Whitten , Wilkinson , Donnelly, McClean, Burton, Murphy, Russo , Talbot