25 Mar Match Reports – 23/03/24
CYFC u12’s 1 – 1 Loughgall Youth
(CYFC win 7 – 6 in penalties)
This week our attention turned to the Knock out cup Quarter finals. We headed off to Dungannon to face a tough Loughgall side. The game started quickly and it was the Cookstown boys who started the best, creating a good few chances but just couldn’t get the goal they needed. The loughgall boys found their rhythm and some neat play down the right seen a good cross in and when we failed to clear the loughgall striker slotted the ball home from close range. Big Riley in nets made few great saves as did the Loughgall keeper to keep the score 1 nil at half time to the boys in Red.
A few substitutions at half time seen the Cookstown lads regroup and go again and when Jamie broke down the left and shrugged off 2 defenders he played a lovely ball across to Danny Kelly who has been in great form coming off the bench to make it 1 each. Both teams where starting to show signs of nerves creeping in and both goalkeepers were having smashing games, pulling off some quality saves which kept the score 1 each and sent the game into extra time.
The boys wanted to get the game done and were probably the better team and when Jamie found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper we thought this was it, only for the ball to smash the crossbar and keep Loughgall in the game, extra time over, still 1 each and off to the dreaded penalties. None of the lads where shy to hit a penalty with everyone wanting to take one! The Cookstown lads went on to score all 7 of their penalties converted by Jamie Loughran, Cameron Donnelly, Noah Young, Zack Nellins, Cillian Conway, Keegan Kelly and Liam Montgomery! So its onto the semi final were we will face either Markethill, Glenavon or St Mary’s.
Man of match today was split between goalkeeper Riley Donnell and Zack Nellins who put in a great shift in midfield, well done lads.
Squad: R Donnell, R Hughes, K Kelly, L Montgomery, C Donnelly, Z Nellins, C Ohagan, J Loughran, N Young, C Devlin, J Donnelly, D Kelly, C Conway