23 Apr Match Reports – 20/04/24
CYFC u12’s Youth 2 – 1 Armagh
It was the penultimate game of the season and it was a home game at Musa. The boys have been rock solid at home, going through 2 seasons unbeaten here, we have nicknamed it ‘The Fortress’ due to the good form! The boys started fast and created a good few chances but were unable to break the deadlock down to the Armagh goalkeeper making a few good saves. The boys were playing some great football, lovely to watch some of the passages of play, the passing was slick. The goal the boys were wanting before half time came from Noah Young, a nice through ball seen him use his pace and when he went 1 on 1 with the keeper there was only going to be one outcome, a nicely taken goal slotted into the net. 1 nil, halftime.
Armagh were not going down easy and battled hard the 2nd half and had a few good chances themselves only for some good saves from Riley Donnell. Cookstown boys badly needed another goal to settle the nerves and up stepped Caiden Ohagan to get the 2nd goal, left footed strike just inside the box and beat the keeper.
Armagh never gave up and got a late consolation goal back with the last kick off the game, final score Cookstown 2, Armagh 1.
So the boys remain undefeated in 2 seasons at home, well done lads.
Next up for the Youth is the knockout cup final next Saturday, 2 o’clock at Lurgan arena against St Mary’s, all support is very welcome! Lets get behind the lads for one last push!
CYFC u18s 1-0 Moyola
The u18s concluded their season with a fine performance and a derby win against local rivals Moyola.
Cookstown started the game brightly and with only two minutes gone Jack McKnight found himself in between the two moyola centre halfs latching unto a great through ball and lifting the ball over the oncoming gk only for the ball to bounce up an hit the crossbar and back out again ,very unlucky.
Cookstown continued to press Moyola high up the pitch and Joshua Burton broke the deadlock with a powerful header from a corner.
After the goal a combination of Cookstown sitting back and Moyola increasing their intensity seen Moyola with the lions share of pocession without really troubling the back three of ,Burton, Mckenzie and Keturaris. Ethan Gordon in nets didn’t have much to do but still commanded the box well when needed. Half/time 1-0
2nd half and coaches Andy Warwick and Nigel Donnelly message was to keep doing what they were doing but to try an dominate the ball a bit more. McClean, Wilkinson and Shields supported by the two wing backs Martin and Kudrenko started to keep pocession a lot better and Murphy and McKnight up front worked hard in an out of pocession . With the game still at 1-0 Moyola we’re always still in it but Cookstown didn’t look like they were going to concede, Jake Donnelly replaced Shields in midfield and Cookstown continued to press an prob forcing a few corners with Murphy and McClean going close but just couldn’t kill the game off .
With two minutes to go Cookstown were let off the hook when a misplaced pass on the left side seen the Moyola winger bearing down on goal but with his cross their striker could only steer the ball past the post .
Full time and Cookstown got the deserved win and the points this time , well done lads.
The management team of Nigel and Andy would like to thank all the boys for their commitment and dedication this season . A good season in the National league playing some of the best teams in the country, well done .