Match Reports – 02/11/24

05 Nov Match Reports – 02/11/24

Posted at 04:51h in General News by

CYFC u15’s MUYL  3-2 Fivemiletown

The Cookstown boys were on their travels again, this time with a Saturday morning kick off at the Valley Stadium, Fivemiletown. After five defeats on the bounce, the boys confidence has been low but there were no signs of that today. The midfield trio of Quinn, Clements and Rogers stamped their authority on the game from the first whistle, this led to the first goal as their hassling and ball winning in the middle released Mc Gurk down the left and he in turn, fed Ward, who beat his man before firing into bottom corner. (1-0)
Fivemiletown were a threat out wide but both Mc Elhatton and Keane, in at full back, were winning the majority of their duels & even when ball made it into the box, both York and Compton were on hand to snuff out any danger. This solid defensive performance saw the first half out with lads 1 nil up.
Second half was only a few minutes old when Mc Gurk went on another one of his mazy runs down the left, only to be fouled. From the resulting free kick the boys were two goals to the good! Martin stood over the free, he drilled the ball in and it was met with a superb glancing header from Rogers, who left the keeper no chance whatsoever! (2-0)
Fivemiletown were still in this game and were always a threat in the final third. Only for quick thinking from Neville in goals, rushing out on two occasions to keep the scoreline at 2 nil. Cookstown got their third with fifteen minutes played, a wonderful team goal started and finished by Davidson. He held the ball up on halfway line before feeding Conway, he took one touch before laying ball into Quinn’s path and as he had a midfielder hanging off him he played ball back to Keane who released a first time ball up the wing to Bell. Bell’s dummy and spin left the right back for dead and left himself with acres of space, Davidson had continued his run into the box and was picked out brilliantly by Bell before controlling with his right & burying with his left into bottom corner! (3-0)
With twenty minutes still to play, the game was far from over but boys got a little complacent and allowed Fivemiletown in to score from close range. (3-1) This only served to spur on the home team who led siege to the Cookstown goal and with six minutes left on the clock, they got their second goal from a corner that wasn’t really contested by anyone in white jersey. (3-2) Nerves started to creep in but resolute defending and a few brilliant last ditch tackles from Dobson, Rogers and Quinn helped see the game out and give the lads their first three points in a while. All in all, a great performance with some excellent football played throughout and matched by a real desire not to be beat. 
POTM – D.QUINN
SQUAD: B.NEVILLE • A.KEANE • L.YORK • M.COMPTON • E.MCELHATTON • S.CLEMENTS • T.ROGERS • D.QUINN • H.MARTIN • C.MC GURK • M.WARD • S.CONWAY • J.DAVIDSON • C.BELL • B.DOBSON 

CYFC u18’s 1-2 Maiden City 

Last Friday evening CYFC u18’s made the long trip to the Vale Centre at Greysteel to face Maiden City in a National League fixture. After the Cup defeat to Limavady u21’s the previous Saturday, manager Nigel Donnelly was looking a positive response from his players.
In the opening minutes Cookstown’s first opportunity fell to Quinn who lashed his effort high and wide over the City bar. The Whites high press created several more opportunities before City got their passing game going and started to control possession of the ball. A great run and cross from Jamie Ferson on the right almost created another opportunity in the City box for Burns.
An opportunist long ball and turn on 20 minutes saw the Maiden striker power through the Cookstown defence and leave keeper Nathan Ferson no chance in goal to go 1-0 up. A long ball from Burton almost played Burns in 5 minutes later only for the City keeper to snuff out the chance. Talbot replaced McGurk up front with an ongoing foot injury. Donnelly then saw a left footed effort well saved before the break.
Into the second half it was much the same with Cookstown huffing and puffing against the more possession based approach from City. In fifty minutes another straight long ball from Maiden was Cookstown’s undoing with Ferson again left no chance with a powerful finish from the striker.
Cookstown rallied with Burns forcing a great save from close range on the hour mark. Subs Loughran and Russo came on to freshen the young Whites up. As the game went on the referee continually allowed time wasting and delaying of free kicks without action to the dismay of both coaches and supporters. A great reaction in the box by Colvin finally delivered Cookstown’s first goal with 10 minutes remaining. Maiden were then awarded a penalty 2 minutes later which was missed by their forward slicing wide to his right.
Despite loading up the City box time and time again Maiden remained resilient in defence and saw out the 2.5 minutes injury time which certainly did not reflect the continuous time wasting, injury and substitutions.
TEAM – N. Ferson, H. McKenzie (C), L. McMurdie, J. Burton, J. Ferson, J. Quinn, J. Donnelly, C. Cichero, J. Colvin, R. Burns, E. McGurk, C. Talbot, C. Loughran, G. Russo.