03 Mar Match Reports – 01/03/25
CYFC u13’s 3-0 Riverdale
This weekends fixture was a game against Riverdale were we made the short trip to Drumcoo. The Lads have been in great form recently and are on a 7 game unbeaten run. They started this week a lot better than last week and wasted no time on taking the lead. On the 6th minute Cameron skipped past a few Riverdale players, played a nice pass down the wing, it was whipped in by Kyle and when the Riverdale defence failed to clear it, in nipped young Caiden to capitalise to give us an early lead. We had a few chances to score more but the Riverdale keeper was equal to everything we threw at him. 1 nil at the break.
Second half the boys were definitely the stronger with some fresh legs on. A clumsy tackle by the Riverdale midfielder lead to a free kick around 30 yards out. It was struck by Zack but the keeper saved it, but only parried it out and up popped Caiden again for his second of the day. 2 nil.
The boys were flowing now and started to pick off some nice passes and a break up the left seen Caiden with a chance of a hattrick but the keeper pulled off a save but knocked it to the feet of Noah who was ready to pounce and make it 3 nil. Thats a good win against a very physical side and another clean sheet for Daniel in nets. That sees us head into next week’s quarter final full of confidence but we know we have to go there and do the job on the pitch.
Man of the match today was Cameron Donnelly, set up the first goal and showed more of a physical side to him and some nice skill at times to go past 2 and 3 players.
Squad: D. Pavel R. Hughes L. Montgomery K. Kelly C. Devlin C. Ohagan Z. Nellins C. Conway C. Donnelly K. Kilgore N. Young J. Donnelly D. Kelly
CYFC u18’s 2-1 St Oliver Plunkett
Last Friday evening Cookstown’s u18’s faced St Oliver Plunkett of Belfast at Meadowbank in their third fixture after the split in the Premier Section of the National League.
Manager Nigel Donnelly knew this was going to be another tough fixture against one of the top sides in the league but still hoped for a good result at home after close defeats by the odd goal to Larne and Don Boscos.
Talbot spearheaded the attack in a five midfield with Colvin taking up a more defensive role beside Donnelly due to an injury to Cichero supported by Ferson and Quinn on the flanks. After 5 minutes Talbot thundered the crossbar from close range with a great effort. But 6 minutes later Plunkett struck the lead with the opening goal.
Cookstown gathered themselves and replied almost immediately with a great finish by Talbot on 13 minutes. All that good work looked undone when one of the Cookstown defenders picked up two successive yellow cards within 4 minutes leaving the young Sizzlers down to ten men with two thirds of the game still remaining. Despite that setback Quinn went close with an effort just before halftime.
So the coaches gathered the lads at halftime and reminded them that the game was still in their hands and to remain positive and work hard for each other in and out of possession and see what happens.So the lads responded with McGurk terrorising the central defenders of Plunketts with his aerial strength and movement from the off. Three times in quick succession he found space to either head or shoot just wide before breaking clear on his fourth attempt only to strike the bottom of the post and out. Quinn then had a great chance after finding space on the left only to see his effort sail wide as Cookstown went for the winner. Plunkett then spurned a great chance when their defender headed wide from ten yards. Ferson in goal made two fine saves before striker Burns latched unto a Donnelly free kick from the right to thunder a header home and the winner right at the death.
The ten men saw out the final 5 minutes of injury time to deservedly take their first three points and win in the Premier Section of the National League.
Squad: N.Ferson, C. Loughran, L. McMurdie , H. McKenzie (C), J. Ferson, J. Quinn, J. Donnelly, J. Colvin, C. Talbot, R. Burns, E. McGurk, T. Elechi, W. Edwards-Schwieso, C. Cichero.