08 Apr Match Reports – 05/04/25
CYFC u17’s 2-0 Riverdale
Last Saturday the u17’s faced Benburb’s Riverdale in a ‘home’ fixture at Drumcoo in the third fixture of the MUYL Premiership.
With the late 2-1 defeat to Fivemiletown the previous Saturday, a win was the only option for manager Nigel Donnelly and his team against a resilient side that will be contesting the League Cup final in a few weeks time. Cookstown got off to a rapid start with great chances falling to Cassidy, Donnelly, Elechi, Motta and Talbot in the opening 25 minutes. Riverdale relied on long throws and corners to get at the Cookstown defence but keeper Teixeria marshalled his defence of Ferson, McMurdie and Elechi. Just before halftime a long throw from Edwards-Schwieso was met at the near post by the head of McMurdie to take a 1-0 lead at the break.
Into the second half Talbot looked to have broken the offside trap only to be flagged offside by the referee. Cookstown huffed and puffed in trying to kill the game off. Manager Donnelly decided changes were needed with Nani and Patterson replacing Price and Russo. On 54 minutes a great cross from Patterson from the right ended up at the feet of Nani who thundered home from 12 yards to make it 2-0. McGirr and Ferguson entered the fray with Edwards-Schwieso seeing his shot well saved from 15 yards on 65 minutes. Cookstown managed the remaining minutes to move to third in the league behind Fivemiletown and Annagh with 3 points splitting the 3 teams.
Squad: J. Teixeira, J. Ferson, L. McMurdie, T. Elechi, J. Donnelly, J. Price, C. Talbot, G. Russo, W. Edwards-Schwieso, R. Cassidy, D. Moura Mota, N. Concalves Marcal, J. Patterson, J. Ferguson, E. McGirr.
CYFC u18s 6-1 St Mary’s
The U18s got their biggest win of the season with a all action performance at Allen Park Antrim on Friday evening.
Cookstown started the game well and on the front foot from the first whistle and Mcgurk had a couple of half chances but the St Mary’s keeper done well.
St Mary’s did have a chance themselves when their striker broke clear but he dragged his effort wide of Fersons post. The back three of Mckenzie, Ferson and Loughran had to be on alert as St Mary’s were always looking for that long ball over the top ,otherwise at the other end Cookstowns front two of Mcgurk and Burns supported by Elechi and Quinn on the wings were causing the St Mary’s defense all sorts of problems and it wasn’t long before Cookstown got their first of the night after good work from Burns found Mcgurk 6 yards out and he made no mistake 1-0 .
The midfield trio of Donnelly, Colvin and Talbot were finding lots of space but St Mary’s weren’t out of the game just yet 1-0 Half-time.
Next goal was always going to be key for Cookstown and we didn’t have long to wait after a good ball from Ferson found Mcgurk and he found Burns 18 yards out and he hit it sweet on the volley and into the top corner of the net 2-0 .
Cookstown began to really enjoy themselves with the 2 goal cushion playing some nice pocession football and you could really see the confidence in their football . Talbot latched onto a loose ball and made it 3-0 and almost ended any hopes for St Mary’s to salvage anything from the game.
Edwards-Schwieso replaced Mcgurk and Mota replaced Elechi to freshen things up and this time is was the substitute Edwards-Schwieso who swiveled inside the box and hit an unstoppable shot high into the net 4-0 .
Credit to St Mary’s they kept going and tried their best with Ferson making a decent save but this was Cookstowns night and deservedly so.
Another goal from Talbot and a Quinn effort sealed the rout , St Mary’s did get a consolation with a good strike just inside the Cookstown box but it didn’t dampen the mood for Cookstown who now climb the table to 5th in the NL Premier with 2 games remaining.
Squad:FERSON , MCKENZIE, LOUGHRAN, FERSON , ELECHI ,QUINN ,DONNELLY , COLVIN , TALBOT , MCGURK, BURNS , MOTA , EDWARDS-SCHWIESO