14th April 2016 1350 Views

CYFC UPDATE FOR SATURDAY 9th APRIL 2016

Cookstown Youth U12 v Windmill Stars U12

It was back home again this weekend as Cookstown Youth U12 took on Windmill Stars in the MUYL at MUSA. What started off a cold morning soon changed as the sun sneaked through and lifted the mist and temperatures rose.
Cookstown started the first half and to be fair both teams started at a great tempo with chances coming at either end. It wasnt long though before Cookstown took their chance as Murphy seen his corner played back to him and rolled it to Donaghy who in turn rifled it past the opposing keeper who had no chance of ever reaching it. On the up and brimming with confidence Cookstown continued to take their chances as Derby with fantastic skill with his first and a little luck with his second sent Cookstown effectively out of reach. However Windmill Stars failed to see it that way as they kept going managing to claw one back much to the disappointment of the defence of Jeffers, Whitten and O’Neill with Leek sitting in front of them and Jake in nets who had all been on their game up to this point. Although a slight scare Cookstown continued to dominate and their efforts paid off as Murphy converted another chance before the break leaving Cookstown yet again with an unassailable lead.
Windmill Stars kicked off the second half and changes were afoot as Monaghan,Cathal and Armstrong were brought on. From the outset it was evident that the changes were effective as Armstrong saw himself twice on the scoresheet as with neat skills and a hunger for goal he left the opposing keeper standing with no chance of preventing what had just happened. Derby went on to really put the game to bed as he added another which also was to be the best finish of his hat trick. Windmill managed to pull another back towards the end of the game and although they would’ve rued their missed chances on the day they came up against a Cookstown side with such a high work rate and determination to win that no team wouldve beat them today.
Man of the match couldve went to anyone in a Cookstown shirt with the midfield trio of Murphy, Larmour and Donaghy in particular really putting a shift in and so it went to the latter, Donaghy, the captain, who was the inspiration as he set his team on their way with the first goal and his never give up attitude rubbing off on his team mates as he dominated centre midfield.
For Cookstown it was the perfect tonic as having just come off the back of a defeat the previous week made a very decent team look average.

Cookstown:Jake,Monaghan,O’Neill,Whitten,Jeffers,Cathal,Larmour,Donaghy,Murphy,Leek,Derby,Armstrong

Dtaigavon City v CYFC 14s

Cookstown travelled to Craigavon to take on Craigavon City in the league on Saturday. Craigavon started the better of the two teams and attacked the Cookstown defence from the beginning and took lead through good play down their left hand side. They doubled their lead shortly after scoring from a corner. As the second half started Cookstown began to play football and had several half chances but where caught on the counter attack twice to find themselves four nil down. After this Cookstown started to take their chances and pulled one back through B. Tereso followed by a second from A. Traill. Craigavon scored a fifth before A. Traill scored another two to complete his hat trick, before Craigavon scored their sixth.

E. Donnelly D. Banas C. Robb S. Connelly P. Monaghan J. McElkennon J. Donnelly. Traill D. Devlin B. Tereso A. Levsins

CYFC u15’s 3 Oxford 1
After great cup performances against Crusaders and Linfield and a fantastic win against Carniny both players and coaches were buoyant and positive about gaining a home win against Oxford. Both teams started brightly but it was Adam Speirs who just failed to take Cookstown into the lead after a fine through ball from Iarlaith Donaghy on 15 minutes. Donaghy himself had two great runs down the right and just failed with finishes either side of each upright. The back four of Patterson, McErlean, Kenning and Mullan had to be at their best with Morgan Moore in goal making a couple of sharp saves under pressure. Donaghy, Gallagher, Murphy and Mackle worked tirelessly in midfield against a wave of Oxford pressure with Wilson supporting Speirs in attack. Two minutes into the second half Oxford stole the lead with Cookstown caught cold. But 2 minutes later good pressure from Murphy and Gallagher created the homester’s first goal through Donaghy who powered through to finish from 15 yards. Two minutes later Donaghy repeated his run to calmly slot home in similar fashion to make it 2-1. New signing Mauricio made his debut and combined well to create a chance for substitute Joseph Wilson. Oxford came roaring back with Moore in goal making two crucial saves on 60 and 65 minutes. But top goal scorer Eoin Gallagher settled the game with an audacious curling thunderbolt from 25 yards with two minutes remaining to seal a fine team victory.

Cookstown Youth U16 — 3

Craigavon City U16 — 1

Cookstown got the dream start when Marty McCracken laid off to Sam Hardy who shot hard and low into the far corner. A great cross from Tyler Anderson evaded even his own team mates. Sam Hardy almost scored his second but for a great block by the keeper. Craigavon equalised just before half time with a powerful strike giving Jamie Campbell no chance. Craigavon had Cookstown under pressure in the early stages of the second half but they stood firm and then began to reassert. Matthew Scott skimmed the bar from a free kick, Ryan McFarland`s back post cross was brilliantly diverted by the outstanding keeper but the deserved goal finally arrived as Nathan Connolly headed in at the back post from a corner kick. Martin McCracken scored to make it 3-1 and after this it could easily have been 4 or 5 as good chances went astray with Nathan Connolly, Sam Hardy and Kaelum Irvine all so close. A very good display against a strong Craigavon team.

Adam Scott, Jack Turkington, Tyler Anderson, Matthew Scott, Brendan Davey, Martin McCracken, Jamie Campbell , Philip Laverty , Erik Banas, Kaelum Irvine, Ryan McFarland , Afonso Tereso, Sam Hardy , Jake Jrooks, Nathan Connolly

BRANTWOOD RES 2 COOKSTOWN YOUTH SENIORS 5

Cookstown travelled to Belfast to take on league leaders Brantwood Reserves in the hope of keeping their promotion chasing dream alive. As early as the first minute Megarry had a goal bound header saved in goal by McClelland. As the heavens emptied the youth were pushing for that opening goal. George Dardis seen his effort just go wide. On 15 mins Cookstown took the lead. Midfield maestro McKenna threaded ball out to Kelly and the right winger placed a peach of a cross into the box and there was goal machine Larmour to rifle a shot into the Brantwood goal.Within minutes Megarry extended that lead, when again Kelly put in an inch perfect cross for Megarry to bang the ball into the net. Cookstown were containing the Brantwood attack comfortably until a cross in on the youth goal seen McEllhatton fumble and there was Morgan to reduce the lead of the youth. McGarvey and McKenna were dictating matters in midfield and the Brantwood midfield could not find away past these 2 work hoses in the centre of midfield. Cookstown Youth went into the break with a 2.1 lead.

Brantwood came out blazing in the second half and they fired everything at the Cookstown back 4 but on 50 mins the youth extended their lead when a telling ball from O,Neill found speedster Larmour on his own and the young man and with only the keeper to beat casually rounded McClelland and put the ball into an empty net. Ryan Glasgow was brought on for the injured Megarry. Again the Cookstown back 4 had to weather the storm from Brantwood but with so much pressure Brantwoods centre forward Armstrong managed to find himself some space and place a shot past McEllhatton in the Cookstown goal. Again Brantwood pounded the Cookstown goal but McEllhatton was in magnificant form and was in no mood to conceed any more.O,Neill who scored a hatrick the week before again turned provider when he sent a cross over to Kelly and Kelly took the ball down on his chest and volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from 18 yards out and giving Cookstown a 2 goal cushion.

Brantwood to their credit still pushed but it was young 17 year old Larmour who made the score 5.2 when Glasgow had a shot and all the McClelland could do was parry it out to the feet of Larmour and the young man got his hatrick on the day to make the final score on a wet Sat in Belfast Brantwwod Res 2 Cookstown Youth 5

Cookstown Youth team

G McElllhatton , JLeslie, G Dardis,S McEllhatton, DMcEllhatton, Kelly,McGarvey, McKenna,O,Neill, Megarry, Larmour.

Subs

McMullan,R Glasgow,J Glasgow,L Donaghy

This Sat Cookstown youth seniors entertain Remo on pitch 1 at the MUSA 2pm ko

Mark Larmour who bagged a hattrick for the seniors against Brantwood Reserves.

DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

The CYFC Development Centre in partnership with Copeland Cookstown’s third term kicked off last Friday evening at The Mid Ulster Sports Arena and the big numbers just keep coming.

A big thanks to all the players for their attendance and also the Parents / Guardians for their continued support.

Coaching continues this week from 6.30pm – 7.45pm and if you are reading this and know of a player who would like to attend then go to our club website and get them registered, a word of caution though only registered players who have received an email from CYFC are eligible to attend and new players will be contacted in due course.