Crucial away win for Coagh

WITH their Irish Cup quarter final looming, Coagh United put their Cup ventures to the back of their minds, as they came away with a crucial three points on Saturday.

A double penalty save in the second half from goal stopper Johnny Yorke was enough to get Coagh all three points at Sport & Leisure. Both teams went into the match undefeated in the last seven matches knowing that it was crucial to get points on the board.

Coagh started the match with Scott McGeown and Steven Park (both injured) and when James Ferguson went off after 17 minutes there was a worried look from the Coagh bench. Not only for this match but for next week’s Irish Cup quarter final tie against Linfield Coagh have now three important players on the treatment table.

On the plus side William Beckett played his first full match for the club after coming in on the January window while Steven Glasgow put his name in the hat for next week after a sterling performance at right back after replacing the injured Ferguson. Coagh huffed and puffed in this match but tailsman Jason Gillespie again supplied the goods.

Gillespie had rattled the cross bar but moments later the lively forward robbed the left back and shot for goal. Damien Nugent parried his shot straight back to the Coagh number nine and he rolled the ball to Glenn Clarke to slam the ball home from close range. One nil up Coagh threw everything at the home side but just could not get the finish before the half. In the second half Sport & Leisure threw everything but the kitchen sink at Coagh but Yorke’s goal was not going to be breached. In front of him, Calderwood, Thornton, Glasgow and Beckett worked overtime to clear their lines but when called on Johnny Yorke was equal to anything thrown at him. Yorke proved his worth on 20 minutes after the Referee awarded what I would call a soft penalty against Glenn Clarke. Leading goal scorer Darren Gallagher stepped up but Yorke kept his cool and finally cleared after a double save.

Ten minutes later Yorke was confronted with penalty number two. Darren Gallagher stepped up again but Yorke was having none of it and made the save for the second time. The home side pushed right to the whistle, Coagh’s engine room of Dallas, Hunter and Clarke took control, broke up nearly every attack to make sure Coagh bagged all three points. This was a team performance from all of the Coagh team, they dug in on a very heavy pitch and got another very important result.

Sport and Leisure - Damian Nugent, Daniel Largey, Darren Monster, Gary Largey, Gerard McCabe, Kevin Duff, James Daly, Darren Gallagher, Anthony Hegarty, John Doonan, Jim O’Neill, Hugh Darragh, Gavin Moore, Anthony Cavanagh, Noel Cardwell.

Coagh – Jonny Yorke, Lee Hunter, Aaron Thornton, David Calderwood, Glen Clarke, James Ferguson, Mark Scott, William Beckett, Aaron Campbell, Jason Gillespie, Marcus Dallas, Jonny Black, Stephen Glasgow, Stephen Parke, Graham McKenzie

Referee –Mr Ken Gibbons

Wilmor Johnson Quarter-Final

Armagh City Res 3 Coagh United Res 4

Coagh travelled to Armagh on Friday night for their first meeting of the season which resulted in a very entertaining cup tie. On a poor surface it was the visitors that started the brighter and as early as 6 mins found themselves one up, a foul on Mark Taylor 25 yards out saw Ally McGuckin make no mistake with a well taken free kick leaving the home keeper no chance. Armagh responded and on 15 mins and the scores where level after the Armagh forward fire home after being left unopposed on the edge of the box. As the game neared half time the home side took the lead, a deep free kick wasn’t dealt with and the ball was bundled in leaving Graham McKenzie no chance. Half time 2-1.

On 47 mins Coagh looked to be out of the cup when Armagh scored a third, another set piece leaving McKenzie in goal stranded. The visitors now with a mountain to climb came close when an effort from Mark Taylor was saved on the line. On 60 mins Allen replaced Graham as Coagh battled to get back into game. On 69 mins veteran Creighton replaced goal scorer Ally McGuckin which started Coagh fight back. Mark Taylor’s cross from the right found Jonny Black who made it 3-2. On 75 mins it was all square, a quick throw-in released Black who confidently slotted home to set up a tense finish. Near the end and with the tie running in Coagh’s favour it was the visitors who scored the late winner. With 89 mins on the clock Black found himself through one on one with the home keeper and completed his hat-trick and Coagh passage into the Semi-Final where they will meet Annagh United.

1. Graham McKenzie 2. Timmy Graham 3. Matty Kempton 4. Stephen Glasgow 5. Barry Anderson 6. Mark Taylor 7. Stuart Forrest 8. Ally McGuckin 9. Jonny Black 10. Dale Noble 11. Clive Campbell 12. Andrew Creighton 14. Robbie Allen 15. Jonny Johnson 16. Neil Smyth 17. Kyle Nelson