Encouraging displays by Wakehurst youth sides

Stephen White’s side have been slowly building on their pre-season performances and will feel that they did enough to take all the points in this match.

Wakehurst U16s match against Newry City was heading for a draw before Newry scored a single goal late in this game to take all the points.

UNDER-16

Newry City 1, Wakehurst 0: This was the first league game for newly named Wakehurst U16 squad and what a tight and enjoyable game. With Wakehurst giving three new players their debuts this game was end to end stuff.

The second half started with chances for both teams, James Hayburn having a free kick tipped over the bar and Graham McCartney flashing a shot just past the post for Wakehurst.

With 10 minutes remaining Newry’s striker got the ball out on the right and hit an unstoppable shot from 25 yards into the top corner. This was a gutsy performance from Wakehurst but unlucky to come away with no points. MOM - Declan Dobbin

Wakehurst: A Montgomery, J Penny, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, R Laverty, A Campbell, J Fleming, D McCalmont, M Kirk, J Hayburn, G Macartney

UNDER-17

Valley Rangers 2, Wakehurst 2: Wakehurst started off this Lisburn Youth League match in blistering pace and took the lead after ten minutes of the match, when Robbie Dennison got on the end of a Tom Campbell corner, to head past the Valley keeper.

However Wakehurst conceded a goal in the twentieth minute of the match when a mix-up in the Hurst defence allowed the Valley striker in to equalise the score.

Into the second half and Wakehurst again started the half strongly. Jamie Timms made a good break down the left wing and from his cross Matthew Waide scooped the ball over the Valley crossbar, when it looked easier to score.

In an end to end game, Robbie Dennison smashed a header against the Valley crossbar from another Timms corner and Bradley Cairns saw a shot from 25 yards cannon off the Valley post and clear to safety.

It was looking like it was going to be another one of those days when you dominate a match but don’t get your just rewards, when first Tom Campbell and then Sam Bennett were unlucky not to score from good chances. However with five minutes of the match remaining, Matthew Waide headed the ball past the Valley keeper from another Timms corner.

This was a good start to the season for Wakehurst with some pleasing performances form new signing Josh Lowry at right back and Lee McAllister and Robbie Dennison playing at centre back pairing. Also on a positive note for the Hurst, Sparky Cochrane will return to training in just over a week’s time, following his pre-season injury.

Wakehurst: J Stevenson, J Lowry, J Dawson, L McAllister, R Dennison, G Stewart, T Campbell, J Timms, C Neilly, M Waide, B Cairns, S Bennett, A Milligan.