Football: Cookstown Youth suffer Decor Cup defeat to Killen

Much against the run of play, the visitors found themselves 3-0 up after 20 minutes but the home team dug in and in the second half mounted a comeback with Paul Stewart and Aiden Doyle bringing their team back into the tie, forcing a nail biting finish to a typical derby cup match.

Unfortunately, the U18s couldn’t force the game into extra time and had to settle for the positives of a good all round performance without the pleasure of a victory.

COOKSTOWN U14 4

MAIDEN CITY 1

The young sizzlers produced possibly their best performance of 2015 against one of the most technically adept sides in National B.

Cookstown got off to the worst possible start conceeding the first goal of the game after just 5 minutes.

It was always going to take something special to break down a resilient City defence and that came from the thunderous left foot of Shane Murphy from all of 40 yards.

As Cookstown’s confidence grew Thomas Mackle plundered Cookstown’s second goal after a great run and finish cutting in from the right on 50 minutes.

Gallagher missed a great chance from close range before plundering Cookstown’s deserved third on the hour mark. A fantastic piece of interplay between Gallagher, Mackle and Hawe in the dying minutes was sublimely finished by Hawe with his second goal in two games for a deserved home victory.

VALLEY RANGERS 2

COOKSTOWN U15 1

Cookstown started well but fell behind when keeper Afonso Tereso dropped a bouncing ball and Valley finished the chance.

Matthew Glendinning equalised with a great strike on goal and Martin McCracken shot narrowly wide shortly afterwards.

Cookstown seemed in good control but they didn`t put in a challenge in midfield and the Valley player chanced his arm from 30 yards and it flew into the top corner of the net.

Cookstown couldn`t find a way back into the game and will wonder how they ended up on the losing side. Jack Turkington played well in defence although Nathan Connolly was the man of the match.

COOKSTOWN U16 2

BALLYMENA UNITED 3

Ballymena were the visitors at MUSA last Saturday in the League Cup.

Both teams started at a fierce pace and it was the home team who had the upper hand in the chances department with Arrell and Larmour combining well to put each other through on goal on several occasions but with no joy.

Kelly and Rocks showed some great skill and composure in the middle of the park and Keane was immense at the back snuffing out the Coleraine strikers time and time again. Even though Cookstown showed great energy and passion it was the Braid Men who went into half-time 1nil after the home defence failed to clear an attack on goal.

The second half was much the same, chances for both sides and both defenses coming up on top, until Cookstown sub Adam Watson rose to meet an Arrell corner and pull the score back level.

A matter of minutes later Keane was clearly fouled as he attempted to clear a dangerous ball and with no whistle coming the boisterous Ballymena striker fired home to make it 2-1.

The home team went straight back on the attack and another Arrell corner and another great leap from “super sub Watson” made it two each. Again the game ebbed and flowed and Jack Dingley was lively after coming on on the left wing .

Ballymena found themselves on the attack with 10 minutes to go and a snap shot from outside the box crept just inside the Cookstown, with Young diving full stretch and unfortunately connecting with the post and knocking himself out.

Keane went into goals for the last 10 and the game finished 3-2 in Ballymena Utds favor even after Dingley and Wilson hit the woodwork in the dying seconds.

Thankfully Ben Young was released from hospital with the all clear and a nasty bump to the head.

CYFC are holding a Table Quiz on Saturday 28th March 2015 in The Royal Hotel Cookstown at 8pm , £5 per person and a maximum of 6 to a team.

The craic will be mighty and all proceeds will go to helping maintain our great wee club for the near future and help us to continue delivering soccer for local kids from the Mid Ulster area .So stick 28th March in your diary’s and come and support CYFC.

For further details contact CYFC P.R.O Andy Kelly on 07872901473.