Kee admits bringing players in didn’t help his chargers

Only a few months ago ’Stute drew 1-1 at Hagan Park in the league and on Saturday at Drumahoe the Cookstown out-fit took them all the way to penalties.

But like the match in January, the Waterside men had opportunities to win the match, but once again United goalkeeper William Hassan frustrated them and Kee conceded bringing in five players to his starting line-up probably didn’t help his side.

“We made it difficult for ourselves. We had enough chances to win the game but we just didn’t take them,” admitted Kee.

“We have a big eight weeks ahead of us so I wanted as many players to get as much game time as they could so I made five changes.

“Sometimes when you make that many changes it does break the momentum of the team. It took us 25 minutes to get going. But we still had enough chances to score goals.

“Overall we’ve got through and although the win came through penalty kicks, a win is a win.”

The Drumahoe man also felt that experienced striker Stephen Parkhouse didn’t take the game by the scruff of the neck.

“Stephen wasn’t at his affluent best and it’s a work in progress with (Darren) McFadden,” he added.

“He put in a good shift in fairness but he just lacks en edge at times and perhaps a bit of self-confidence.

“Then we had Tom Carlin who is only 18. I wanted to get those players as much time as they could, so it’s been a good work out for them and hopefully they will have learned something that will have benefited them.”

Having lost to Newbuildings United and Lisburn Distillery on penalties in cup competition this campaign Kee was happy it was a case of third time lucky on Saturday and he was delighted for goalkeeper Martin Gallagher who made three saves in the shoot-out.

“I told the players at the start that I didn’t want to lose a third penalty shoot-out but we did our best to lose it.

“If it wasn’t for Marty we would have lost. He’s come in and put in a good shift.

“He’s made key saves at key times and he was a presence in the penalties. It’s difficult on players. We’ve had a couple of missing players who I expected to score.

“It’s a competition we’ve taken seriously over the last couple of years. We’ve been very good in it, but we have to give Coagh credit.

“I said to their manager that if they play like that every week they wouldn’t be bottom of the league. They were committed and confident and it was a difficult game for us.

“But you need those types of games. It was a good work out for the players and the most important thing is that we’re through to the semi-finals.”