Kiefer Scott double helps U16 to Ballymoney victory

From the start Cookstown bombarded Enniskillen’s goal with shots from Terry Devlin and Stewart Wylie.

It was Cookstown who got the first goal when Devlin cooly slotted into the bottom corner.

Enniskillen started to dominate the midfield and put Cookstown’s defence under pressure and were rewarded with a goal making it 1-1 at half time.

The second half saw Cookstown change their shape in midfield and it quickly paid off making it 2-1 with another goal from Devlin.

With 10 minutes to go Enniskillen snatched a goal back but the Cookstown lads pounded the enniskillen goal with shots allowing Stewart Wylie to slot home the winner from close range making it 3-2.

Cookstown U11: Eoghan Donnelly, Sean Monaghan, Mark Carleton, Paul Monaghan, Zach Ferson, Caleb Rob, Ben McNally, Terry Devlin, Stewart Wylie, Eunan O’Neill

Cookstown Colts 6 Tullyvallen 1

Cookstown started the game slow and found themselves 1-0 down

early in the game however this seemed to inspire them and they started to play better and equalised through Callum O’Neill before Benedito Tereso scored to make it 2-1.

Cookstown started the second half well and had plenty of chances before two quick goals from Jamie Muldoon and Charlie Acheson.

Following more good play Muldoon got his second before Acheson got his second in the last few minutes.

U11 Colts: Jack Patterson, Todd Brown, Peter Bell, Sami Junk, Luke Anderson, Jamie Fox, Callum O’Neill, Charlie Acheson, Benedito Tereso, Nathan Bartley, Jaimie Muldoon

Cookstown U12 1 Lurgan Town 1

Last Saturday CYFC U12 faced Lurgan Town for the first time in the Lisburn League.

With Lurgan recently over coming league leaders Loughgall and running Shankill Boys - another contender - closely, the management team knew this was always going to be a tough fixture.

But on a superb pitch at Gordon Playing Fields the young sizzlers took the game to their Mid-Ulster rivals from the first whistle with Tiernan Mackle going close with a header from a Robert McLean cross.

In the fifth minute a text book in swinging free kick from Lee Glasgow thirty yards out on the left, was met by a rampaging Iarlaith Donaghy who eclipsed his recent headed goal against Lisburn with a bullet headed goal from fifteen yards.

Great movement and skill by striker Joseph Donnelly then created a superb opportunity for Mackle to double Cookstown’s lead on fifteen minutes, only for him to snatch at the opportunity and slice his shot wide from eighteen yards with the goalkeeper to beat.

Captain Jamie Marlin’s great pass provided man of the match Donaghy with another great opportunity but unfortunately he was unable to double his tally. Strong midfield play by Lurgan then saw a high ball launched into the Cookstown box just before half time. Unfortunately two failed clearances allowed Lurgan to plunder the equaliser from twelve yards. Into the second half both defences dominated the opposition’s attack with the match turning into a midfield war of attrition.

Lurgan could and should have scored with ten minutes remaining before substitute striker Craig Bigger saw a right foot drive slide agonisingly wide of the right hand post as the game finished as a draw.

Unfortunately with the game so close three substitutes were not used on the day, but there are plenty of games ahead for the whole squad. Another great team effort from the young sizzlers who continue to improve week on week with some great moments of passing and possession football.

Cookstown U12: J. Campbell, B. Patterson, R. McLean, W. Kenning, D. Bigger, I. Donaghy, J. Marlin, T. Mackle, L. Glasgow, J. Donnelly, L. Patterson, E. Gallagher, C. Bigger, S. Black, H. Wilson, R. Mullan.

Warrenpoint Town 1 Cookstown U13 0

Cookstown began this match in complete control and Sam Hardy almost scored on two ocassions.

Ryan McFarland was skinning his marker for fun and put over numerous excellent crosses.

Slack play from a throw in allowed Warrenpoint to score against the run of play but Chris Boyd almost levelled with a left foot shot.

Cookstown wasted further chances with Nathan Connolly heading wide, Ryan Murphy’s header and the follow up from Ryan McFarland both cleared off the line. Another strike from Chris Boyd was saved by the keeper.

Keeper Afonso Tereso saved well when faced with two one-on-one situations. Cookstown finished up on the losing side once more but they must wonder how after dominating large periods of the game. Man of the match was nathan connolly.

Cookstown U13: Afonso Tereso, Jack Turkington, Tyler Anderson, Ryan Murphy, Marty Mccracken, Nathan Connolly, Sam Hardy, Ryan Mcfarland, Chris Boyd, Caolan Argue, Kaelum Irvine, Brendan Davey

Cookstown U14 1 Glenavon 2

Cookstown took on Glenavon on Saturday, desperate to get a win to kick them on.

Never far away in results, effort or commitment Cookstown just needed a thing no one can buy: Lady Luck. Again she was missing in this game.

A free kick with five minutes to go gave Glenavon an undeserved win, a win they themselves wouldn’t have thought was coming, especially after Cookstown’s second half onslaught.

Ryan Rocks gave Cookstown a lead 20 minutes into the first half, finishing with a fine half volley after a corner wasn’t cleared.

The defence were clearing their lines effectively, O’Hare, Rocks, Thom and Buchanon, but they were undone by a fine long ball over the top. The quick forward run in and squared it across the box for the attacking midfielder to give Ben Young no chance in nets.

The lead lasted a mere three minutes and it seems Cookstown are always suspect after they score first. At half time the coaches, O’Hare and Wilson, offered praise to the team and they knew it was a game there for the taking if they grabbed it by the neck.

McKee came on for Donnelly, Hughes came on for Devlin and McCrea came on for Arrell as Cookstown searched for pace to open up Glenavon. T

he second half was all Cookstown, the players had efforts cleared, scuffed, closed down and blocked as they were banging on the door for 20 minutes. Thomas McGuigan, a new signing, came on for Dingley and nearly made an instant impact as his pace and strength got Cookstown behind the Glenavon defence, only for another block by the defender to keep it out.

Keane and Dobson were pulling the strings in the middle and with Monaghan coming on and getting involved it seemed only a matter of time until a needless free kick was given away, albeit 40 yards from goal. The defender hit into a perfect area, a hint of offside perhaps on the attacking side, by no contact was made and the ball glided into the bottom corner.

Cookstown pressed for an equaliser and almost had it when McCrea’s shot was straight at the keeper at the end and Cookstown had to listen to the same old hard luck story again, yet it seems all luck they get is bad luck and once they turn a corner they will be difficult to stop.

Cookstown U14: Young, Thom, Buchanon, O’Hare, Rocks, Keane, Dobson, Dingley, Donnelly, Arrell, Devlin, Hughes, McCrea, McKee, McGuigan, Monaghan, McCrum

Cookstown U15 4 Ballymoney 1

Cookstown U 15 entertained Ballymoney Youth at MUSA on Friday recording a 4-1 victory.

Cookstown took the game to Ballymoney from the start and had them on the back foot. Cookstown opened the scoring on 4 minutes when a great move starting from Parkinson at right back finished with Donnelly putting Nathan O’Neill through and he made no mistake went two up on 6 minutes when Kyle Parkinson’s broke down the right and was found by Dean Kane. Parkinson’s cross was meet superbly by Kiefer Scott scoring with a header.

Ballymoney where on the back foot and Cookstown went 3-0 up when a poor kick out was won by Fergal Devlin who raced on an scored from close range.

Cookstown continued to press forward and Ballymoney were hitting them on the break but were finding it hard to break the home defence. Cookstown went 4 up when a shot was spilled by the keeper and Kiefer Scott nipped in to get his second, Cookstown missed several chance to increase their lead but went in at half time 4 up.

The second started more even than the first with Ballymoney taking the game to Cookstown an puting them under presure and were rewarded with a goal when Luke Johnston hesitation let in the ballymoney forward in resulting in a penalty which they converted to make it 4-1.

Cookstown made five changes and this seemed to unsettle the team as the game got a bit scrappy. Ballymoney kept pressing but couldn’t narrow the score line with the game finishing 4-1 in Cookstown’s favour.

Head coach “Star” said after the game, “The boys did well tonight they came out of the blocks flying and scored some brilliant goals.

“We moved the ball well at times and the team is starting to gel together.”

Northend 0 Cookstown U16 3

Cookstown took the field to play Northend at Ballymena.

An away win would get the monkey off their back and so it proved to be. Cookstown were in charge from the word go and had North end on the back foot. M Corrigan, D Teague, J Glasgow, A Woods with J McGuigan were causing all sorts of problems and it was no surprise to see J Glasgow open the scoring after great approach work by D Teague, J Harte and A Woods.

It was a well-deserved goal as he came close on a couple of occasions. North end came back and the Cookstown defence were put under pressure and goalie C Reynolds pulled off an incredible save to keep the score at 1 nil Cookstown at half time.

The second half started with North end putting the pressure on and had Cookstown rattled but a superb defence of S McMath, P Stewart, M Corrigan and L Johnston kept everything out and goalie C Reynolds also pulled off an exceptional save.

Cookstown stalwart, made a tactical change with J Glasgow moving into central midfield having a desired effect. D Teague, J McGuigan and J Glasgow were controlling midfield and it came as no surprise when they combined and J Glasgow released C McGovern down the right wing, beat 2 defenders and the keeper, to slot home from an acute angle to leave Cookstown 2-0.

It was no surprise that North end came back at Cookstown and great defending by the back four and goalie C Reynolds in particular just would not give in. The final say was left to D Teague who had been brilliant all match with his dead ball kicking and he pin pointed a free kick onto the boot of J McCullough who buried goal number 3. It was all over and Cookstown U16s had put the sizzle back in the pan.

The Management team of R Cummings, T Megarry, G McGaw and I Donaghy were full of praise for a performance which has cemented a top form place in the National League.

MOM it was almost impossible to pick an individual as Mom but R Cummings and T Megarry decided that players who deserved an extra mention on the day are namely S McMath, C Reynolds and J McGuigan.

Cookstown U16: C Reynolds, M Corrigan, J McGuigan, P Stewart, M Megarry, J McCullough, D Teague, J Glasgow, C McGovern, A Woods, J Harte, S McMath, L Johnston, A Murphy, W Tavanes, R Stinson, D Martin , D O’Niell.

Cookstown U18 1 Dromore 2

FIXTURES

Friday November 16

CYFC Development Centre (6.30-8pm MUSA)

Cookstown U14 v Glendowan (7.30pm MUSA)

Saturday November 17

Cookstown U11 Colts v Cookstown U11

Cookstown U13 v Coleraine

Armagh City v Cookstown U15 (11am Ardmore)

Crusaders v Cookstown U16 (10.30am Grove)