Luckless Juniors U16s edged out by Dungannon Youth

Town Juniors Under 16s travelled to Dungannon Youth in a Mid-Ulster league tie on Saturday but returned home after a 3-2 defeat that they really didn’t deserve.

The locals came flying out from the first whistle, pressing Dungannon with a relentless work rate with midfielders Ryan Angus and Jack Hamilton tirelessly hustling and pressing Dungannon. The Juniors found themselves in front after only six minutes when winger Liam Farrell pounced on a poor clearance as he chipped the keeper from the edge of the area.

The Juniors weren’t giving Dungannon a minute to breathe and were the dominant of the two teams as captain Jordan Walker ensured his team kept the home team pegged in. Dungannon, playing entirely on the break, managed to scramble an equaliser on 14 minutes when a long ball fell at the feet of their striker.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Juniors pushed up straight from the restart, winning a penalty five minutes later which captain Jordan Walker converted to reinstate the visitors lead. Dungannon managed to mount a series of attacks before the break but the Juniors were a strong and well organised unit and maintained their lead to half-time.

The second half was more of a scrap as Dungannon fought hard to find a way back into the match. Playing on the break was their strongest weapon as the Juniors tried to find a third goal, Liam Farrell and Jonny Rodgers causing trouble out wide.

Dungannon were growing into the game and found an equaliser when they broke and scored. The Juniors were not in the mood to leave with a point and pushed hard for a winning goal. Ryan Angus, Jack Hamilton and Ryan Sloan fought hard to dominate the midfield battle, however the Juniors were unable to unlock the Dungannon defence. The Juniors pushed hard and committed more men forward, looking the more likely to find a winner.

However, it was Dungannon who again pounced as they got a fortuitous drop of a ball and despite the best efforts of keeper Conor Ward the ball crept in to condemn the Juniors to a defeat which they did not deserve.

This week’s MOTM was Jack Hamilton for an outstanding, tireless performance in the middle.