NW JUNIOR: White is Wanderers hat-trick hero

Foyle Wanderers 3-2 Donemana
Donemana's Ross Campbell (blue) keeps a close eye on Foyle Wanderers striker Steven White.Donemana's Ross Campbell (blue) keeps a close eye on Foyle Wanderers striker Steven White.
Donemana's Ross Campbell (blue) keeps a close eye on Foyle Wanderers striker Steven White.

This City Cup tie really had everything.

A goal in the first minute, a stoppage time equaliser to take the derby into extra-time and a Steven White hat-trick, ensured Wanderers finally seen off neighbours Donemana.

Both sets of players gave their all, but in the end Andy McClintock’s men deserved to book their place in the City Cup quarter-final, where they will face Caw.

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However it was the visitors who raced into a first minute lead following a quick counter attack.

A long ball out of defence found Ricky Lee Dougherty who got in behind the Wanderers’ defence down the right, before seeing his cross powerfully headed home by an unmarked Grant Garden.

That early set-back only sparked Wanderers into life, with White in particular a handful throughout the tie and he went close to levelling things on 12 minutes, but his drive was kept out by Donemana keeper Johnny Thompson.

Stuart Moore was the next man to go close for the home side, but his effort failed to trouble Thompson, as his 20 yard strike flew just over.

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Right on the stroke of half-time, Kevin McGowan broke the Donemana offside trap, but his left footed strike from the edge of the box was straight at Thompson.

On the hour mark, Thompson had to make a top draw save to keep out Moore’s stinging drive, which took a deflection on it’s way to the bottom left hand corner.

White missed a few glorious chances to level things when he failed to hit the target, however he did make amends when equalising on 73 minutes.

His pace once again caught out the Donemana defence and this time the striker showed super composure to slot the ball home past Thompson.

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On 80 minutes, Donemana thought they had regained the lead but Alan McFaul’s curling effort from the left hand side of the penalty box, which had keeper Conor Olphert beaten, flashed inches wide.

Wanderers thought they had scored the winner five minutes later a goalkeeping error by Johnny Thompson, as the keeper was unable to hold onto Jordan Thompson’s long range strike and the alert White was on hand to finish superbly, blasting the ball high into the net.

To Donemana and Thompson’s credit they never gave up and equalised deep into stoppage time with the keeper playing his part in the goal.

Ross Campbell’s long throw-in was flicked on by the keeper at the near post and the alert skipper Ricky Lee Dougherty, gratefully side footed home at the back post.

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In extra-time Thompson had to be at his best with his hands, again denying Moore, keeping out his close range header.

That all important fifth goal of the tie came on 96 minutes as substitute Mark Olphert saw his shot from the left hand side of the box parried away by Thompson and the alert White was on hand to complete his hat-trick, turning the ball home from four yards.

In the closing stages of extra-time and with Donemana pushing men forward in search of an equaliser, White and Jordan Thompson both had chances to score a fourth goal but they were denied by Thompson.

Foyle Wanderers: C Olphert, Boyd, Curry, Moore, Kelpie, McCracken, Scanlon, White, Thompson, McGowan, Smy. M Olphert, Wade, Beattie.

Donemana: Thompson, McClintock, Campbell, McFaul, Millgan, K Dougherty, T Dougherty, R Dougherty, W McBrine, Garden, Lowry. A McBrine, Buchanan.

Referee: Ivan South.

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