Seven up for impressive Coagh Reserves

THIS match started with a minutes silence for Sid Purvis who died on the 16th December. Sydney served on the Coagh Committee for a number of years while his son Stephen played for the Hagan Park side.

Sid was a very popular figure around the Hagan Park Club and will be sadly missed by us all. Coagh United Chairman, Committee, Managers, Coaches and Players, pass on their deepest sympathy to Jean, David Stephen, Ann and Yvette and the wider family circle.

Coagh Res showed character after going two and then three behind in the first half against Rathfriland Swifts. Coagh made a disastrous start giving away the ball from a throw in which allowed Joe Toal to run clear and slot home the opener after five minutes.

Ten minutes later Rathfriland must have thought Santa had come early when Toal ran on to a cracking pass from O’Reilly only to be hauled down by the oncoming McKenzie. Niall Fitzpatrick made no mistake from the spot to put the visitors two up. Coagh huffed and puffed from the restart with Kempton shooting over twice. Finally a good move out of the middle of the park saw Ally Young pull one back but Santa was soon on his way again after another disastrous back pass from the Coagh back line.

Gary O’Reilly accepted the gift slotting home Rathfriland’s third. Coagh showed quality and character as the first half closed in and were unlucky not to go in level but a deflected strike from Mattie Kempton gave them hope just before the break. HT 2-3

A more positive looking Coagh side started the second half with a goal after Kempton headed home to draw Coagh level. The visitors had no answer to Coagh’s push and run play and moments later they should have went into the lead but Blacks shot rebounded off the post.

Coagh’s first movement off the bench saw Andrew Neill make way for Philip Stewart On 66 minutes the home side’s pressure finally paid off when Ally Young doubled his tally with a header from a Mattie Kempton cross. Coagh replaced the injured Timmy Graham with the experienced Alastair McGuckin while veteran Andrew Creighton replaced Lee Hunter but it was Creighton’s inclusion that turned this match on its head. Creighton and man of the match Clive Campbell linked to get Johnny Black on the score sheet and moments later Black doubled his tally with a well taken goal, Coagh’s sixth of the match.

In the final minutes Campbell again was the provider for the veteran and the veteran showed class running clear to slot through the keepers’ legs for number seven.

Coagh Reserves: Graeme McKenzie, Timmy Graham (Alastair McGuckin), James Ferguson, Barry Anderson, Andrew Neill (Philip Stewart), Mark Taylor, Lee Hunter (Andrew Creighton), Clive Campbell, Johnny Black, Mattie Kempton, Keith McGaw.

Coagh United Chairman, Committee, Managers, Coaches and Players, wish all their loyal supporters and everyone involved with Coagh United Fotball Club a very Happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Not to be missed the local Christmas derby, Coagh United v Killymoon Rangers at Hagan Park Coagh on Saturday 31st December at 2pm. Following the Derby will be Coagh V Glentoran Reserves in the Intermediate Cup on Saturday 7th January at 1-30pm and if that’s not exciting enough for the fans on Saturday 14th Coagh will face Loughgall in the Irish Cup again at Hagan Park at 1-30pm.

Coagh will finish January off with a home fixture against Knockbreda on the 21st January.