U14s turn the tables to earn deserved win over Kesh

It is without doubt that Kesh started the stronger and it was 15 minutes before Dromore managed to even get out of their own half. By that time Kesh had already opened the scoring with a fine shot from outside of the box.

It looked like it was going to be a hard slog for the Dromore lads and possibly even a larger defeat than the 4-2 score line between the teams earlier in the season. However Dromore showed a resilience that has been on display a number of times this season when they have come back from conceding an early goal and they levelled the score in the 22 minute.

Scott Thompson rose to head a ball into the heart of the Kesh box where Jason Jaques was first to react and he slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Dromore however were only level for a matter of minutes when Kesh again took the lead with a magnificent strike over the keepers head from the tightest of angles on the right hand side of the pitch.

The scores stayed that way for the remainder of the first half however it was a much more even contest than the first 15 minutes with either side creating opportunities to score.

Dromore drew level again five minutes into the second half when the referee rather fortuitously awarded a penalty following a back pass to the Kesh keeper which he picked up. Whilst there was some contact between the Kesh keeper and the Dromore attacker, it certainly did not merit the award of a penalty. Daris Bennallal made no mistake with the penalty giving the Kesh keeper no chance.

If ever there was a game of two halves this was it and as soon as the penalty was scored Kesh looked like a beaten team. Dromore bossed the match from then on and on the rare occasions Kesh broke through the Dromore defence, they found Jamie Hanna in the home nets more than a match for their efforts – on one occasion Jamie saving a point blank shot by punching the ball into the air and jumping to catch it before it dropped to the ground.

Dromore continued to exert pressure on the Kesh net and both Matthew Clements and Jack Fullerton shot just wide before the inevitable breakthrough came. Whilst it was no surprise to see Dromore score, the goal itself was worthy of the winning goal. Matthew Clements found possession on the right hand side of the pitch and from almost the dead ball line repeated the trick that the Kesh striker had performed into the same net in the first half by lashing home the winner from the tightest of angels.

Although it would be unfair to single out any particular player in a match in which the whole Dromore team worked tirelessly, it would be equally unfair not to mention the efforts displayed by Jake Davison in this match.

Leading the attacking line, Jake chased every ball and closed down the Kesh defence at every opportunity and thoroughly deserved the warm applause he received when he was finally replaced in the second half to allow fresh legs to take over.

Team: Jamie Hanna, Simon Percy, Louis Simpson, Jordan Brush, Stuart Ingram, Jack Fullerton, Daris Benallal, Scott Thompson, Matthew Clements, Jason Jaques, Jake Davison, William Donnelly, Daniel Abraham