U15s draw with leaders

Tristar 1 CYFC U15s 1

Cookstown made the journey to Londonderry last Saturday to play league leaders Tristar in a latest league match.

Despite missing a few players, Cookstown started the game brightly taking the game to Tristar and really putting them under pressure. Josh McAdoo on the right and Nathan O’Neill on the left were terrorising the Tristar back four, with Fergal Devlin and Ryan Campbell playing off them.

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The first half saw chances for McAdoo, Campbell, Devlin, Donnelly, Kilpatrick and O’Neill who saw his excellent effort come back off the crossbar.

Tristar had few clear-cut chances, with keeper Aaron Ridewood having little to do.

The halftime talk was as easy as the management have ever had, with everyone playing well.

The second half was expected to be backs to the wall due to the slopping pitch, but this never really came about with Luke Johnston, Gary Adams, Joshua Adams and James Donnelly really being solid at the back. Then a poor kick-out saw Tristar get a lucky break and, despite a save by Ridewood, the forward had a tap-in from the save. This was totally against the run of play but Cookstown battled on and this was evident with a few late tackles from Tristar on Campbell, O’Neill and Donnelly which all saw yellow.

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In the third occasion that Campbell was upended, near the end, resulting in a stonewall penalty but the referee played a great advantage which Deane Kane slotted home to bring the scores level.

This is how the game ended, with Tristar admitting that they were not expecting this Cookstown side to turn up.

Management Hunter and McKenzie were over the moon with the performance and could not fault anyone on the pitch, including Kyle Parkinson and Aaron McCulla.

It was an excellent display all-round and we hope that we can carry this into next week with a NI Cup match against Linfield in Cookstown.

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Team: Ridewood, Johnston, G Adams, J Adams, Donnelly, O’Neill, Kilpatrick, Kane, McAdoo, Campbell, Devlin. McCulla, Parkinson.

CYFC U14s 0

Glentoran U14s 7

There’s not much to say about this U14s NIBFA Cup game, apart from the fact that CYFCput in a gutsy performance against a very slick Glentoran team who have height, speed, awareness and clinical finishing; they are without a doubt the full package.

The CYFC lads held their own for a long time, the Glens scoring from a free-kick and grabbing a second on the stroke of halftime.

The second half was an exhibition from the Glens, but it wasn’t all negative for the local lads who showed great determination and never once gave up.

Well done to all the lads and good luck to Glentoran in the next round.