Honours even in inter-club derby

Cookstown III 3

Cookstown II 3

THE THIRDS and Seconds crossed swords on Thursday night with the blue-shirted Threes seeking revenge for their 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season.

The game started a blistering pace with every player keen to suss out their opponent. Several Thirds players were keen to stamp their authority on the game early and impress enough to be considered for the second eleven next year.

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Two such players were the Johnston brothers, Burt and Foxy. Their passing was incisive and they managed to cover every inch of ground in the midfield sector.

The first goal came from a catalogue of errors in the Thirds defence when Jonny Hassin crashed through several tackles and into the circle, sliding a cross across the face of goal.

Brian Hall in the Thirds goals allowed the ball under his pads for Greg Allen to tap in at the back post but the dubious goals committee awarded the goal to Hassin.

Back came the Thirds immediately with a great goal from Steve Cuddy. The ball was driven in from the left wing and when the Seconds defence failed to clear, Cuddy pounced with a reverse hit thunder bolt past Acheson in goals.

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Game on now and it was the Third XI who were looking like the more likely to score. Ken Crooks was breaking from defensive duties to try and link up the play and the Thirds had further joy in the circle when captain Sam Cuddy latched on to a loose ball to prod it past the despairing Acheson.

John Howard may well lay claim to the goal as he got a final touch but Cuddy will be adding it to his statistics for the season.

The second half began with the fired up Thirds producing couple of chances in front of goal. John Howard went very close after beating three defenders and he was disappointed to see his reverse flick squirm inches past the Acheson’s near post.

Back came the Seconds with Hutchinson and Nelson starting to pull the strings in midfield. Hassin and Stevie Allen were working hard up front to make the breakthrough but it was a long ball out of defence that, like the Icelandic Volcano, caused this game to erupt into life.

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Ian Cheevers found Greg Allen on the Thirds 25 yard line and, when he turned to face the resilient Hall in nets, found him way outside his area. Butler promptly rounded the keeper only to see Hall instinctively handle the ball outside the circle.

A definite short corner and, on another day and another umpire might have been a sending off offence.

The short corner was as a good a flick as you will see with Thomas Hutchinson ripping his drag flick into the roof of the net and suddenly the Seconds were back in this game and baying for blood.

The Seconds realised the importance of winning short corners for Hutchinson and they duly obliged him with his second chance on goal. His second flick was faster and more accurately placed than the first and completed a fantastic turn around for the Twos who now led 3-2.

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The Thirds were not finished yet. Ryan Millar and Robin Johnston combined to set up Sam Cuddy who saw his shot competently saved by Acheson.

Buoyed by that opportunity two old team-mates in Roger Robinson and Steve Cuddy combined to level the game. A long ball to the left wing saw Cuddy nip inside his defender and unleash a powerful shot inside Acheson for 3-3.

This game had everything: goals, passion, bad tackles, memorable talking points and full blooded commitment. Most of all, there were two teams keen to play hockey and win this match.

The neutral thoroughly enjoyed the game and both captains should be proud of their team’s efforts.

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Cookstown III: Brian Hall, Ken Crooks, Roger Robinson, Ian Hagan, Mark Wilson, Michael Johnston, Robin Johnston, Ryan Millar, Sam Cuddy (c), Steve Cuddy, John Howard, Chris Hutchinson and James McCallan

Cookstown II: James Acheson, Matt Rollins, Paul Thompson, Ian Cheevers, Daniel Crooks, Gavin Butler (c), Thomas Hutchinson, Richard Nelson, Stevie Allen, Jonny Hassin, Greg Allen and Richard McGaw

Millar, Shearer and Black Men of the Match: Captain Cuddy has picked out the two Johnston brothers as his men of the match.

Michael was particularly majestic in the first half with his penetrative runs and incisive passing.

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Robin had to show true grit in the second half to match his counterpart Hutchinson which he did admirably. These boys must surely be in the thoughts of the Twos captain for next year.

The teams would like to thank David Ames and Brian Thom for umpiring.