Narrow defeat for Coleraine Under-11's

Playing into the wind Coleraine started brightly and took a deserved lead on five minutes when Aaron Doherty raced through the Dungannon defence to slip the ball under the advancing Dungannon keeper.

Dungannon fought back strongly and drew level as the front man blasted the ball into the top right corner of the net out of reach of Jack Reid in the Coleraine goal.

The home side restored their lead soon after as they caught Dungannon on the counter attack as Andrew Black and Aaron Doherty teed up Sheldon Woods to score.

The visitors drew level again five minutes in to the second half after Coleraine gave away a free kick on the edge of their box.

Dungannon took the lead for the first time minutes later when a diagonal ball behind the Coleraine defence was slotted home at the far post. Dungannon then doubled their advantage with a high shot over the Coleraine keeper that was eventually bundled into the goal. Sean Kennedy, Sam Magee and Jordan Gregg were brought on for Coleraine as they pressed the Dungannon

goal. Jordan Gregg reduced the deficit with ten minutes to go and Coleraine won a series of corners with the clock ticking down. A point blank save by the Dungannon keeper thwarted Andrew Black and despite controlling the closing minutes Coleraine could not find the net. Coleraine now look forward to their eagerly anticipated Northern Ireland Boys' Cup match against an unbeaten St Oliver Plunket side in Belfast next week.

U10’s

The U10 Academy team battled hard against a very tough Bertie Peacocks side on Saturday. Both teams played well but Coleraine came out on top winning 2-0. Max Beattie scored a good goal after great work from Scott Weir. Louis McAlary then came on to score a brilliant goal after collecting the ball at the back post before hammering it home.

Bertie’s had some chances but James Richmond and Paul Adams were great in defence. Coleraine hit the post twice and some great saves from the Berties ‘keeper kept the score 2-0 to Coleraine. A good performance and well deserved win.

Man of the Match: Paul Adams.

U11 Alexandra

Coleraine FC Alexandra tok on Limavady in what was the team’s first game together on Saturday.

Limavady had a few early chances at the kick off and a couple of great saves from Brandon Stockman in goals kept the game all square. Coleraine were restricted to a few half chances but a mix up at the back gave Limavady the lead with 10 minutes to go in the first half with a well taken goal.

Coleraine dug deep and fought hard for every ball and a corner swung in from the right eventually made its way to Gavin Elder who struck a low and hard shot to make it 1-1. Limavady continued to push at the Coleraine goal and made it 3-1 just before the break.

The start of the second half saw much of the same from Limavady again but some fantastic saves from Brandon Stockman and great clearances from Gavin Elder and Krystof Silakowski kept the score line down.

Limavady scored four more in the second half to make it a 7 -1 victory for the league leaders and they deserved the victory. Coleraine though can be really proud of their performance, the team played well and mention has to go to Bailey Devine (captain), Alan Dunn, Matthew Watt and Brandon Stockman, they all worked so hard today in midfield and in goals as did Gavin Elder, Isaac Dunn, Bailey Smyth and Krystof Silakowski in defence.

Man of the Match: Brandon Stockman and Matthew Watt.

U12’s

Coleraine Academy U12`s took on the U12`s Community team with the Academy side starting quickly and creating a couple of early chances, but some excellent work from Patrick Hayes at the back for the community team kept the score level.

Jamie Smyth had a great chance to open the scoring for the Community team his rifled freekick smashed off the bar. Joshua McGregor was causing some problems for the Community defence with some good work up front his snap shot fell to Patrick Gault to blast the Academy boys ahead on 15 minutes.

The Community side tried to get back into the game forcing the Academy back but their defence of Alex Platt, William Millar and Glen McPherson held firm and proved too strong to get behind.

The Academy side scored their second on 24 minutes, again it was Patrick Gault who found himself clear in the box as Lewis Ritchie slipped the ball to him and Gault found the bottom corner of the goal with style.

Most of the second half was played in the Community team’s half but the Academy boys just couldn’t get the final pass or cross into their forwards.

They eventually grabbed a third as Joshua McGregor latched on to a loose ball from a Jamie Ellis cross to poke the ball home.

A great effort from the two teams with all the boys doing well and giving a 100% effort and producing some good football at times.

Man of the Match: Patrick Gault.

U15’s

Coleraine Academy Under-15’s were back in action on Saturday after another lay off due to the recent adverse weather.

They hosted Dungiven at Ballysally and took no time at all to open the scoring when Matthew Kirkpatrick fired home with a 20-yard volley with only four minutes on the clock.

Dungiven drew level 10 minutes later when Coleraine failed to clear a corner. The home team again took the lead 10 minutes before half time and this time it was Dario Morelli who found the roof of the net with a well taken goal. Morelli was unfortunate not to add to his tally right on half time when his shot crashed off the post and away to safety.

The second half started with Dungiven putting the home team under pressure and the visitors drew level from a free kick. Worse was to follow as Dungiven took the lead five minutes later with a direct free kick which deceived stand-in keeper Cailean O'Kane.

Coleraine responded well and Ciaran Ferris was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the post. The home team drew level though with 10 minutes remaining when Gary Sweeney fired in a cross and Matthew Kirkpatrick finished well at the back post. The home team pressed forward and were rewarded when Ciaran Ferris scored from close range when he was first to react after the keeper failed to collect the ball. And Karl Campbell made it 5-3 when he finished from the penalty spot after Ciaran Ferris had been up-ended in the box.

Man of the Match: Andrew Crawford.