Wilkinson shows his cutting edge for Nortel

Shorts 0 Nortel 1(after extra time)

HARDLY the most impressive display of the new Jamesie Kirk era, but Nortel got there in the end, albeit needing extra time to see off the Clarence Cup challenge of plucky 1B side Shorts, at Aircraft Park.

Nortel now travel to Paisley Park this Saturday to meet Premier Division side Albert Foundry in the next round.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coach John McMinn agreed: "It wasn't a good performance, and the bumpy pitch and wind were no excuse. We dominated the play, but had few chances, although to be fair, Shorts made it difficult for us; they worked hard and got plenty of men behind the ball – and it could have gone either way. All in all, though, not a great game to watch."

The Doagh Road side had the better of a scoreless first half without ever really testing the Shorts keeper.

Things improved slightly on the turnaround, with Nortel at least creating some chances; Darren McKay and Gary Bell both firing wide.

It was Shorts who could have pinched it right at the death when, due to a nasty divot, a Nortel defender failed to make the desired clearance, thereby opening the door for a home forward, only for keeper James Millar to rouse from his slumber with a useful save.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A close shave for Nortel, but into extra time it was Mark Wilkinson who provided the cutting edge, grabbing the only goal of the game in the first session, swivelling round to deposit the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Next Saturday, it's that next round trip to Albert Foundry.

Nortel; Millar – Kirk, McMinn, A Doyle (Kyle), Bell – Fenner, McRoberts, Lorrimer, Freyne – McKay (Conlin), Wilkinson. Sub (unused) McClean.