U18 SBYL Cup quarter-final

The U18s produced just about their worst performance since Christmas and missed the opportunity of matching last season’s great run to the cup final.

They only had themselves to blame as they missed a host of chances in the first half before succumbing to a scrappy goal near the end.

A great ball from Joey Sweeney put Ryan Beattie through but he failed to convert while Eoin Doherty also shot tamely when also in a great position.

An excellent Michael Deeny free-kick was flicked just past the post by the head of Doherty when a full blooded header would have scored and no-one got on the end of a series of excellent corners and free-kicks delivered into the box.

Chris Overend was called on to make an excellent save towards the end of the first half with a shot while Bloomfield also hit the post when it seemed easier to score.

Colts never seized control of the game and both sides reverted to a long ball exchange which clearly suited Bloomfield more than Carryduff.

Just when it looked as if the game would end scoreless, and end up as a penalty shoot out, Colts failed to clear from a corner and after a lengthy spell of pinball in their own box the ball ended up being poked home for the winner.

With the exception of the effort of Paddy McEvoy, goalkeeper Overend and Rory McDonnell at the back, this was a very poor performance.

U14

Carryduff Colts             3

Sirocco              0

From the first whistle the Colts took the game to Sirocco, with the two forwards Loughran and Hamilton defending from the front.

Carryduff took the lead after 20 minutes from a Loughran header from a corner.

The second half started with both teams cancelling each other out in midfield and very few goal chances were to be had at either end.

With the introduction of fresh legs on 50 minutes, the Colts stepped up the performance and on the hour mark the second goal came from the boot of Hamilton.

For the remaining two minutes the Colts played some of their best football all year, passing and moving the ball at speed and deservedly scored a third again from the boot of Hamilton.

COLTS: P O’Neill, J McCrea, G Henderson, J Doherty, E White (O McCabe), R van Merkom, E Madden (A Waddel), C McGleenan (J Carville), O McGowan, D Hamilton, P Loughran (J Kennedy).

U12

Carryduff Colts             4

Sporting Cromac             4

The U12s could hardly have picked a worse time to produce their most disappointing performance of the season as the race for the title reaches its climax.

Losing three players through injury and illness didn’t help and Sporting took advantage early on when they opened the scoring.

Sporting looked to capitalise and they could have scored again with Eoin Maguire having to save at the striker’s feet.

Caleb Keating levelled after good work from Jonny Wilson who passed to Leo McGowan and he drove at the defence before slipping to Keating for a simple tap in.

Sporting then scored from a cross which dipped under the bar at the far post with nothing the keeper could do about it. They made it 3-1 just before half time.

Changes were made at the break with the injured Leo McGowan replaced by Jack Millar and Simon Turkington, who was playing right midfield, moving up front.

Straight from kick off, they won a corner and Turkington scored direct to make it 3-2 .

Josh Hyland then made a good interception before feeding Turkington who cut in from the left and curled the ball into the far right corner for the equaliser.

However, Sporting were not going to give up and continued to create chances with Daniel McCrudden, Michael Lawson, Matthew Devlin and Josh Hyland being put under pressure.

Colts went for the winner with Jack Millar unlucky on two or three occasions when trying to pick out Kyle Toan and Turkington with balls across the box while Keating was just an inch short of connecting at the far post.

Turkington then put Colts in front from a corner after he had been brought down following a super through ball from Wilson. With nine minutes left, Colts tried to finish it off and Peter Duncan picked out Kyle Toan who shot wide.

Jack Millar hit the keeper when one on one but credit to Sporting, scoring a scrappy goal to make it 4-4.