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Wakehurst 3 Limavady United 0 Saturday 25th February 2017

Wakehurst U16s were in a league cup game against Limavady United whom they had already beaten twice this season, but with last weeks poor performance this game was not to be as easy as Wakehurst would have wanted.

The game started lively with it being a scrappy, physical but fair game which was hampered by some very bad conditions. After 20 minutes a great ball played through by Chris Fullerton was finished well by Thomas McAuley to make it 1-0.

Limavady battled hard after this and had a few chances in the first half but on the half hour mark another good ball from Josh Logan through to Thomas McAuley who again finished well to lead at the break 2-0. Half time 2-0

The start of second half was almost the same as the first with Wakehurst's midfield playing the better of the football on a bad pitch and after 15 minutes a shot which was cleared by the Limavady keeper fell nicely to Callum McDonald who shot from 20 yards to leave the keeper no chance.

Limavady had the best of the play in the last 20 minutes as Wakehurst started to tire but Thomas Givens who was standing in as keeper pulled off some great saves to end the game 3-0. This was a good result for Wakehurst to take into the semi-final of the cup where they now meet Draperstown Celtic. Full time 3-0

Panel: T Givens, R Jones, S Frew, S Lecky, L Parker, R McCluney, C McDonald, J Logan, C Fullerton, T McAuley, J Kirkwood, P Kyle, A Smyth

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Coleraine Olympic 4 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 18th February 2017

This weeks match saw Wakehurst again taking on Coleraine Olympic away. After last week's game and having a full team Wakehurst were up for this mach and came out with all guns blazing.

With a lot of good attacking football Wakehurst had plenty of chances but Coleraine's keeper was up to the task. The best of the chances fell to Thomas Givens who's close range shot was scrambled away.

Coleraine fought back hard and when a long ball and an error from the Hurst Defense let Coleraine through they went ahead five minutes from half time.

The remainder of the half was hard fought by both teams but Wakehurst failed to head a corner clear coleraine took advantage to make it 2-0. Half time 2-0

At the start of the second half Wakehurst looked shocked and from the whistle they allowed the Coleraine midfielder to run with the ball and he finshed a good solo goal

Wakehurst again were playing good football after this but were unable to get anything from it and when Stuart Lecky's miss-timed tackle gave Coleraine a penalty it looked all over, but the Coleraine player missed wide with his effort.

Coleraine finished the game the stronger team and when Wakehurst defence stopped, thinking the attacker was off side, Coleraine slotted it in past the keeper to finish the game 4-0 winners. Full time 4-0

Panel:C.Brennan, R.Jones, S.Frew, S.Lecky, L.Parker, T.Givens, R.McCluney, J.Logan, C.Gordan, C.McDonald, C.Fullerton, P.Kyle, C.Barr, C.Mckay

Coleraine Olympic 4 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 11th February 2017

Wakehurst went into this game hoping they could win this game after the lat encounter with Coleraine ended in a 5-5 draw,but the team were depleted, with 3 of the starting 11 pulling out on Friday night.

The first part of the game was fought hard by both teams but it was scrappy football but on 10 minutes Coleraine played a long ball from their keeper which wasn't cleared by Wakehurst's defence only for Coleraine to score

Wakehurst fought back hard with 3 corners in a row which they wernt able to finish and a great free kick from Stuart Lecky going just over the bar.Coleraine scored another two before halftime , one again from a long ball from the keeper and another from a mistake in midfield which let the Coleraine player through to score. Half time 3-0

Wakehurst started stronger in the second half. Calum MacDonald's debut in the middle of the park strengthened the team and he had two great chances but one went just past the post and the other hit the bar.

Ten minutes into the half Wakehurst had the ball in the back of the net after Chris Fullerton had muscled through the Coleraine defence to latch onto a through ball to slot it past the keeper but was somehow judged to be offside.

Although Coleraine then scored another after 20 mins to make it 4-0 Wakehurst never gave up. With the usual determined performances in defense by Sam Frew and in midfield by Robert McCluney and a great alround game by Stuart Lecky this was a game that Wakehurst could have had a better result in had they have been at full strength. Full time 4-0

Panel: C. Kerr, R.Jones, S. Frew, S. Lecky, L. Parker, T. Givens, R. McCluney, J. Logan, J. Kirkwood, C. Fullerton, P. Kyle, C. McKay, C. McDonald

Roe Valley 0 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 21st January 2017

The last time these two teams met earlier this season, it ended with a heavy defeat for Wakehurst. However, with this match being designated a 6 pointer match, Wakehurst knew they had to be at their best to get anything from this game.

The game started well for Wakehurst but with the pitch being more suited to grazing sheep on than playing football, the boys found it hard to play their usual fluent passing game.

Wakehurst had the best of the chances in the first half with both Thomas McAuley and Chris Fullerton being denied by the Roesiders keeper. The best of the chances all fell to Fullerton, who after having took it round two defenders struck a lovely shot which had left the keeper no chance but unfortunately struck the crossbar. Half time 0-0

Roe Valley made changes at half time and with a couple of injuries on the Wakehurst team, the second half prooved to be a much closer game.

Roe Valley were more physical in the second half which gave them more of the play although Wakehurst had good chances to score from Conall Gordon and Thomas Givens but with no joy.

The last ten minutes were nervous for the Ballymena boys as Roe Valley threw caution to the wind in search of the all-important goal, but with Robert McCluney and Sam Frew playing out of their skins, the Roesiders couldn't find a way past the rock solid Wakehurst defence. Minutes before the end, Roe valley thought they had scored the winner only for McCluney to be in the right place at the right time to clear the ball off the Wakehurst goal-line.The game finally ended scoreless much to the surprise of Roe Valley coaches. Full time 0-0

The team continue to improve week on week, and with at least one new signing to come in before the transfer deadline, the Wakehurst coaching team are looking forward to a good run-in to the final weeks of the season.

Panel: C Brennan, R Jones, S Lecky, S Frew, L Parker, C Gordon, J Logan, R McCluney, T Givens, C Fullerton, T McAuley, C McKay, A Woodin, P Kyle, J Kirkwood

Limavady United 3 Wakehurst 5 Saturday 7th January 2017

Wakehurst travelled to the Limavady Showgrounds to face a strengthened Limavady United squad. Wakehurst made a horrible start to the game and in the first minute of the match having barely had a touch of the ball, a defensive error left the Limavady striker through on goal. 1-0. Wakehurst then picked up the pace after Limavady had been gifted a few more chances but we're denied by Connor Brennan in the Hurst goal. However, Wakehurst began to claw their way into the game and caught Limavady on the back foot when they won a corner. From a Conal Gordon delivery, Sam Frew headed into the net to bring the Hurst level in the game.

Chris Fullerton added his name to the score sheet after skipping past three defenders and slotting the ball neatly into the corner. 1-2

Not long after, Stuart Lecky stepped up to take a 35 yard free kick which was well saved by the Limavady keeper, but the rebound found its way to Thomas McAuley's head who put it home. Half time 1-3

Both Wakehurst and Limavady came out for the second half all guns blazing with both teams missing 1v1 with the respective keepers. Half way through the half a long ball from Wakehurst's keeper found Conal Gordon, who after making a beautiful turn and flicking the ball through the defenders legs slotted the ball into the to top corner giving the keeper no chance 1-4

With about 15 minutes left off the game Conal Gordon made a darting run into the box and was brought to ground for a penalty. Stuart Lecky stepped up to take a penalty that would almost guarantee Wakehurst the win. Stuart calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 1-5

For the rest of the match Wakehurst introduced a number of substitutions which caused a few defensive errors,meaning that Limavady were gifted 2 goals in the last 10 minutes of the game. But goalkeeper Connor Brennan was not going to conceded any easy goals and with help for Robert McCluney who made several last ditch tackles

This again was a good result from a good hard fought team and the boys will be looking forward to carrying this form into next weeks home game Full time 3-5

Panel: C. Brennan. R. Jones. S. Frew. S. Lecky. L. Parker. C. Gordon. J. Logan. R. McCluney. T. Givens. T. McAuley. C. Fullerton. P. Kyle. J. Kirkwood. C. McKay