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Wakehurst 3 Ballycastle United 2 Saturday 8th April 2017

Wakehurst went into the final league game of the season knowing that this was an important game for both sides, Ballycastle needed the win to keep their league title hopes alive and Wakehurst to give them a good result before thire upcoming cup final.

This being the forth time this year these two teams had met and Ballycastle having won them all, the Ballymena boys knew that they need to put in a strong performance if they were to get anything from the game.

In front of a large turnout of support at Smithfield, Wakehurst did not disappoint. For the first 15 minutes both teams pressed well but Ballycastle were kept at bay and did not have any real clear cut chances. Wakehurst were pressing better and looked like they wanted the game more throughout the whole pitch. Wakehurst were again playing good passing flowing football creating good chances with runs on the wings by Conall Gordon and Joshua Logan but were unable to convert with the chances going just wide or just past the post

On 27 minutes a pass to Chris Fullerton was held up well allowing Joshua Logan to find space in the box and after the pall had been played through to him only found the keeper pulling off a good save, but the ball came out to Thomas Givens who slotted it into the back of the net 1-0

This saw Ballycastle push hard again but with the combination of the defense and a great save by Connor Brennan, it stayed 1-0

On the half hour with again good hold up play by Fullerton, who this time found Robert McCluney free on the edge of the box and he drilled it into the bottom corner with the Castle keeper having no chance making the game 2-0

Five minutes from half time, Ballycastle played a through ball into their striker in the Wakehurst box, but when the keeper went in for the 50/50 ball they both collided resulting in the keeper having to be carried of with severely bruised ligaments, thankfully not as bad as expected. Wakehurst had to snuffle the squad around with their striker going into nets but were able to keep the score at 2-0 till half time. Half time 2-0

At the break the boys were warned that Ballycastle would come out strong to try and win the match but Wakehurst again started the better footballing side and with 5 minutes gone, another good run from Thomas McAuley played a lovely ball to Chris Fullerton who placed it nicely into the net to make it 3-0

Ballycastle came back into it after this and when a questionable free kick was awarded to them just outside the box, they made it 3-1 when the wall jumped and the taker placed the ball under them beating the keeper at his far post. They scored again shortly before the end of the match when the only defensive error by Wakehurst the whole game failed to clear the ball and Ballycastle scrambled it in to make it 3-2

The remainder of the second half saw Wakehurst having more chances with noticeable shots from Fullerton and McCluney who shot wide or had the Ballycastle keeper make good saves to leave the final score 3-2. Full time 3-2

This was an excellent result to end the season and shows how far the boys have developed from the beginning of the year, and they can now look forward to doing the same in the cup final next month . A massive thank you goes to all the squad this year from all the U16s coaching staff and the manager . WELL DONE BOYS

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

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Ballycastle United 3 Wakehurst 2 Saturday 1st April 2017

This week's match was against the 2nd place team Ballycastle Unitedand the first in back to back matches.

The strong physical Ballycastle started hard from the begining with Wakehurst counter attacking well with the best chance being a free kick by Stuart Lecky which went just over the bar.

On 25 minutes a mistake by Wakehurst in midfield let the Ballycastle striker through to make it 1-0 and when a Ballycastle corner was swung over which hit a Wakehurst defender and ended in the back of the net making it 2-0 at half time. Half time 2-0

After the half time team talk Wakehurst seamed to come out a different team and Ballycastle started to play some dirty football which the referee handled well.

Fifteen minutes into the second half another free kick from Stuart Lecky was saved and the ball came out to sub Aaron smyth who placed it coolly in to make it 2-1. This inspired Wakehurst on even more with good football which Ballycastle couldn't handle but with efforts from Robert McCluney hitting the bar and good saves by the Ballycastle keeper keeping out Chris Fullerton to keep the score 2-1. Ballycastle had few chances in Wakehurst's half in the second half but on one scrappy corner the ball ended in the net 3-1. Ballycastle thought they had the game won but the boys again outplayed the opposition and with 5 minutes to go from quick throw in Aaron Smyth hit a 25 yard shot which went through the keepers legs to make it 3-2.

This panicked Ballycastle with even their manager complaining to the referee about the injury time and even when they pressed Wakehurst were able to cope. This was an unlucky result which could have easily ended all square. Full time 3-2

Panel: C Brennan, L Parker, S. Lecky, C. McDonald, R. Jones, J Logan, R. McCluney, S. Frew, C Gordon, C. Fullerton, T. Givens, A Smyth, P. Kyle, C. McKay

Wakehurst 1 Wakehurst Star 5 Saturday 25th March 2017

These two teams played earlier in the season and ended with the adult team as the winners, so the U16s knew they were in for another hard game and with the Star having got some new personnel they showed that they were stronger than before.

The first 5 minutes saw Star with the most of the play but Wakehurst were able to deal with all that was thrown at them and were able to hit on the counter attack.

12 minutes into the match saw a scramble in the box after a dubious corner which Wakehurst were unable to clear which allowed star to go 1 up

The U16s were playing some good passing football but some defensive errors let Star score another 2 goals. The U16s had a few good goalscoring chances from Chris Fullerton, Josh Logan and an unfortunate header from Sam Frew meant the the half-time score was 3-0 Half time 0-3

From the start of the second half Star pushed hard to try and kill the game and after 10 minutes they scored with a good goal which the replacement keeper had no chance of getting a hand to.

Even being 4-0 down Wakehurst never gave up with the midfield having a good strong physical game even against the bigger players.

On 20 minutes of the second half, a great solo run by Conal Gordon took it past the Star defenders and neatly passed it to Arron Smith who put it into the back of the Star net .

This seamed to spur the U16s on and were again playing good passing football and with a bit of luck could have scored more. However, with 5 minutes of the match remaining, Star scored a fifth goal against the run of play. Full time 1-5

This was again a hard fought battle by the U16s who deserved more but with a good strong performance from the whole team over the full 90 minutes, this will set them up nicely for their final two league games against Ballycastle United

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

Draperstown Celtic 0 Wakehurst 2 Cup semi-Final Saturday 11th March 2017

Wakehurst U16s traveled away to this cup semi-final today against the in form league leaders Draperstown Celtic with a number of key 1st team player missing, making them the underdogs. Although the past meetings between these two sides were tight hard fought matches Draperstown had rightfully won both games.

Draperstown started the match hard, ruling the midfield but captain J. Logan and center back C. McDonald were able to hold their own.Wakehurst's front two P. Kyle and C. Fullerton combined on a number of occasions only to see the ball going past the post or to be well stopped by the oppositions keeper. It was a hard fought first half and stand in wakehurst keeper R. McCluney had to pull off a number of good saves to keep them in the tie. Half time 0-0

The second half continued the way the first half ended with both teams playing good football but with Draperstown still dominating the midfield again wakehurst's keeper had to pull of some great saves to keep it all square.

On 20 mins of the second half a run up the right from C. Gordon produced a cross which was cleared the keeper , it fell to McDonald who instead of blasting the shot neatly placed the ball into the corner of the net.

This seamed to spark Draperstown into life and they pressed very hard for the rest of the game but Wakehurst weren't willing to give up this lead,and with the opposition changing to 3-4-3 Wakehurst caught them on the counter attack and with a ball from C.Fullerton played through to P.Kyle who scored to make it 2-0 with only minutes to play. Full time 2-0

Again another great well played game between these two teams but this time Wakehurst came out on top with a spirited, organized and great team performance.

Thanks goes to Draperstown for today's game and all at the U16s wish them all the best in the remainder of the league.

But the biggest thanks goes to all the Wakehurst boys from their manager.

Panel:R.McCluney R.Jones C.McDonald S.Lecky L.Parker C.Barr J.Logan T.McAuley C.Gordon C.Fullerton P.Kyle C.McKay