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Wakehurst 2 Valley Rangers 2 Saturday 30th April 2016

The U17s went into this match full of confidence following their good win over Greenisland the previous week. However it was Valley Rangers who almost opened the scoring on five minutes when a fierce shot was pushed onto the crossbar by stand in Hurst goalkeeper Jamie Timms.

Gradually Wakehurst played their way back into this game, and a Dee Leetch free-kick was pushed over the crossbar by the Rangers keeper. Cameron Neilly was next to test the Rangers keeper when he went close with a shot in a crowed goalmouth. It was all Wakehurst at this stage of the game and Sam Bennett flashed a shot across the face of the goals before Jack Anderson gave Wakehurst the lead when he slipped the ball past the Rangers keeper following a superb Tom Campbell through ball.

Wakehurst were dominating the play and a Jack Dawson throughball sent Sam Bennett clear of the defence but he stalled his shot and the Rangers defence cleared. Bennett was in the thick of action and saw another good shot flash across the face of the Rangers goals but nobody could get the all important touch. Wakehurst should have increased their lead just before half time but Josh Lowry headed wide from a Leetch corner, when well placed in the Rangers box. Half Time 1-0

Into the second half and with Mark Cochrane and Owen Dick replacing Bennett and Neilly, Wakehurst looked a different team with Cochrane tormenting the Rangers defence. The half continued on where the first half finished with Wakehurst on the front foot. Jack Anderson was next to see a shot go narrowing wide of the upright.

However Rangers always looked dangerous on the break and Josh Lowry and Lee McAllister had to be alert to keep them at bay. Rangers equalised ten minutes into the half, following a mix up in the Wakehurst penalty box.

In an end to end game, Wakehurst came storming back and Mark Cochrane forced the Rangers keeper into a good save. In a man of the match performance, Dee Leetch went on an overlapping run through the Rangers defence.

Wakehurst went back in front in this game when following a good run by Cocharne, his cross was converted by Jamie Stevenson.

Cochrane and Stevenson were causing the Rangers defence all sorts of problems at this stage of the game and the keeper had to pull off another good save.

With the substitutions flowing throughout the second half of the game, Wakehurst conceded a late equaliser when a short back pass was intercepted and the Rangers striker ran on and planted the ball past Jamie Timms in the Hurst net. Final score 2-2

Panel: J Timms, D Leetch, L McAllister, J Lowry, A Milligan T Campbell, J Dawson, J Anderson, S Bennett, C Neilly, M Cochrane, O Dick, J Stevenson

Greenisland 0 Wakehurst 1 Monday 18th April 2016

The U17s continued their good run-in to the end of the season with a well deserved win over Greenisland on Monday night.

The boys were up for this match and took hold of the game from the start. Sam Bennett and Cameron Neilly were in inspirational form, leading Wakehurst's frontline and playing a high pressing game. Indeed Wakehurst could have taken the lead on ten minutes when an attempted clearance cannoned off Sam Bennett and just past the Greenisland upright.

In a super footballing display, Tom Campbell and Matthew were pulling the strings in midfield for Wakehurst, with Jack Dawson and Jack Anderson causing havoc to the Greenisland defence, down the Wakehurst wings.

After twenty minutes of the match, Wakehurst should have taken the lead when a move, fresh from the training ground, involving Tom Campbell and Sam Bennett saw Bennett flash the ball across the Greenisland goalmouth where Cameron Neilly was waiting, only to see his shot wiz past the Greenisland post.

However it wasn't all one way football and Greenisland continued to plat the longball over the Wakehurst defence for their No 10 to run onto. Josh Lowry, Jamie Timms and Lee McAllister were outstanding during this period of the game, with McAllister coming to Wakehurst's rescue when he scooped the ball from under the Wakehurst crossbar, with Greenisland looking certain to score. Half time 0-0

Into the second half and it was more of the same from Wakehurst with Bennett and Neilly pressing the Greenisland defence and giving them no time on the ball. The Ballymena Boys eventually took the lead in a move involving their front two, which saw Cameron Neilly pulled down in the Greenisland box. Up stepped Sam Bennett to plant the ball past the helpless Greenisland keeper 0-1

Wakehurst were in inspirational form and should have doubled their lead after fifteen minutes of the half when a pass to Sam Bennett was taken first time on the turn and just flashed over the Greenisland crossbar.

With legs beginning to tire, Owen Dick, Sparky Cochrane and Andrew Milligan were all introduced to play and they all took over immediately with their pressing play against a shell shocked Greenisland defence.

Greenisland's best chance of the game fell to their No 10 after twenty-five minutes of the half when he eventually managed to get past the Wakehurst defence but Jamie Stevenson pulled off a top class save to keep the Ballymena boys ahead in the game.

Sparky Cochrane and Owen Dick kept pulling the Greenisland defence all over the place in the final few minutes of the match and Andrew Milligan saw a speculative shot flash past the Greenisland upright before the end of the game. Full time 0-1

Panel: J Stevenson, L McAllister, J Lowry, J Timms, M Waide, T Campbell(c), J Anderson, J Dawson, C Neilly, S Bennett, A Milligan, M Cochrane, O Dick

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Banbridge Town 3 Wakehurst 2 Saturday 16th April 2016

This was Wakehurst's first game in a few weeks and it showed in the opening minutes. Wakehurst conceded a goal after five minutes when the Banbridge striker waltzed through the Wakehurst defence.

Sam Bennett had a header on target after seven minutes from a Lee McAllister cross, but the Banbridge keeper made a comfortable save.

In a crazy ten minute spell in the game, Wakehurst conceded two further goals, the second of which the Banbridge left winger evaded three tackles before slipping the ball past Lewis McFall in the Wakehurst nets.

It wasn't until the twenty minute mark before Wakehurst had their first serious chance to score. A Jamie Timms corner was cleared off the Banbridge goal line by one of their defenders and in a carbon copy five minutes later, the keeper had to pull off a top class save to push another Timms corner to safety.

As Tom Campbell and Matthew began to stamp their authority on the game, Sam Bennett almost pulled a goal back for the Ballymena boys with a shot on the turn which just flashed over the crossbar. Indeed Sam Bennett and Cameron Neilly were proving to be a thorn in the Banbridge defence with their pressing play. Towards the end of the first half another Wakehurst cross was cleared off the Banbridge goal line. Half time 3-0

The danger signs were there at the end of the first half for Banbridge and a rejuvenated Wakehurst team started the second half on the front foot. After seven minutes of the half, Bennett saw another header well saved by the Banbridge keeper.

As the Ballymena boys piled on the pressure, Lee McAllister saw another good header flash just over from a Jamie Timms free-kick.

On ten minutes, Wakehurst made the pressure tell when they pulled a goal back when dangerman Sam Bennett steered a header past the helpless Banbridge keeper.

Banbridge came back at Wakehurst but Josh Lowry and Lee McAllister were giving nothing away in defence.

Wakehurst scored their second goal after twenty minutes of the half with a contender for goal of the season. Following some good passing play, Cameron Neilly was hauled down just outside the Banbridge penalty box and Sam Bennett stepped up to bend the ball round the Banbridge wall and into the top corner of the net, past a full-stretched Banbridge keeper.

Wakehurst were in the ascendency at this point in the game and another Wakehurst cross was cleared off the Banbridge line.

Just as it looked like Wakehurst would finally go on and get a share of the points, the game fizzled out as a contest

Panel: L McFall, J Stevenson, L McAllister, J Lowry, J Timms, M Waide, T Campbell(c), J Dawson, A Milligan, C Neilly, S Bennett, J Anderson

Newry City 1 Wakehurst 1 Saturday 2nd April 2016

Another encouraging performance from Wakehurst and one they will feel they should have got more from, in a match they dominated for long periods without scoring enough goals.

Wakehurst put in an excellent first half display and could have scored four or five goals.Mark Thompson was the first player to test the keeper, who dived low and pushed the ball wide for a corner.

Wakehurst continued to dominate the first half, Sam Bennett saw his shot from inside the box go over the bar, Owen Dick's strike was saved and minutes later Sparky Cochrane placed his shot wide of the post. Half Time: 0-0

After a slow start to the second half, Wakehurst took the lead 10 minutes after half time when a long range long into the top right corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.

Wakehurst continued to press and Owen Dick missed two chances, the first saved by the keeper from close range and the second went over the bar from the outside the box.

Jack Anderson earned a Wakehurst corner after a long strong run from inside his own half was dealt with by the Newry defence. With only minutes to spare Newry scored their equaliser from a free kick giving Wakehurst no time to find a winner.

This was a disappointing result given the number of chances which were created and not scored by Wakehurst during the first half. Full Time: 1-1

Panel: J Stevenson, J Dawson, J Lowry, A Milligan, J Smyth, S Bennett, M Thompson, C Neilly, M Cochrane, O Dick, J Anderson

Hillsborough 6 Wakehurst 3 Saturday 5th March 2016

The scoreline didn't reflect how close this match was until the last ten minutes, when instead of taking the lead with a good scoring chance, the Wakehurst boys conceded three very late goals in a poor defensive display.

The match opened with Wakehurst on the front foot with Tom Campbell and Sam Bennett taking the game to Hillsborough. Owen Dick was leading the Wakehurst forward line and causing the Hillsborough defence all sorts of problems.

However Hillsborough took the lead on ten minutes much against the run of play with the first of many defensive mistakes.

Wakehurst though they had pulled a goal back, five minutes later, but the goal was adjudged to have been offside. Hurst drew level on twenty minutes when after some good work, Owen Dick scored his first goal of the season.

Hillsborough regained their lead on twenty five minutes of the match when a looping ball into the Wakehurst penalty box ended up in the back of the Hurst goal. Half time 2-1

Into the second half and Wakehurst were again playing some good football. Owen Dick had a good shot well saved by the Hillsborough keeper. Danny Bell was having his best spell of the game and again his shot was well saved by the Hillsborough keeper.

Wakehurst drew level after ten minutes of the half, when a good throughball from Tom Campbell found Sam Bennett and his cross was planted in the corner of the box by Jack Anderson. Wakehurst were well on top in the game at this time and deservedly took the lead after eighteen minutes of the half with another good finish by Owen Dick.

However almost immediately, Hillsborough drew level by a comical mix-up between Wakehurst defender and goalkeeper, which allowed the Hillsborough striker an empty net to score into. This was a sickening blow for Wakehurst.

However the Ballymena boys came storming back into the game and looked like they had taken the lead again with eleven minutes remaining, when Owen Dick got clear of his marker and thought he had scored only for an excellent save from the Hillsborough keeper again.

This was a cruel blow for Wakehurst as their defensive frailties set in and allowed Hillsborough to go on and score three goals in the final ten minutes of the match. Full time 6-3

Panel: L McFall, J Stevenson, L McAllister, J Lowry, J Timms, S Bennett, T Campbell, O Dick, D Bell, M Cochrane, J Anderson, B Millar, J Dawson

Lisburn Rangers 3 Wakehurst 1 Saturday 27th February 2016

Lisburn Rangers started this match strongly and Wakehurst found themselves on the back foot in the opening exchanges. However the Wakehurst defence of Stevenson, Lowry, Timms and McAllister dealt comfortably with whatever Lisburn threw at them and Anthony Shaw was confident in the Wakehurst nets.

Wakehurst's first chance in the match fell to sam Bennett on fifteen minutes, when he turned in the Lisburn box but looked like he was bundled over but the referee waved play on. Jamie Stevenson went close from a Tom Campbell corner on twenty minutes when he headed narrowly over the crossbar.

Wakehurst fell behind on twenty three minutes, when Lisburn scored direct from a corner. However the Hurst heads didn't drop and Owen Dick saw another header go narrowly over the Lisburn crossbar from a Lee McAllister cross.

Wakehurst equalised on thirty minutes when Sam Bennett scored a header from a Wakehurst corner. Half time 1-1

Into the second half and with Andrew Milligan and Ronan Laverty on, it was a much improved display from Wakehurst. James McLarnon stretched the Lisburn defence with a probing run. As Wakehurst took the game to Lisburn, Owen Dick sent in a good cross into the Lisburn box which should have given Wakehurst the lead but unfortunately from a good header, the ball was destined for the top corner of the Lisburn net before striking a Wakehurst player on the goal-line and rebounding to safety.

Wakehurst kept pressing the Lisburn defence with James McLarnon and Sam Bennett proving to be thorns in their side.

Against the run of play, Lisburn went back in front in the game, with twenty minutes of the match remaining, giving keeper Anthony Shaw no chance. Wakehurst made their final substitution with Declan Dobbin coming on at full back and Jamie Stevenson being pushed up-front. Stevenson was linking up well with the Hurst midfield.

The Lisburn keeper pulled off a good save from a Timms free-kick with ten minutes remaining before diving to push a Stevenson shot around the post.

However as Wakehurst kept pressing for a deserved equaliser, they were dealt with a sucker punch, with two minutes of the match remaining, when Lisburn scored their third goal to kill off the Wakehurst fight-back and take the gloss of another good Wakehurst performance. Full time 3-1

This was a poor first half display with a much improved 2nd half display with Jamie Stevenson turning in a top display alongside Josh Lowry and Jamie Timms.

Panel: A Shaw, J Stevenson, L McAllister, J Lowry, J Timms, S Bennett, T Campbell, J McLarnon, J Anderson, O Dick. A Milligan, R Laverty, D Dobbin

Banbridge Rangers 1 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 20th February 2015

Another encouraging performance from Wakehurst and one they will feel they should have got something from, in a match they dominated for long periods without getting on the scoresheet.

The match was only five minutes old when Sam Bennett tested the Banbridge keeper with a good shot. With all the early play going Wakehurst's way, a Tom Campbell corner on ten minutes should really have been scored and the same player hit another corner a few minutes later which again should have been buried in the back of the Banbridge net. On fifteen minutes a great cross into the Banbridge box was headed down by Owen Dick and Sparky Cochrane saw a thunderous shot acrobatically saved by the Banbridge keeper.

It wasn't all one way traffic and Lewis McFall in the Wakehurst nets was called upon to make a good save from a well placed throughball.

Owen Dick continued his fine recent form with a good shot on the turn after twenty minutes of the half which the Banbridge keeper did well to save. In the final minutes of the half, Danny Bell should have given the Hurst the lead when well placed clear of his marker but his shot was wide of the goals and minutes again just before half time when he squared the ball across the face of the Banbridge goal but nobody could get the final touch to steer the ball into the net. Half time 0-0

Into the second half and Danny Bell again rounded his marker and squared the ball across the face of the Banbridge goal but again nobody was able to get the all important touch on the ball. Again some good play from Wakehurst ended up with a shot on the Banbridge nets from Sam Bennett.

Minutes later, Bennett was in the thick of it, when he got on the end of a Jamie Timms corner, only to se his header go inches wide of the upright.

Banbridge took the lead midway through the half when a dangerous free-kick into the Wakehurst box ended up in the back of the net, going in off a Wakehurst player. This goal lifted Banbridge and Wakehurst were on the back foot for the next fifteen minutes, with Josh Lowry clearing the ball of the Wakehurst goal-line from another Banbridge breakaway.

Sam Bennett was looking like Wakehurst's best bet to get them back on level terms and he linked up again with Jamie Timms to see a header go narrowly wide.

With time running out, Sam Bennett and Jamie Timms both had good shots saved by the Banbridge keeper. Full time 1-0

Panel: L McFall, J Stevenson, L McAllister, J Lowry, J Timms, S Bennett, T Campbell, M Cochrane, O Dick, D Bell, A Milligan, J Anderson, J Dawson

Wakehurst 0 Lisburn Distillery 6 Saturday 13th February 2016

The old cliché, a game of two halves, certainly applied to this game with Wakehurst out playing their opponents for long periods of the first half and an inspired performance from the Distillery goalkeeper keeping them in the game when really Wakehurst should have scored on a number of occasions. However the Ballymena team never started playing after half time and paid the price, conceding a number of sloppy goals.

The game started with Distillery on the front foot and they scored their first goal after five minutes. Wakehurst responded almost immediately with Jamie Timms long range shot grazing the crossbar.

Next it was the turn of Owen Dick who's shot on the turn forced the Distillery keeper into a good save and the same player saw his header go narrowly over the crossbar from a Tom Campbell free-kick.

Wakehurst knew it wasn't going to be their day when a Jamie Timms free-kick rattled off the Distillery crossbar with their keeper well beaten.

Then in a remarkable spell in the game, Wakehurst had six corners in a row with Tom Campbell, Mark Cochrane and Sam Bennett forcing the Distillery keeper into good saves.

Wakehurst finished off the half with another Jamie Timms free-kick which looked destined for the top corner of the Distillery net before the Distillery man of the match somehow pushed the ball over the crossbar. Half time 0-1

Into the second half and Distillery took the game to Wakehurst from the off. They scored a second goal after six minutes when their striker was allowed a free header in the Wakehurst penalty box. They added a third midway through the half when their striker ran through the Wakehurst defence and planted the ball in the corner of the net.

Wakehurst missed a golden opportunity to pull a goal back, when a Mark Cochrane cross should have been converted by Andrew Milligan with the goal at his mercy.

This was to prove the last chance for Wakehurst in this half as Distillery ran in three further goals in the last twelve minutes to leave the score a very misleading 6-0.

Panel: L McFall, J Stevenson, L McAllister, J Lowry, J Timms, S Bennett, T Campbell, M Cochrane, A Milligan, O Dick, J Anderson

Wakehurst 1 Lisburn Rangers 3 Saturday 6th February 2016

Wakehurst again started this match on the front foot with Tom Campbell testing the Lisburn keeper with a well struck free-kick. On ten minutes Danny Bell should have given Wakehurst the lead but he pulled his shot wide of the Lisburn post.

Eoin Dick was causing all sorts of problems for the Lisburn defence and tested the keeper on two different occasions.

However Lisburn scored their first goal after twenty minutes, when a poor clearance wasn't dealt with and the Lisburn striker ran on and slipped the ball past the advancing Lewis McFall in the Wakehurst nets.

Lisburn scored a second goal five minutes before half time when a cross from their left wing found their striker unmarked in the Wakehurst penalty box and he planted the ball past McFall. Half time 0-2

Into the second half and with Sam Bennett and Tom Campbell driving the team on, it was a different looking Wakehurst team. Mark Cochrane was linking up well with Danny Bell as the Ballymena boys went looking for a way back into the game. In defence, the stand-in centre back pairing of Josh Lowry and Lee McAllister were dealing with whatever Lisburn could throw at them.

Lisburn extended their lead after fifteen minutes of the half when another cross in the Wakehurst penalty box wasn't dealt with and the Lisburn striker made no mistake.

With Jack Anderson and Jamie Stevenson introduced to play, Wakehurst took the game to Lisburn, Sam Bennett found himself clear of the Lisburn defence but a dubious offside call handed the advantage to Lisburn.

Wakehurst continued to pile on the pressure and twenty-five minutes into the half, Josh Lowry scored a piledriver from an Andrew Milligan corner. This goal lifted Wakehurst and with twelve minutes remaining the should have pulled another goal back but some resolute defending from Lisburn denied Wakehurst three times in a row when the ball was charged down each time.

With time running out, Wakehurst lost their influential captain Tom Campbell with an injury. But with the Club's U16 players Aaron Campbell and Anthony Shaw making their U17 debuts, Wakehurst continued to take the game to Lisburn but were unable to pull a goal back. Final score 3-1

Panel: L McFall, J Dawson, L McAllister, J Lowry, A Milligan, S Bennett, T Campbell, M Cochrane, D Bell, O Dick, J Stevenson, J Anderson, A Shaw, A Campbell