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Wakehurst 2 Ballyclare Comrades 1 Saturday 25th February 2017

Wakehurst came away with all 3 points in this 'derby game' with both teams having to deal with the heavy winds.

In a very keenly contested game,with the weather playing its part,and with both teams trying to play football, it was Ballyclare who took the lead 25 minutes in,scoring direct from a corner. Half time 0-1

With the next goal going to make or break the home side,Wakehurst started to get a firm grip on the game. With Laverty,Leetch and Cochrane seeing more of the ball in midfield,this was still anyone's game. Then with 20 minutes gone,and from a David Leetch corner, Anthony Shaw up from the back crashed the ball into the roof of the net. This spurred on 'the Hurst' and 5 minutes later James O'Loughlin found space in the box to turn and fire a shot low into the corner of the net. Wakehurst's back four, who had been strong throughout, held on for the points,with credit to both teams for their fight and commitment in the conditions. Full time 2-1

Man of the Match: Anthony Shaw

Panel: D Thompson, D Leetch, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, A Campbell, J Penny, R Laverty, J O'Loughlin, M Cochrane, T Barr, C Nesson, J Fleming

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Lisburn Distillery 3 Wakehurst 1 Saturday 18th February 2017

Wakehurst set off for their match with table toppers and unbeaten Distillery with a diminished squad due to some late withdrawals.

With Anthony Shaw drawing the short straw and having to go in goal,and a host of players asked to play in unfamiliar positions it was a real credit to the team for non stop energy and commitment. In the first half Wakehurst really took the game to the league leaders, with James O'Loughlin hitting the bar with a lovely side footed curler and Calum Neeson seeing his shot come back off a post. Half time 0-0

Distillery started the second half with more of the play as expected,but Wakehurst with Sparky Cochrane and Jacob Penny in midfield and Jamie Stevenson and David Leetch at the back,all having good games,they were still causing problems for the home side.

Midway through the second half and with no subs on the bench to combat tired legs, Distilery scored a couple of quick goals and with 10 minutes remaining hit a third to take the shine off a really good Wakehurst performance. In the dying minutes James O'Loughlin pulled one back to get a goal the team really deserved.

A brilliant display by the 11 who turned up and ran themselves into the ground for the team. Full time 3-1

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: A Shaw, J Fleming, T Barr, J Stevenson, D Leetch, J Penny, S Foster, M Cochrane, J O'Loughlin, C Neeson

Wakehurst 1 Craigavon City 0 Saturday 4th February 2017

Wakehurst got back to winning ways on Saturday with a fully deserved win over 2nd placed Craigavon. The first half saw only half chances for both sides with the two teams defences snuffing anything out coming their way. Half time 0-0

Wakehurst started the second half with a lot more purpose,creating 2 really good chances through Jacob penny's strong runs down the right. With Stevenson and Laverty starting to dictate play in midfield and Sparky Cochrane making clever runs up front, Wakehurst were looking to win the game and anything coming the other way was being confidently dealt with by the back four of Shaw,Dobbin,Leetch and Millar. With the game looking like ending in a draw, Jamie Stevenson took a quick throw in to Cochranes feet on the edge of the box,and somehow he wriggled his way through 2 defenders to fire a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

A great result for the Hurst against a strong Craigavon side to hopefully show themselves they can be a match for any teams in the league. Full time 1-0

Man of the Match: Team Performance

Panel: D Thompson, D Leetch, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, A Campbell, J Penny, J Stevenson, R Laverty, M Cochrane, T Barr, J O'Loughlin, J Fleming, C Neeson

Dromara 2 Wakehurst 1 Saturday 28th January 2017

Wakehurst handed Dromara 2 goals in the opening five minutes,and it wasn't until the last 15 minutes of the game,when Ronan Laverty pulled one back,that they started playing football. In the dying minutes David Leetch saw his well struck free kick finger tipped over the Dromara bar.

This game was over after 5 minutes but credit to the lads for not folding,and nearly getting a draw.

Man of the Match: David Leetch

Panel: D Thompson, D Leetch, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, R Laverty, J Penny, A Campbell, M Cochrane, J O'Loughlin, T Barr, J Logan, C Neeson, J Fleming

Craigavon City 2 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 21st January 2017

A frustrating day for the 'hurst' after dominating play in the first half, creating 3 good goal scoring opportunities, and the referee turning down a stonewall penalty,it remained scoreless at the break. Half time 0-0

Craigavon started the second half stronger and took the lead after the Wakehurst defence failed to clear a corner. Midway through the half, after a very harsh penalty decision,the home side scored their second and even with some good pieces of play, Wakehurst couldn't find the goal to get back into the match.

A disappointing day with decisions not going their way,but the boys will no doubt be back to winning ways again soon. Full time 2-0

Man of the Match: Anthony Shaw

Panel: D Thompson, D Leetch, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, R Laverty, J O'Loughlin, J Stevenson, M Cochrane, A Campbell, T Barr, J Fleming, C Neeson

Wakehurst 0 Castlewellan 1 Saturday 14th January 2017

A disappointing day at the office for Wakehurst, after dominating possession they just could not find the back of the net.

Castlewellan scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes in,a well hit shot from a corner,and despite having the ball and creating at least 5 good goal scoring opportunities,Wakehurst couldn't get back on level terms. Half time 0-1

The second half was a very scrappy affair, with Wakehurst missing 2 more glorious chances. A frustrating day for the 'hurst', missing a couple of regulars and even more chances to win the game! Full time 0-1

Man of the Match: Jacob Penny

Panel: D Thompson, D Leetch, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, A Campbell, J Penny, J Stevenson, J Fleming, J O' Loughlin, T Barr, C Neeson, J Logan

Hillsborough Boys 0 Wakehurst 5 Saturday 7th January 2017

Wakehurst showed no signs of Christmas indulgence in their first game back with a comfortable victory over higher placed Hillsborough. Sparky Cochrane opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a fine finish and midway through the first half it was 2, when a shot come cross from David Leetch evaded the keeper and ended up in the net. Half time 0 - 2

Wakehurst kept up the pressure at the start of the second half with Jamie Stevenson starting to really boss the midfield. The pressure told 15 minutes in, when after good work by the tireless Jacob Penny down the right,Calum Neeson, after some fancy footwork ,scored from an acute angle. Hillsborough did try to play on the counter but were getting no change out of a strong looking Wakehurst defence and an assured goalkeeper in Denver Thompson playing only his second game for the club. The 'Hurst' made it four when James O 'Loughlin cut in from the left and drove the ball into the corner of the net. The victory was rounded off with a fifth, when David Leetch started the move from right back before following up the play and finishing from the centre of the goal for his second of the day. Full time 0-5

A good start to 2017 for Wakehurst, hopefully giving the boys confidence for the remainder of the season.

Man of the Match: Jamie Stevenson

Panel: D Thompson, D Leetch, B Millar, D Dobbin, A Shaw, A Campbell, J Penny, J Stevenson, M Cochrane, J O'Loughlin, T Barr, C Neeson, J Fleming