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Wakehurst 0 Linfield 3 Plate Cup Final Saturday 10th May 2014

Wakehurst U17s travelled to Armagh City's ground on Saturday night for their much awaited Elite National League Plate Final, against a Linfield team who have gone undefeated in the League for over two years.

The match started with a fired-up Wakehurst taking the game to Linfield and following a good Jamie Speirs pass, Stephen Hare found himself running at the Blues defence and when he cut inside the Blues penalty box, his cross looked like it had goal written all over it but the Linfield defence cleared the ball as Andy Neill rushed in.

This gave Wakehurst the early confidence and for the next ten minutes the boys played some great football. However on fifteen minutes Linfield took the lead against the run of play. Their striker ran from the halfway line, evading two Wakehurst tackles to hammer the ball past the advancing Aodhan Tolan in the Wakehurst nets. This goal handed the advantage in the match to Linfield and visibly lifted them.

Wakehurst defended resolutely with Niall Swann and Thomas Brady keeping the Linfield strikers at bay and with Jonny Hanlon and Michael Laverty limiting the Linfield wide men's overlapping runs.

However Linfield scored their second goal after twenty-five minutes, again down their left wing, when their fullback's overlapping run wasn't picked up and he slipped the ball to their striker to score. Linfield finished the half strongly but found Aodhan Tolan in inspired form. Half time score 0-2

If Linfield had the bulk of the play in the first half, the second half saw a resurgent Wakehurst take control for large periods of this half, with James Cameron and Jamie Speirs pulling the strings in midfield. Kyle Jackson and Anthony McAvoy were putting in a full shift in preventing the Linfield wide men seeing much of the ball throughout this half.

Wakehurst could have pulled a goal back after fifteen minutes of the half when Andy Neill controlled a Speirs pass and turned to fire a shot at goal only to see the Linfield keeper pull off a good save.

As Wakehurst dominated the play, Jamie Speirs' free kick went over the cross bar and the Linfield keeper was tested with an Inswinging Wakehurst corner.

However it wasn't all one-way traffic and Thomas Brady pulled off a great defensive tackle to clear the ball when the Linfield striker looked like he might score, with the Linfield bench calling for a penalty.

Linfield continued to fire in a number of crosses which Swann and Brady dealt comfortably with. Ryan Gault replaced McAvoy with fifteen minutes of the match remaining and he provided a number of flick-ons to the Wakehurst strikers.

With time running out in the match, Linfield made a number of substitutions from their large panel and with almost the last kick off the game scored a third goal when hesitancy in a very tired Wakehurst defence allowed their striker to score, to take the shine off a great second half Wakehurst performance. Full time score 0-3

This was an outstanding performance from the Wakehurst boys tonight, with perhaps Linfield's third goal taking the shine of a top performance from the local boys, especially in the second half when the Wakehurst dominated play for large periods of the half without getting something for their just rewards. On a night when everyone put in a top performance special mention must go to Thomas Brady who although playing with a heavily strapped ankle throughout the game, was outstanding in the heart of the Wakehurst defence

Although on the loosing side tonight, this has been a remarkable season for the Wakehurst Boys with this final match against the top team in the country at this age group being the highlight. The Boys have long been the top team in Ballymena at this age group with a memorable treble of wins this season against Ballymena United in the Elite National League cementing this claim, a League many other teams aspire to playing in. In a season that has proved so successful, the Wakehurst boys finished a credible seventh place in the top League in this country, finishing well above a number of local Irish League sides.

So after six years together as a team, all the Northend United Club wish each of the boys well as they progress into the senior game with Wakehurst FC and beyond.

Panel: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, A McAvoy, L Scroggie, S Hare, A Neill, R Gault, K Jackson

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Foyle Harps 2 Wakehurst 1 Friday 25th April 2014

Wakehurst travelled to Greysteel on Friday night to play their final league match of the season against Foyle Harps. The Harps started the strongest and caught Wakehurst cold in the first five minutes when a free-kick into the Wakehurst box found the head of the Foyle striker who planted the ball past Aodhan Tolan in the Wakehurst nets.

This was to prove the pattern of the first half with Foyle launching the high ball at every opportunity at the Wakehurst defence but on the night found Niall Swann and Thomas Brady in top form at the heart of the Wakehurst defence.

Foyle were pulling all the strings in midfield in the first half and the Wakehurst full backs, Jonny Hanlon and Michael Laverty, had to be alert when dealing with the overlapping Foyle wingers.

However it wasn't all one way traffic in the first half and Andy Neill was unlucky with a good shot on the turn and Stephen Hare jinxed his way past three defenders before seeing his cross being cleared off the Foyle goal-line. Half time score 0-1

Into the second half and Wakehurst started the stronger team and in a carbon copy of the first goal, the Ballymena Boys equalised after five minutes, when a Jonny Hanlon free-kick was headed past the Foyle keeper by Anthony McAvoy.

This goal lifted the boys and it wasn't long before Wakehurst should have taken the lead when James Cameron picked up the ball on the edge of the Foyle penalty area and jinxed past two defenders before finding himself with only the keeper to beat but unfortunately shot straight at the keeper.

It was all Wakehurst at this stage of the match and Jamie Speirs was next to test the Foyle keeper when his shot was all of thirty-five yards was hading for the top corner of the net before the Foyle keeper pulled off a finger tip save.

James Cameron had another shot that tested the keeper before Foyle got their all decisive goal, when a good shot was only parried by Tolan and despite the best efforts of Michael Laverty on the Hurst goal-line, the Foyle striker planted the ball into the Wakehurst net.

With Ross Swan and Lee Scroggie providing width down the Wakehurst wings it looked like the Ballymena Boys would get a second goal and it was Ross Swan who was hauled down in the penalty box only for the referee to wave play-on with seven minutes of the match remaining. Such was the tackle in the Foyle penalty box that Ross Swan had to be carried off the pitch and all at the Club wish him well in his recovery.

Andy Neill had the last say in the match when in the dying minutes he saw a header well saved by the Foyle keeper. Final score 1-2

Panel: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, A McAvoy, C Waring, S Hare, A Neill, L Scroggie, R Swan, R Gault

Wakehurst 4 St Oliver Plunketts 2 Friday 4th April 2014

Wakehurst welcomed St Oliver Plunketts to the Showgrounds on Friday night in their penultimate home fixture of the season. The Hurst Boys started strongly and Jamie Speirs tested the Plunkett's keeper with a rasping shot. Speirs repeated this again on ten minutes with the keeper again pulling off a good save.

Andy Neill and Stevie Hare were starting to link up well and Hare was next to test the Plunkett's keeper with another stinging shot.

Kyle Jackson gave the Ballymena Boys the lead on eighteen minutes when Stephen Hare slipped him a good pass and Jackson drilled the ball into the corner of the net. Andy Neill was next to test the keeper with another stinging shot. Wakehurst were dominating play at this point in the match but the home team began to get sloppy in their play and gradually allowed Plunkett's back into the game. Niall Swann and James Cameron were getting pulled in all directions with the movement of the Plunkett's centre forward. The Belfast Boys won a series of corners towards the end of the first half but found Aodhan Tolan in the Hurst nets in top form. Wakehurst weathered this storm and seen out the rest of the half. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and Plunkett's continued the form they finished the first half with. The Belfast Boys drew level after five minutes of the half when they were awarded a penalty and their striker gave Tolan no chance with the resultant kick.

Wakehurst, with Thomas Brady dominating the midfield, began to claw their way back into the game and Speirs was unlucky to see the Plunketts keeper pull off another good save from a thunderbolt of a shot.

Plunkett's took the lead after twelve minutes of the half, when their striker outpaced the Wakehurst defence and crossed the ball into a packed home defence and their player was quickest to react to stroke the ball past Aodhan Tolan.

Ross Swan, Lee Scroggie and Ryan Gault were all introduced to play in an effort to freshen up the Wakehurst midfield. This proved to be an inspired substitution as Ross Swan clawed the Ballymena Boys back into the game when he won a ball he had no right to and planted his shot past the Plunkett's keeper.

This goal visibly lifted the home team and Jamie Speirs both seen the Plunkett's keeper make good saves from goal-bound shots. However, following a Wakehurst corner, Stevie Hare was on hand to plant the ball past the Plunkett's keeper to give the home team the lead.

Wakehurst were now playing with a lot of confidence and Ryan Gault could have further increased their lead when he just failed to get on the end of a good cross with only the keeper to beat.

However with five minutes remaining, Stephen Hare scored his second of the night and Wakehurst's fourth when he followed up a high ball into the box and placed his header over the head of the advancing Plunkett's keeper. Final score 4-2

Panel: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, T Brady, K Jackson, S Hare, A Neill, C Waring, L Scroggie, R Swan, R Gault

Maiden City 4 Wakehurst 0 Friday 28th March 2014

Wakehurst travelled to Greysteel on Friday night to play a Maiden City team who have been in the top three in this League all season and came back to earth with a bump following the previous week's good win over Ballymena United.

The Ballymena Boys started brightly and Jamie Speirs saw a shot from distance go narrowly over the crossbar on five minutes.

In was all Wakehurst in the opening twenty minutes and Ryan Gault could have given Wakehurst the lead on ten minutes when a header went narrowly past the post, following a good Speirs free-kick.

Gradually Maiden City began to claw their way back into the game but found Niall Swann, and Anthony McAvoy in top form in the Wakehurst defence. Maiden City's best chance in the first half ended in their striker heading the ball over the crossbar following a deep cross into the Wakehurst penalty box.

Jamie Speirs' free-kick forced in Maiden City goalkeeper into a good save in the final minutes of the first half and a Speirs and Stevie Hare link-up resulted in another good shot on the Maiden City goal. Half time score 0-0

Into the second half and Wakehurst were caught cold in the opening minutes. Maiden City scored three goals without reply in a devastating display of passing football in the first fifteen minutes.

Wakehurst never recovered from this spell in the game and made substitutions in the form of Ross Swan, Cameron Waring and Kyle Jackson as they tried to get back into the game. Niall Swan went close for Wakehurst in the latter stages of the match before Maiden city scored from an uncharacteristic Wakehurst mistake following a corner-kick to leave the final score 4-0

Panel: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, A McAvoy,, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, R Gault, S Hare, A Neill, C Waring, L Scroggie, R Swan, K Jackson

Wakehurst 5 Ballymena United 3 aet/pens Friday 21st March 2014

An understrength Wakehurst, with the smallest panel in this National League, went into this semi-final knowing they would be hard pressed to get anything out of this game due to a long injury list and an International call-up for one of their team. However what nobody reckoned on was the tactical genius of Glenn Speirs which was once again to the fore as he steered his team to another notable scalp in a season which just gets better and better for this team. Glenn, with many years experience in local youth football, must be a strong contender for Manager of the Year in this League.

This semi-final was another local derby with Wakehurst coming up against Ballymena United for the third time this season and for the third time this season the local boys from Ballymena scored a notable victory over their more illustrious Irish Premier League neighbours.

The game started with Wakehurst only able to field two substitutes and this was to prove a major stumbling block in a match that went all the way to penalties. However it was local boys who could have opened the scoring in the opening minutes when Stephen Hare went close with a good goalscoring opportunity which the Ballymena keeper did well to save.

However as play began to get bogged down in midfield, Ballymena began to enjoy their best spell in the game as the Wakehurst boys were showing the neighbours too much respect. However the Wakehurst defence, where Niall Swann, James Cameron, Michael Laverty and Ross Swan were again outstanding, was easily soaking up whatever Ballymena could throw at them with their long ball game.

On twenty minutes it was another big punt upfield which caught the Wakehurst defence napping and allowed the Ballymena striker to race on and slip the ball across the face of the goals where their other striker scored with the simpliest of tap-ins.

However this Wakehurst team never knows when they are beaten and Anthony McAvoy could have equalised when he found himself in front of goals but again the Ballymena keeper pulled off another great save.

Wakehurst forced a series of corners on thirty minutes and it was from one of these corners that Thomas Brady rose majestically to steer the ball into the top corner of the Ballymena net, to leave the score 1-1. Lee Scroggie and Anthony McAvoy were causing the Ballymena defence all sorts of problems with their wing play. Half time score 1-1

Into the second half and the pace of the first half continued with Thomas Brady forcing the Ballymena keeper to make another good save with a rasping shot in the opening minutes. Play again began to get bogged down in a midfield battle with Jamie Speirs and Thomas Brady giving everything for the local boys. As legs began to tire in this frantic game, Ryan Gault and Cameron Waring were introduced to prop-up a tiring midfield. Indeed Gaultie could have given Wakehurst the lead as he forced the Ballymena keeper to make another good save.

The best chance of the half came five minutes before the end of the game when a penetrating run from Stephen Hare led to an excellent ball into the path of Andy Neill who really should have scored but he delayed his shot for a split second to allow the Ballymena keeper to make the save of the match. Final score 1-1

Into extra time and a very tired looking Wakehurst took the field, Jamie Speirs had two good shots in either half of extra time and Aodhan Tolan pulled off a good save to keep Wakehurst in the game as the dreaded penalties approached Score aet 1-1

Manager Glenn Speirs again showed true guile in selecting penalty takers and their sequence. Despite some ungentlemanly conduct by the Ballymena keeper in the lead-up to each penalty, Thomas Brady, Niall Swann, Jamie Speirs and Ryan Gault all justified their manager's decision by easily scoring their penalties and Aodhan Tolan had already saved the third Ballymena penalty as the next Ballymena player stepped up to take their fourth penalty. Another Aodhan Tolan wonder save sent the large crowd into raptures as the Wakehurst boys reached their first final in this top Northern Ireland League.

Panel: A Tolan, R Swan, M Laverty, J Cameron, N Swann (c), J Speirs, T Brady, A McAvoy, L Scroggie, S Hare, A Neill, R Gault, C Waring

The U17s would like to thank Alistair Swan for all his help at the match on Friday night.

Linfield 2 Wakehurst 0 Friday 14th March 2014

Wakehurst travelled to Seaview on Friday night to play the previously undefeated Linfield. The Ballymena boys were missing regulars McAvoy and Hare and were forced to reorganise. The Ballymena Boys turned in a good performance and can hold their heads high with a scoreline against the Blues which is unmatched by most of the other teams in this League

Linfield started the strongest team, knocking the ball about in midfield but the Wakehurst defence of Niall Swann, Kalin McCollum, Johnny Hanlon and Michael Laverty were equal to the short ball game the Belfast Blues were playing.

Gradually Wakehurst came more into the game with Thomas Brady, James Cameron and Jamie Speirs getting to grips with the slick Linfield midfield. On ten minutes Andy Neill had a half chance for Wakehurst when his shot on the turn forced the Linfield keeper to make a good save.

However Linfield took the lead on twelve minutes following a good cross to the back post and their striker headed the ball beyond Aodhan Tolan in the Wakehurst nets.

This goal visibly lifted Linfield and they kept attacking down the wings but Laverty and Hanlon were containing their strikers.

With only minutes remaining in the half, Linfield scored their second gaol when a midfielder beat three Wakehurst defenders before crossing for another Linfield striker to slot the ball into the Wakehurst nets, leaving the score 2-0. Both teams went on the offensive for the remainder of the half, determined to get the all important next goal.However there was no further scoring. Half time score 2-0

Into the second half and following a tactical reorganisation at half time when saw Lee Scroggie and Ross Swan introduced, Wakehurst began to take the game to Linfield and Lee Scroggie had the first scoring opportunity of the half when he went close with a rasping shot.

The same player could have opened the scoring for Wakehurst when a header in the penalty box for the Linfield keeper to make a good save. However as the half wore on, a tired looking Wakehurst allowed Linfield to come more into the game. Aodhan Tolan pulled off two good saves to keep the hungrier Linfield strikers at bay and Niall Swann was a tower of strength in the middle of the Wakehurst defence.

Wakehurst could have pulled a goal back with only minutes of the second half remaining, when a high ball into the Linfield box saw Andy Neill's header well saved by the Linfield keeper. Final score 2-0

Panel: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, K McCollum, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, T Brady, C Waring, K Jackson, A Neill, R Gault, L Scroggie, R Swan

Wakehurst 3 Cookstown Youth 1 Friday 7th March 2014

Wakehurst were slow to start in this Quarter Final Plate match and Cookstown forced the early running without causing the Wakehurst defence of Hanlon, Swann , McCollum and McAvoy any serious problems. Gradually Wakehurst came more into the game and Thomas Brady forced the Cookstown keeper to tip the ball over the crossbar from a well taken free kick.

Wakehurst began to take the game to Cookstown and Andy Neill was next to force the keeper to make another good save. Thomas Brady was pulling the strings in midfield and from another high ball into the Cookstown box, Wakehurst should have taken the lead.

However Wakehurst found themselves a goal down after twenty minutes when they conceded a needless free-kick twenty yards out and the Cookstown striker found the top corner of the Wakehurst net.

Wakehurst were visibly shaken by conceding this goal and Manager Glenn Speirs had to reorganise with Captain Niall Swann moving into midfield. This move brought Wakehurst more into the game and following some good work down the right hand side, Johnny Hanlon forced the Cookstown keeper to make a good save. Wakehurst kept up the pressure for the rest of the half without getting on the scoresheet. Half time score 1-0

Into the second half and Ross Swan and Lee Scroggie entered the play for Gault and McCollum. Niall Swann was playing the true Captain's role in midfield, covering every inch of the field. Play began to swing from end to end with Anthony McAvoy now playing in central defence, soaking up whatever Cookstown could throw at him. In attack, Kyle Jackson was beginning to cause problems for the Cookstown defence where Shay McMath was having a good game for the visitors.

Wakehurst were beginning to win the midfield battle and Niall Swann went on a jinxing run at the Cookstown defence which resulted in him getting hauled down inside the Cookstown box for a penalty. Up stepped Andy Neill to take the penalty and the Cookstown keeper pulled off a great save but the ball broke loose and as Johnny Hanlon went to strike the ball, he was again fouled and the referee had no hesitation in pointing for another penalty.

This time Niall Swann took the penalty and gave the keeper no chance to pull Wakehurst level in this game at 1-1.

This goal gave the Ballymena boys a lift and they visibly raised their game. Andy Neill and Kyle Jackson were a handful for the Cookstown defence and Jackson forced the Cookstown defender to concede a free-kick thirty yards out. Johnny Hanlon delivered the free-kick and found Thomas Brady unmarked in the Cookstown box and he duly hammered the ball into the corner of the net to give the Ballymena Boys a 2-1 lead.

Cookstown came storming back and forced Aodhan Hanlon in the Wakehurst nets to pull off two good saves. However as play swung from end to end, Niall swann was unlucky to see his header from a Stephen Hare corner go inches over the crossbar.

Wakehurst scored their third goal to make the game safe when Kyle Jackson got on the end of another Stephen Hare corner to leave the score 3-1.

Wakehurst sensed a fourth goal in the offering and Kyle Jackson and Andy Neill had good chances in the final minutes of the game but both forced good saves from the Cookstown keeper. Wakehurst Capotain, Niall Swann, had the last say in the match when he somehow placed the ball wide of the Cookstown keeper and upright when it looked easier to score. So the Wakehurst boys now meet their neighbours, Ballymena United in the sem-final on this competition. Final score 3-1

Panel: A Tolan, J Hanlon, A McAvoy, K McCollum, N Swann (c), J Cameron, T Brady, R Gault, K Jackson, S Hare, A Neill, L Scroggie, R Swan