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Castlewellan 3 Wakehurst 1 Saturday 22nd April 2017

Wakehurst went into this semi final missing 3 regulars and taking two boys from their u16 team. Wakehurst started well and could have opened the scoring on two occasions, only to see the Castlewellan goalkeeper pull off good saves. Wakehurst have competed in all their games this season but their Achilles heel has been not scoring when on top and this was the case on Saturday,conceding two quick fire goals to go into the break behind. Half time 2-0

The second period saw Wakehurst on top,with Sparky Cochrane starting to show his quick feet, pushing forward at every opportunity. With 20 minutes remaining Aaron Campbell got one back firing in a great free kick from 20 yards. That should have really pushed 'the Hurst' on but they couldn't get another and Castlewellan got a third from another well taken free kick.

A disappointing end to the season but all in all a really encouraging season, performance wise.

Big thanks to Robert McCluney and Josh Logan from the u16 team who came in and never looked out of place putting in really good performances. Full time 3-1

Man of the Match: Robert McCluney

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

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Newry City 3 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 8th April 2017

Wakehurst came up against an in form Newry side fighting for second place in the league,and went 2 goals down within 15 minutes. Slowly they recovered and started to press forward and were unlucky not to pull one back,only for the keeper to pull off a magnificent save from Sparky Cochrane. Half time 2-0

Wakehurst really improved second half,keeping the ball and creating a few chances through Campbell and Leetch. Anything Newry were giving in return was being snuffed out by the Hurst defence,with Barr and Dobbin impressing again. Injuries to Jamie Stevenson and Aaron Campbell meant Wakehurst had to play out the last 10 minutes with 10 men,and Newry ran in another goal.

With league duties now over,Wakehurst look ahead to a cup semi final in 2 weeks. Full time 3-0

Man of the Match: Tyler Barr

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

Wakehurst 0 Hillsborough Boys 2

Wakehurst playing their penultimate league game of the season went down 2-0 to Hillsborough. In a first half when Wakehurst were well on top, Hillsborough scored through a defensive mix-up. Half time 0-1

Wakehurst were still the better team at the start of the second half, but when you don't take your chances you're always likely to get hit on the break, and that's what happened for Hillsborough's second goal. Only one more league game and then a cup semi-final for Wakehurst, so still an exciting seasons ending to come. Full time 0-2

Man of the Match: Declan Dobbin

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

Wakehurst 1 Craigavon city 1 Saturday 25th March 2017

Wakehurst dominated this game but had to settle for just a point against 3rd placed Craigavon. Wakehurst started with a good tempo and forced Craigavon back,with Campbell,Cochrane and Penny all linking up well down the right. It was during this spell that 'The Hurst' opened the scoring when Aaron Campbell drove home a free kick from all of 25 yards. This really spurred them on and they really should have doubled their lead before half time,seeing a couple of chances go begging. Half time 1-0

Craigavon slowly clawed themselves back into the game,scoring half way through the second period. This didn't put the home team off,and they still pushed for a winner with Jamie Stevenson dictating play from midfield.Both teams had chances to take all three points but a draw was probably the fair result.

In the end a good point for Wakehurst to set them up for their cup semi final next week. Full time 1-1

Men of the Match: Jamie Stevenson and Declan Dobbin

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

Castlewellan 1 Wakehurst 2 Saturday 18th March 2017

Wakehurst came away with the win in this 6 pointer to lift them up above their opponents in the league.

The 'hurst' started the first half much the brighter side,and nearly opened the scoring,when from a Cochrane cross,Jason Fleming saw his header superbly saved by the home goalkeeper. The pressure finally paid off 20 minutes in,when from a corner,Jamie Stevenson laid the the ball back to Fleming,who drove it into the net from 18 yards. It didn't take the home side long to get back on level terms,scoring from a long throw-in minutes before the break. Half time 1-1

The second half started with Wakehurst really pushing for the winner,with Cochrane, Penny and Leetch taking control of midfield. Jacob Penny was really stretching the Castlewellan defence,and from one his bursting runs he played a great ball across the face of the box for Tyler Barr,up from left back,to brilliantly finish from 10 yards. A fully deserved goal for a player having a great game on his birthday. Wakehurst held on for a good win,and a confidence booster,for the 2 teams meet in two weeks in the cup semi final. Full time 1-2

Man of the Match: Tyler Barr

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

Lurgan Town 1 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 11th March

Wakehurst came away frustrated yet again after dominating play for most parts of this game,only to come away with nothing.

Lurgan started the match stronger,creating a few early chances,with Wakehurst having Denver Thompson in goal to thank for a few great early saves. As the half wore on Wakehurst started to get their game together and really started to take control with Brandon Millar impressing down the left. Half time 0-0

It was all Wakehurst at the start of the second period,really pushing hard to open the scoring, but from a rare flurry from Lurgan, they opened the scoring from a corner. It was hard to take for the Ballymena side but they kept playing good football, nearly getting back on level terms from a David Leetch shot,and Sparky Cochrane making the home keeper pull off a fantastic save from a header at the back post. Try as they might Wakehurst come away with no points on a disappointing day,when again they dominate play but couldn't turn their chances into goals. Full time 1-0

Man of the Match: Denver Thompson

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