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Wakehurst 4 Downshire 1 Saturday 31st October 2015

Wakehurst started the match on the front foot, dominating the early exchanges. With Sam Bennett making a welcoming return to the team after injury, it was a more balanced looking Wakehurst team on show.

Wakehurst could have taken the lead on ten minutes when a Robbie Dennison header went narrowly over the Downshire crossbar from a Jamie Timms corner. Josh Lowry was next to trouble the Downshire defence when he saw a shot go narrowly wide of the Downshire upright.

Downshire looked dangerous on the break and Ryan McKenna and Robbie Dennison had to be on top of their game. Bradley Cairns should have given Wakehurst the lead after twenty minutes but he saw his shot go narrowly wide of the upright.

On twenty-five minutes Sam Bennett beat his marker and shot from a tight angle. It was beginning to look like it was going to be one of those days, when nothing would go right and Downshire looked like they could sneek a goal on the break. Half time score 0-0

Following a good half time talk, it was a more fluent Wakehurst who started the second half and Bradley Cairns gave them the lead after ten minutes, when he headed home a Timms corner kick.

Wakehurst were piling on the pressure, with Tom Campbell and Glenn Stewart driving them on from midfield and it wasn't long before they won another corner. From Timms superbly delivered kick, Ryan McKenna headed the ball past the Downshire keeper, to make the score 2-0.

Wakehurst were starting to play some good football and the goal of the game was scored on twenty minutes of the half, when following a good 4 man move, Jack Dawson smashed the ball into the top of the Downshire net, giving their keeper no chance.

However it wasn't all one-way football and Wakehurst got caught short when a long clearance from Downshire's centre-back, found their strikers clear of the Wakehurst defence and the Downshire striker ran on to beat Jamie Stevenson, in the Hurst nets.

Wakehurst didn't drop the heads but instead Sam Bennett and Bradley Cairns really should have added to the Wakehurst score but both seen their headers go narrowly over the Downshire crossbar, from perfectly executed Timms corners.

With Lewis McFall, Matthew Waide, Own Dick and Andrew Milligan all getting a piece of the action, Wakehurst increased their lead when Robbie Dennison headed a goal , again from a Timms corner.

In a final flurry, man of the match, Josh Lowry, was unlucky not to score, when following some good overlapping play, he saw his shot go narrowly past the Downshire upright. Final score 4-1

It was good to see our guvenor Sam Bennett back in action today, making his first start of the season, following a prolonged injury. Manager Stephen White knows that his squad is now getting close to full strenght for the first time this season, with only Mark Cochrane on the injury list.

Panel: J Stevenson, J Lowry, J Timms, R McKenna, R Dennison, G Stewart, T Campbell, J Dawson, C Neilly, B Cairns, S Bennett, M Waide, A Milligan, L McAfee, O Dick

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Wakehurst 0 Greenisland 3 Saturday 17th October 2015

Wakehurst didn't learn their lessons from last week and conceded another early goal in this game. After four minutes the Greenisland striker outpaced the Wakehurst defence and slipped the ball past Jamie Stevenson in the Wakehurst nets.

Wakehurst should have been level after twelve minutes from a Tom Campbell corner when Jamie Timms somehow steered the ball past the back post with the goal at his mercy.

It was the same story again on twenty minutes, when from another Campbell corner, Robbie Dennison saw his header cleared of the Greenisland goal-line, at the second attempt.

Although Wakehurst always looked dangerous from set pieces it was Greenisland who had the best of open play with some good passing moves, which the Wakehurst midfield struggled to get to grips with all day. Half time 0-1

Into the second half and it was more of the same with the Greenisland keeper pulling off a good double save from another Campbell corner. This save was to prove vital as Greenisland went on to score two goals in quick succession, ten minutes into the half, leaving the Wakehurst boys an uphill mountain to climb.

However with Owen Dick leading the Wakehurst front-line, the Ballymena Boys began to claw their way back into this game, looking particularly dangerous at set pieces.

A Tom Campbell corner on twenty minutes flashed across the face of the Greenisland goal-line looking for someone to get a touch on it to steer it home, and a Jamie Timms free-kick saw the Greenisland keeper pull off a good save to watch as the loose ball went agonisingly inches past the open goals upright.

With Matthew Waide and Andrew Milligan on the pitch, Wakehurst were still looking to claw their way back into the game. A Jamie Timms corner was next to flash across the open Greenisland goals and a Bradley Cairns free-kick went inches over the upright.

However it was Greenisland, the sharper team on the day, who took their chances when presented to them, and collected all the points. Final score 0-3

Panel: J Stevenson, J Lowry, L McAllister, J Timms, R Dennison, T Campbell, B Cairns (c), J Dawson, C Neilly, M Cochrane, O Dick, A Milligan, M Waide

Newry City 2 Wakehurst 3 Saturday 10th October 2015

Wakehurst got off to the worst possible start to this match when they conceded a goal in the first minute, when Newry caught them cold and their striker planted the ball in the bottom of the net.

The game was all level after four minutes as Wakehurst came storming back and Bradley Cairns found the back of the Newry net.

The game began to settle down after the first few hectic minutes and it was Wakehurst who began to get control of the game. Josh Lowry saw a good shot Robbie Dennison cannoned a header of the Newry crossbar, following a Tom Campbell corner. Wakehurst could have taken the lead midway through the half, when Cairns broke down the right wing and his cross flashed across the Newry goalmouth, where Mark Cochrane just failed to get a touch. Indeed Bradley Cairns and Mark Cochrane were causing the Newry defence all sorts of problems with their link up play. Half time score 1-1

Wakehurst started the second half in determined mood and the defence of Lowry, McAllister, Dennison and McKenna were on top of their game. Robbie Dennison made the score 2-1 after ten minutes when he steered a Campbell corner into the Newry goal. Cameron Neilly almost increased Wakehurst's lead five minutes later when he slipped his marker and forced the Newry keeper to pull off a good save.

Josh Lowry was next to trouble the Newry defence when his cross steered across the Newry goal-line with Cairns unable to get a touch. Indeed Lowry is really beginning to find his feet at this level, following a number of seasons playing rugby.

Glenn Stewart, playing in the Wakehurst midfield was having some good link-up play with Cameron Neilly and from his pass, Bradley Cairns found space past his marker but his shot was hurried and allowed the Newry keeper to recover and save the shot.

The Wakehurst captain was on form today and he smashed another shot against the Newry post midway through this half.

Wakehurst didn't take their chances when on top in this half and they were badly caught out for Newry's second goal with fifteen minutes of the match remaining.

However such is the spirit in this team, that with Lewis McFall and Andrew Milligan pressing in midfield, and Owen Dick causing problems up-front, a Jamie Timms free-kick found the back of the Newry net with ten minutes of the match remaining, giving the Wakehurst a 3-2 lead. The boys really dug-in for the last few minutes of the game to record a good win, playing some really good passing football. Final score 2-3

It was great to have Sparky back today, making his first appearance of the season, following his pre-season injury.

Panel: J Stevenson, J Lowry, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, G Stewart, T Campbell, B Cairns (c), J Dawson, C Neilly, M Cochrane, O Dick, L McFall, A Milligan, J Timms

Hillsborough 3 Wakehurst 0 Saturday 3rd October 2015

This was an end to end game right from the off and Jamie Stevenson pulled off a good save in the first minute, diving low to his right to collect the ball.

As early as the fifth minute, Robbie Dennison could have given Wakehurst the lead when he headed just over the bar from a Jamie Timms corner. It was Timms who was next to trouble the Hillsborough keeper when he got in a good shot following a knock down from Bradley Cairns.

Hillsborough could have taken the lead twenty minutes into the half, when a well drilled free-kick just went narrowly past the Wakehurst upright. The Lisburn side thought they had scored minutes later but Jamie Stevenson, Wakehurst's keeper, pushed their shot onto the crossbar.

With minutes of the half remaining, Hillsborough were awarded a very soft penalty but justice was restored when the Hillsborough striker blasted the kick wide of the Wakehurst upright. Half time score 0-0

Into the second half and it was Wakehurst who could have taken the lead when following some good work from Jamie Timms, Cameron Neilly should have scored with only the keeper to beat. As play again flowed from end to end , it was the Wakehurst defence of Lowry, McAllister, Dennison and McKenna who were in top form.

Midway through the half Hillsborough took the lead when a long shot squirmed its way through Stevenson's hands and into the net.

Wakehurst came storming back with Owen Dick and Lewis McFall forcing the Hillsborough defence into hurried clearances before a Tom Campbell freekick forced the Hillsborough keeper into a good save.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Hillsborough were allowed to score a secong goal when their man wasn't picked up from a freekick.

In true Cup football, Wakehurst threw everything forward in the last ten minutes. Robbie Dennison's header, from a Campbell corner, should have hit the back of the net, instead it went narrowly over the bar.

With five minutes of the match remaining, Wakehurst again should have pulled a goal back when it looked easier to score than to miss, but somehow they hit the Hillsborough crossbar.

This proved to be Wakehurst's last chance of the game when right on full time, Hillsborough scored their third goal, when the ball wasn't properly cleared from a corner and the Hillsborough striker danced past two challenges to drill the ball into the bottom corner of the net. There wasn't even time to take the centre before full time was blown. Final score 3-0

Panel: J Stevenson, J Lowry, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, T Campbell, B Cairns, J Dawson, J Timms, M Waide, C Neilly, O Dick, L McFall, A Milligan, G Stewart

Wakehurst 1 Banbridge Town 3 Saturday 26th September 2015

Wakehurst started this match strongly and Bradley Cairns should have given Wakehurst the lead when he rounded the Banbridge keeper as early as the fifth minute but allowed a defender to get back and clear the ball off the goal line. Robbie Dennison went close with a header from a

corner on the tenth minute and Jamie Timms went close with a free kick minutes later.

Against the run of play Banbridge took the lead when a diagonal ball over the top of the Wakehurst defence, found their winger who ran on and planted the ball into the corner of the Wakehurst goal. Josh Lowry was next to test the Banbridge keeper, when he connected with a Bradley Cairns cross in the Banbridge penalty box and Ryan McKenna saw a shot go narrowly wide following a knockdown from a Tom Campbell corner.

Cameron Neilly should really have pulled Wakehurst level on twenty-five minutes but he shot wide when faced with an open goal. Wakehurst kept up the pressure and Bradley Cairns well struck shot forced the Banbridge keeper to pull off a great save at the foot of their post.

However it wasn't all one way play and Banbridge could have doubled their lead on thirty minutes when they broke quickly from a Wakehurst corner but saw their shot hit the Wakehurst post.

Wakehurst almost drew level at the end of the half when Tom Campbell 's freekick forced the Banbridge keeper to make a good save just under his crossbar and a Lowry cross to the backpost found Cairns who should have equalised just before half time. Half time 0-1

Into the second half and play began to get bogged down in midfield but it was Wakehurst who drew level after fifteen minutes. A Cameron Neilly ball into Matthew Waide in the Banbridge penalty box, saw Waide turn his marker and get clipped. Up stepped Captain Cairns to drill the ball into the Banbridge net to level the score.

Banbridge took the lead after twenty-five minutes when a free kick found the top of the Wakehurst net.

Banbridge scored a third goal minutes before the end of the game when a defensive mistake allowed their striker in to score their third and effectively kill off any Wakehurst fight back Final score 1-3

Panel: J Stevenson, L McFall, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, T Campbell, J Lowry, J Dawson, C Neilly, B Cairns, J Timms, O Dick, M Waide, A Milligan

Wakehurst 1 Hillsborough 3 Thursday 10th September 2015

Wakehurst got off to the worst possible start in this match, conceding a goal in the third minute when a high ball into the box was dropped by the goalkeeper and Hillsborough had the simplest of tasks to tap the ball into the Wakehurst net.

However Wakehurst put this incident behind them and began to claw their way into the game against a very determined Hillsborough side.

After ten minutes, Robbie Dennison should have really scored when he had a free header from a Jamie Timms corner.

Minutes later, Wakehurst though they had equalised, when a Cameron Neilly pass found Jamie Timms with only the keeper to beat but the keeper pulled off a great save.

After twenty minutes of the game, Wakehurst eventually pulled level in the game when another Cameron Neilly pass found Bradley Cairns, who slipped the ball past the advancing Hillsborough keeper.

The same player should have doubled Wakehurst's lead five minutes later following another Neilly throughball but the Hillsborough defender got in a blocking tackle.

As the half wore on, Hillsborough began to get the upper hand in the game but the Wakehurst defence of Josh Lowry, Jack Dawson, Ryan McKenna and Robbie Dennison were all in inspired form.

However following a good Jamie Timms throughball, Bradley Cairns found himself clear of the Hillsborough defence but his shot was again well saved by the Hillsborough keeper.

With minutes of the first half remaining, Wakehurst were made to pay for all their missed chances, when the Hillsborough striker scored from what looked like an offside position. Half time 1-2

Into the second half and Andrew Milligan, Owen Dick and Lewis McFall were all introduced into play. This was a half where a lot of play was bogged down in midfield but a change in formation brought Wakehurst more into the game.

Midway through the half, Hillsborough increased their lead when a mistimed Milligan header. Allowed the Hillsborough striker to race clear of the Wakehurst defence and slip the ball past Jamie Stevenson in the Wakehurst nets.

Wakehurst had their best spell of the half, in the final fifteen minutes. Following another Timms corner, Robbie Dennison saw his header go inches past the Hillsborough upright. Jamie Timms was causing problems from his deadball play and he should have scored from a free-kick.

Hillsborough still looked dangerous and following a passing move, their striker forced Jamie Stevenson into a good save at the foot of the Wakehurst post.

The last chance of the game fell to Lewis McFall, when following a good pass from Tom Campbell; he saw his shot go agonisingly past the Hillsborough upright. Full time 1-3

Panel: J Stevenson, J Dawson, J Lowry, R McKenna, R Dennison, T Campbell, G Stewart, J Timms, C Neilly, M Waide, B Cairns, O Dick, A Milligan, L McFall

Valley Rangers 2 Wakehurst 2 Saturday 5th September 2015

Wakehurst started off this match in blistering pace and Matthew Waide tested the Valley keeper after five minutes, following a good throughball from Jamie Timms. Wakehurst took the lead after ten minutes of the match, when Robbie Dennison got on the end of a Tom Campbell corner, to head past the Valley keeper.

It was all Wakehurst at this stage in the match and `Bradley Cairns and Tom Campbell both saw shots no narrowly over the Valley crossbar.

However Wakehurst conceded a goal in the twentieth minute of the match when a mix-up in the Hurst defence allowed the Valley striker in to equalise the score.

This score visibly lifted Valley Rangers who began to string together some good moves.

With seven minutes of the half remaining, Bradley Cairns again went close when a good shot went narrowly wide. Jamie Timms though he had given Wakehurst the lead again minutes before half time, when a stinging shot from just inside the Valley half, was heading for the top corner of the net, only for the Valley keeper to get a finger-tip save. Half time 1-1

Into the second half and Wakehurst again started the half strongly. Jamie Timms made a good break down the left wing and from his cross Matthew Waide scooped the ball over the Valley crossbar, when it looked easier to score. Sam Bennett, on at half time, was giving Wakehurst added bite in midfield.

In Valley's first attack in the second half, a harmless looking cross into the Wakehurst penalty box, wasn't dealt with and their striker planted the ball in the back of the Wakehurst net.

This was the cue for Wakehurst to play some spellbinding football in this match with Tom Campbell and Cameron Neilly in the thick of the action for Wakehurst. Sam Bennett saw a great run and shot go narrowly past the post, Cameron Neilly almost got on the end of a Josh Lowry throughball and from a Jamie Timms corner, Wakehurst should really have equalised.

However Valley Rangers looked dangerous on the break and they rattled the Wakehurst crossbar after twenty minutes of the haldf with a good shot.

In an end to end game, Jamie Timms could have equalised when he shot wide from a good Cameron Neilly cross. Robbie Dennison smashed a header against the Valley crossbar from another Timms corner and Bradley Cairns saw a shot from twenty0five yards cannon off the Valley post and clear to safety.

It was looking like it was going to be another one of those days when you dominate a match but don't get your just rewards, when first Tom Campbell and then Sam Bennett were unlucky not to score from good chances. However with five minutes of the match remaining, Matthew Waide headed the ball past the Valley keeper from another Timms corner. Final score 2-2

This was a good start to the season for Wakehurst with some pleasing performances form new signing Josh Lowry at right back and Lee McAllister and Robbie Dennison playing at centre back. Also on a positive note for the Hurst, Sparky Cochrane will return to training in just over a week's time, following his pre-season injury.

Panel: J Stevenson, J Lowry, J Dawson, L McAllister, R Dennison, G Stewart, T Campbell, J Timms, C Neilly, M Waide, B Cairns, S Bennett, A Milligan