Goals galore for Academy teams

This was a well fought completive game between Coleraine Academy and Olympic U9 squads.

The game started off at a fierce rate with the Academy keeper keeping the Olympic team at bay saving everything they hit. After soaking up the sustained attacking the Academy squad took control of the game and scored. The Academy squad dominated the play and scored with everything they hit at the Olympic.

The Olympic squad never gave up and were unlucky on several occasions with the Academy keeper having an inspired game.

Both teams continued to produce fantastic passing football to the delight of the massive crowd of spectators and coaches. As the game ended Owen Boyd scored a wonderful team goal.

Goal Scorers Academy: Peter Nevin, Bobby Millar, Rafferty Mackay, Oliver Henry, Lewis Tosh, Ethan Best, Daniel Forsythe. Olympic: Owen Boyd

Man of Match: Jake Speers (Academy) Owen Boyd (Olympic).

U10s

The U10 Olympic played Maiden City Academy at Ballysally on Saturday. The Coleraine team dominated the game from start to finish, playing football as it should be played, pass and move throughout. Both teams very were very evenly matched and it was really good to see young players playing the game with a smile on their faces.

Maiden City scored the only goal of the game just before half time, but how the Coleraine team didn’t score remains a mystery. They played some really good stuff at times, hitting the woodwork on at least three occasions.

Credit to both teams for such an enjoyable game of football.

Coleraine Olympic U10: Charlie Campbell, Adam Scott, Brennan Whiteside, Joshua Campbell, Adam McClure, Lennon McKeeman, Corrie Leckie, Callum Brown.

Man of the Match: Joshua Campbell, great effort, particularly in the second half.

U11s

Coleraine Academy produced another accomplished display as they brushed aside the challenge of local rivals Bertie Peacocks. The wee stripes quickly got into their passing game with Luke McElfatrick and Ben Doherty looking dangerous in wide areas linking well with Cameron Stewart and Charlie O’Neill upfront. Coleraine were quicker to the ball as

Scott McDonald controlled the central midfield with his fine skill. The Bannsiders went in two nil up at half time with well taken goals from Scott Simpson and Scott McDonald.

The second half continued the same as the first with Coleraine on top. The back three of Adam Hanson, Jamie Stewart and Ben Moore defended well when called upon. Coleraine added two further goals from Cameron Stewart and Luke McElfatrick.

This was another impressive performance from the boys who continue to go from strength to strength this season. Confidence is high at the minute and the strength in depth within the squad is really helping get the best out of the whole squad. Not only is the team defensively strong and difficult to break down but some of the football which they have played is fantastic on the eye. Super performance boys!!

Man of the match: Scott McDonald.

Coleraine Olympic suffered their second successive defeat when they were soundly beaten 5–0 by a strong Ballymoney United team. The first half was evenly contested, Olympic twice in the opening minutes engineering chances which were denied by good defending by the visitors. A corner not properly cleared gave Ballymoney a 1-0 interval lead which Henry Mitchell shot home.

The second half began with a fighting display by Olympic but this pressure was not sustained and gradually Ballymoney got on top with Conal Doherty always dangerous. Olympic were tiring and their inability to play passing football allowed their defence to be put under continuous pressure resulting in Ballymoney scoring four times in the last twenty minutes .

Man of the Match: Richard Lockhart.

U13s

In what turned out a nail biting game at The Warren in Portstewart it certainly was a game of two halves.

The Academy side started well enough in possession but then found themselves struggling physically and Ballymoor took advantage of some sloppy defending to take the lead. Ballymoor then swamped Coleraine and soon doubled the lead and controlled most of the play throughout the half getting another two goals to make it 4-0 at the break.

A reality check at half time saw Coleraine starting the second half with a different attitude keeping the ball well and playing one touch football which was wonderful to watch the great play soon paid off when Kori Doherty was put in to slide a shot under the advancing keeper. Scott Weir then scored two minutes later with fabulous strike.

Matthew Clarke went so close with a shot at the back post going agonisingly over. The game was all one sided now with the Academy side dominating play and with six minutes left Josh McKendry scored the goal of the game with a brilliant shot from a tight angle. Coleraine kept pushing for a deserved equaliser but Ballymoor managed to hold on for a win. A great effort in the second half well done a positive outcome from a very poor start.

The Community team started their game brightly and opened the scoring when Joel Greene ran onto a fine through ball and sweetly lifted it over the keeper. Ballymoney fought and drew level during some confusion in the Coleraine defence saw Matt Taggart beat at his near post. Coleraine didn’t let this hinder their fantastic progress this season and soon regained the lead when Jordan Wade found Dylan Stewart with a lovely pass and Dylan curled the ball past the home keeper.

Ballymoney drew level again and took the lead for the first time in the game just before half time when a strong shot took a wicked deflection off a Coleraine player and gave matt no chance in goals.

Coleraine pressed on in the second half in search of the equaliser they deserved, but Ballymoney were sound in defence and the home keeper had a great second half and was equal to all Coleraine could throw at him. Late on in the half Ballymoney broke away and secured the points with a fine solo goal. This was a fantastic game to watch and played in the spirit of youth football, well done to both teams.

Coleraine; Matt Taggart, Kyle Millar, Matt Hutchinson, Jordan Brown, Brad Clarke, Stuart Cameron, Jack Harbinson, Dylan Murphy, Joel Greene, Dylan Stewart, Jordan Wade, John Stewart, Darren Browne, Adam Connor.

Man of the Match: Jordan Wade

U15s

Coleraine ran out easy winners in a very one sided game against Stranocum. Coleraine being the much bigger team physically dominated the game from start to finish. Coleraine created a number of good chances early on with McCormack on the right using his power and pace but he just couldn’t find the net.

Coleraine finally got of the mark when McCook controlled the ball in the box made himself space and slotted the ball in the bottom corner. Shortly after Coleraine won a number of corners and from one of these the ball broke to Hayes who blasted in a half volley from twenty yards giving the keeper no chance.

Stranocum had one chance themselves when hesitation in the defence nearly let them score. Despite several more good Coleraine attempts the score at half time was 2-0.

Coleraine started the second half in the same manner and became even more dominant. Waddell replaced McCook and within minutes he increased the lead with a finish from short range that the keeper never saw. Coleraine had Stranocum pegged back now and won a series of corners from which Coleraine’s captain, Ryan Kane, was denied a goal by some excellent saves and goal line clearances.

The fourth goal did come when a persistent Govan poked the ball into the corner of the net. Stranocum battled as hard as they could and managed to keep the score to 4-0l at the final whistle. This week’s man-of-the-match goes to Jordan Walker.

Coleraine Team: Jake Smith, G Kelly, C O’Kane, R Kane, G Greene, P Hayes, C McKinney, J Walker, P Gault, S McCook, C McCormack, L Govan, S McGuiness, Jamie Smith, R Pollock, J Waddell.