D & A Sunbed Hire

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The U-13s performed very well in a tough friendly game against Bertie Peacocks U-14s last night at UUC. Despite the score the boys kept their shape and passed the ball well. It was an excellent workout and great preparation for our league cup match next week at home to Tobermore. Many thanks to Neil Leese for bringing his squad up to the Uni for the game and to Alan for refereeing.

The Under 13 team travelled to Magherafelt on Saturday to play Magherafelt Sky Blues in the league cup final. On a blustery day the Coleraine team started well keeping the ball and playing it around nicely. Both teams had early chances but the deadlock was broken when Corey McMullan was fouled outside the Magherafelt box after 15 minutes. Team captain Markus Condren stepped up and curled a delightful free kick around the wall, the ball finding the net just squeezing inside the post. The match continued with Coleraine dominating in midfield with a nice passing game. Coleraine had a goal disallowed on 25 minutes when Ciaran Tosh crossed from the right and Ryan Millar finishing at the back post. However, the goal was chalked off when the referee judged the ball to have crossed the goalline before the cross was delivered. The Coleraine defence stood firm with fullbacks Andrew Purcell and Ronan Gaile keeping the Magherafelt wingers quiet. Centre halves, Dylan Wall and Conor O’Hare remained solid and it remained 1-0 to the visitors at half time.

 (Thanks to Billy Smith for the photographs)

Coleraine started the second half well with Nicky Kerr and Markus Condren controlling play through the midfield. Corey McMullan worked hard on the left hand side and played some great through balls for forwards Ryan Millar and Eddie Lane, who came close on a number of occasions. Ciaran Tosh kept the pressure on the home team’s defence down the right hand side and it looked like the Coleraine boys would hold on to win. With 5 minutes left, however, the Magherafelt forward latched on to a through ball and slipped it under advancing keeper Reece Gordon to equalise. There was a question mark over whether or not the player was offside but the goal was given and the final whistle was blown soon after. Both teams went into extra time playing decent football at a high tempo for this age-group. Magherafelt took the lead  after five minutes of the extra time period but the Coleraine boys continued to play a quick passing game rather than adopting the long ball tactics of the opposition. The equaliser came soon after when Ryan Millar shot from 10 yards out and the ball flew in past the Magherafelt keeper. The game was nicely poised at 2-2 with both teams evening each other out. The management had begun to draw up lists of penalty takers when, with four minutes left, Magherafelt got the ball on their right wing. After a few attempts to get round the full back the cross eventually came over. The ball swirled in the wind and looped over the Coleraine keeper’s head. Coleraine battled on but despite the introduction of pacy wingers jack Kennedy and Stefan Boyd, the Wee Bannsiders couldn’t break through the Magherafelt defence. Coleraine had a few chances in the dying minutes of the game with Nicholas Kerr, Ryan Millar and Ciaran Tosh coming close but the final whistle sounded and Magherafelt ran out winners with a final score of 3-2.

Coleraine Academy acquitted themselves very well and the management team of Bill Kerr, Jason Hutchinson and Pat Condren were proud of their players on the day. The players showed pride and passion and were understandably disappointed at the end. The squad will take a well-deserved end of season break now and a new development phase will start after the Easter period.

Man of the match (selected by the referee) was Markus Condren.

Team

Reece Gordon, Andrew Purcell, Dylan Wall, Conor O’Hare, Ronan Gaile, , Ciaran Tosh, Markus Condren (Captain), Nicholas Kerr, Corey McMullan Eddie Lane and Ryan Miller. Subs Carl Hutchinson (GK), Jack Kennedy, Steffan Boyd and Chris Smith.

Squad Training will take place on Wednesday evenings at The Showgrounds,  grass training pitch from 7.00pm - 8.30pm. Subs payable £2.