Moyola under 15’s through to Semi-Final

Moyola travelled to Dungannon last Saturday to play Enniskillen Rangers in the Quarter Final of the League Cup Plate competition.

Enniskillen heaped on the pressure from the start and a frenzie of corners in the first five minutes kept Moyola encamped in their own half. Cassidy made a terrific reaction save to tip a header onto the bar and Evans clear to safety. O’Kane then had Moyola’s first effort on goal shooting from distance narrowly wide. Connery then had a crack at goal but the keeper gathered easily. Darragh put a ball down the channel for Doyle to cross low and hard but the stretching McElhatton couldn’t make contact and the ball was cleared. McElhatton’s header from the resulting corner was straight at the goalkeeper as the Moyola pressure gained momentum. Agonisingly Enniskillen took the lead after 20mins. A free kick from the half way line was headed away by McAtamney but for the ball to rebound off a Moyola player and fall kindly into the path of the Enniskillen striker who slotted the ball home. Moyola continued to play the better football and a McGrogan free-kick found the head of McAtamney but for the effort to fall straight into the keepers lap. Doyle then did well to create a bit of space on the edge of the area but the resulting shot was weak and easily saved. Ten minutes before half-time and the Moyola possession finally paid off. Darragh won a free-kick on the left and sent in a teasing cross which was only half cleared and fell to Downey whose left footed shot was defelected into the corner of the net for the equaliser. Enniskillen had the best opportunity of the two teams to take a goal advantage into the break. Their winger raced clear into the area but Cassidy closed the angle and saved with his legs. The resulting corner saw McElhatton head a clearance off the line to leave the score level at half-time.

Moyola came storming out of the blocks in the second period with early chances falling to Connery, O’Kane and Downey but just couldn’t find the target. Cassidy again was called into action palming a shot onto the post. McAtamney came close for a second time, again finding himself on the end of a McGrogan set piece but to agonisingly watch it drift inches past the near post. Moyola finally got just reward for endeavour to play football. A perfect Darragh corner was met by the head of McElhatton to give the Castledawson lads the lead. The ever industrious McGuigan was becoming a thorn in the side of the Enniskillen defence always giving a wide option to the Moyola attack. Devlin, on for O’Kane, could have made it three within minutes of coming on but couldn’t get that all important touch on a free-kick as he slide in at the back post. But Devlin didn’t have to wait too much longer for his debutant goal. Another Darragh corner was allowed to float through the box and the young winger nipped in while everyone hesitated and nodded the ball into the net.

A great game between two energetic teams and another impressive performance from the young Moyola team again coming from a goal down to win comfortably. They will meet Craigavon in the semi final.