COOKSTOWN travelled to Lisnagarvey on Saturday to try and get their faltering season back on track.

Having come through a series of disappointing league performances, and with a tough fixture in the Junior Shield on the horizon, it was imperative that the 4ths found some form against a side riding high in the league.

Cookstown started the game brightly, despite the fact that the bouncy Garvey pitch was making life difficult for the away side.

The midfield trio of R. Gilmore, R. Robinson and S. Cuddy were lively enough to pin the home team in their own half for much of the opening 15 minutes. It was a neat midfield move which made an opening for P. Kee, whose one-two with C. Marlin provided C. Faulkner with the opportunity to slot the ball past the diving Garvey keeper.

This spurred the home side into action and they went on the offensive. In the face of sustained pressure, the Cookstown back four of M. Buchanan, S. Agnew, G. Smyth and P. Kerr were very steady in preventing Garvey getting any clear chances on goalkeeper N. Ruddock's net.
At half-time Cookstown were undoubtedly the happier side, having frustrated the home side considerably.

The second half saw Garvey up their tempo and press Cookstown more than they had in the first half. An injury to S. Agnew saw the versatile R. Johnston revert to centre-back where he performed very well.

Despite Cookstown's heroics at the back, the Garvey forwards did eventually find the net following a strong run and clever finish by their centre-forward.

As Garvey began to dominate, Cookstown began to lose their cool. From a penalty corner, P. Kerr's shot was deflected high into the net by a Garvey player on the line.

Although the goal was initially given, the umpire changed his mind much to the annoyance of the fiery Cuddy, who was sin-binned as a result. Despite being reduced to ten men, Cookstown determination came to the fore and they closed the game out, expertly denying the Garvey forwards another chance in the game.

This was a hard-earned point and a pleasing performance with Saturday's game against Portadown in the Junior Shield coming up.

Team: N. Ruddock, P. Kerr, M. Buchanan, S. Agnew, G. Smyth, R. Johnston, R. Robinson, R. Gilmore, S. Cuddy, C. Marlin, C. Faulkner, P. Kee.Miller, Shearer and Black Man of the Match: P. Kerr