Football: Late Ferguson winner gives Coagh much needed three points

Coagh welcomed back Jonathan Young after his extended honeymoon but were without the suspended Aaron Thornton.

Another player Smith will have to do without is striker Aaron Campbell who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The Coagh boss could well be dealing in the transfer market this week before Coagh travel to Annagh United on Saturday.

This is one Andy Smith will want to win. Andy’s brother Dean is the manager of the Portadown side; a side packed with ex-Coagh players who will all want to get the important bragging rights.

On Saturday Coagh started well with the first chance falling to Dermot McGuckin but the keeper saved well.

Coagh continued to press with Kempton and Willie Ferguson causing all sorts of problems and it took a one handed save from Kempton’s shot to keep the scores level.

Wakehurst were content to defend and try and hit Coagh on the break, this nearly worked after Jordan Lemon and Ryan Gregg linked but Hassan in the home goal made the save.

The visitor’s Connor Gregg started to make gaps in the Coagh back line but along with his namesakes, Owen and Ryan, all three failed to find the final touch for a goal.

Near the end of the half, McGuckin, Holmes and Young all had good chances saved by Mark Maybin.

Jamie Holmes shot just wide at the start of the second half and moments later Maybin turned Kempton’s shot off the post to safety.

At the other end Jordan Lemon rattled the Coagh cross bar as the game started to open out.

Coagh’s McGuckin and Ferguson linked well but Ferguson somehow side footed his shot wide in front of goal. Wille Ferguson was out of luck again after seeing his goal bound shot saved by Maybin.

With the clock moving into the last three minutes and the match looking like a draw, Mattie Kempton put in a deep cross to the smallest man on the field but Willie Ferguson rose like a eagle to head home the winner of the crossbar.

The referee added on six minutes and the visitors pushed hard with Hassan in the home goal making an outstanding save to give Coagh the full three points.

Coagh: William Hassan, William Ferguson, James Ferguson, Mark Drennan, Stephen Glasgow, Mark Taylor, Jonathan Young, Mathew Kempton, Dermot McGuckin, Jamie Holmes, Ricky Ferson, Stefan Hogshaw, Darren Lawn, Bill Lees.

Wakehurst: Mark Maybin, Ryan Young, Andrew Miller, Mark Crawford, Niall Swann, Andrew Loughrin, Dale Kirkwood, Jordan Lemon, Ryan Gregg, Conor Gregg, Owen Gregg, Aidan Tolan, Corry Price, Andrew Irwin, Robert Corvilec, Stephen Mallon

Referee: Damian Maguire. Assistants: Jarlaith McElhone, Stephen McCready.