Wins for two Magherafelt Sky Blues teams

Training U13, U14, U15 Wednesday 7-8pm indoors at Meadowbank, trainers and shinguards, all players to be on time.

Fixtures

Friday: U15 v Ballymena United, 6.30pm Moyola Park

Saturday: Firsts v Desertmartin, 2pm Spires Park; Reserves no fixture; U12 Cup Maiden City v Sky Blues 11am; U13 Cup v Carniny Youth, 11am; U14 Crusaders v Sky Blues, 11am

Results

Reserves Canada Trophy,

1st Carrickfergus OB 0 Sky Blues 1

U11 Sky Blues Pumas 1

Coleraine Olympic 5

U11 Sky Blues Galaxy 3

Limavady United 2

U12 Sky Blues 4 Sion Swifts 1

U13 Coleraine Academy 2 Sky Blues 1

U14 Cookstown Youth 2 Sky Blues 0

U15 Glendowan 1 Sky Blues 1

No-one matched lotto numbers, £25 lucky dip winner C.Ewing. Tickets for next Saturday’s draw from committee members, jackpot capped at £1000.

Sky Blues Galaxy 3 Limavady 2

The Sky Blues Galaxy played out their toughest league game against league leaders Limavady and, following a gutsy performance, they left Ballysally complex with three hard fought points.

As early as the second minute Limavady took the lead from a free-kick just outside the box. The ball was struck high and hard and the goalkeeper Shea McGuckin could only get fingertips to the ball as it flew into the roof of the net.

The Sky Blues struggled to get any sort of foothold as Limavady dominated the half, using physical superiority to great effect. It was only due to the heroic defending of Caolan Crozier, Jon McAllister and Daniel Robinson that the Sky Blues kept themselves in the game. This was epitomised by Caloan Crozier who raced back to clear a certain goal off the line.

HThe Sky Blues knew that they would have to put in a gutsy performance in the second half and it took fearless performances from the whole squad to push Limavady back.

The equaliser came five minutes in, Aaron Donnelly taking a free-kick from midway inside the Limavady half. He played a high curling ball into the box and it deceived everyone and nestled in the far corner of the net to the travelling parents’ delight.

Hal-way into the second half the Sky Blues broke out of defence, Jamie Gribben playing a great ball over the Limavady defence, Aaron Donnelly rushed through and was coolness personified as he lifted the ball over the despairing goalkeeper’s head to give the Galaxy a hard-earned lead.

The Sky Blues scented victory and five minutes later they extended their advantage when Ross Speers turned and hit a cross-shot that Darragh Wade flicked into the Limavady net.

Limavady ensured a nervous finish when a through ball split the defence and a striker lofted the ball over Shea McGuckin to the net.

However, hard work put in particularly by Caolan Crozier, Jon McAllister, Rory Clarke and Ross Speers, made certain of a terrific victory.

Sky Blues Pumas 2 Coleraine Olympic 5

The Sky Blues Pumas lost to a strong Coleraine Olympic side but deserve credit as they worked hard right to the final whistle. Coleraine were 1-nil up at half-time and the game looked poised on a knife-edge. The Sky Blues equalised early in the second half. The goal followed a corner when Darragh Devlin got a strong head on the ball, the Coleraine keeper could only parry it away and a gleeful Michael Mullan stroked the ball home. Coleraine now upped the tempo of the game and they quickly raced into a 4-1 lead. The Pumas scored a consolation goal when Ryan McGuckin fired a great shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner of the net. Coleraine scored once more before the finish to end up with a comfortable 5-2 victory. The highlights for the Pumas were the debut performances of Daniel McNally and Darragh Devlin who will undoubtedly bolster the strength of the Pumas squad.

Glendowan U15s 1 Sky Blues 1

The good run of form continued in Belfast on Saturday when they drew 1-1 with local side Glendowan.

On a perfect morning for football the Blues started brightly against a physical home side, but once again the midfield pair of Conor Doherty and Manus McAllister more than held their own.

The striking partnership of David McErlean and Sean Monaghan were working hard closing the home side down at every opportunity and from this the Blues won a free kick 25 yards from goal. Conor Doherty took the free and blasted the ball into the roof of the net to put his side one up.

David McErlean went close towards the end of the half with a great effort from just outside the box, his shot just clearing the bar.

The second half started with the home side applying all the pressure but the Blues rearguard held firm with Conor McCann and Caolin Devlin prominent as usual.

With 10 minutes remaining Glendowan drew level when slack marking allowed the striker to head home from a corner.

In the last couple of minutes the Blues almost snatched a winner when Marc McGrogan went close after good work from Ciaran Bradley.

Overall a draw was a fair enough result and an excellent away point won.