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Perfect penalties take Ferry through against Saints

Ferry Athletic 3

Anderson 24', Porter 40+1', 45'

St Murdochs 3

Knight 35', Johnston 46', 76'
  • Ferry Athletic 3-3 St Murdochs (Ferry win 5-3 on penalties)
  • Sunday, 13 November 2016
  • Dawson Park
  • Under 15´s
  • Tommy Clark Trophy
Andrew Creegan
Ferry Athletic needed a penalty shootout to see off St Murdochs in the Tommy Clark Trophy. Ferry have only picked up one win in the G Taylor League this season, while St Murdochs are unbeaten in the second division. Despite these two teams plying their trade in different divisions, there wasn’t much between them as St Murdochs fought back from 3-1 down to force a penalty shootout, but ultimately came up short.
 
Both sides started cautiously, with neither goalkeeper being asked any serious questions in the opening exchanges. St Murdochs should have been ahead after 13 minutes, but nobody in red and black could get on the end of Steven Dell’s cutback. Ferry were beginning to grow into the game and went close after 20 minutes through Louie Porter’s effort from the top of the box.
 
Four minutes later, the hosts were ahead. Captain Greg Breen picked out Louie Anderson who raced towards goal. The striker’s effort deflected off a Saints defender, and looped over stand-in goalkeeper Kieran Sharp and into the net.
 
Sharp was called into action eight minutes later, this time dealing well with a long-range effort from Porter. A corner from Breen caused problems for St Murdochs moments later, but nobody in a Ferry shirt could bundle the ball over the line.
 
The visitors were seeing more of the ball than their hosts, but were failing to turn possession into chances. Striker Lewis Knight had a golden opportunity to equalise after 33 minutes, but sent his first-time volley over the bar from six yards out.
 
This didn’t deter the big striker as two minutes later, he brought his side level. Owen Ruxton provided the cross that Knight headed into the top corner of the net from close range. The equaliser was well deserved for St Murdochs, who had improved since falling behind.
 
With half time on the horizon, it looked like the sides would go off level, that was until the referee awarded Ferry an indirect free kick following a back pass. Breen teed the ball up for Porter, who drilled the ball in off the inside of the left post, giving Ferry the lead at the break.
  • Half Time:
  • Ferry Athletic
  • 2-1
  • St Murdochs
The visitors were rattled and five minutes after the restart, fell further behind. The ball broke to Porter 25 yards from goal and the Ferry midfielder sent a stunning volley past Sharp into the top right corner of the net.
 
Despite falling further behind, St Murdochs rallied and 60 seconds later, halved the deficit. Dell’s in-swinging free kick was parried onto the post by Ferry goalkeeper Josh Westgarth. Cameron Johnston was the quickest to react as he slid in and sent the ball into the net.
 
Things nearly got even better for St Murdochs as Knight was sent in behind the Ferry defence, but he couldn’t keep his effort on target. Knight was denied by Westgarth after 56 minutes, the keeper making a fine save to keep out the strikers well struck effort. There was a heart in mouth moment for the Ferry players, coaches and parents as the resulting clearance from Zak Foran was sliced up into the air, but landed behind the goal.
 
St Murdochs were continuing to apply pressure to the Ferry goal, winning corners and free kicks in dangerous areas, but the hosts were standing strong and nearly got a fourth just after the hour mark. Anderson managed to break away from the Saints defence but couldn’t get a proper shot away, resulting in an easy save for Sharp.
 
With time against them, it was quickly becoming do or die for St Murdochs and with four minutes remaining, they got their equaliser. Dell lifted the ball into the path of Johnston, who broke clear of the Ferry defence and slotted the ball past Westgarth.
 
Neither side created a clear-cut chance in the time remaining meaning that the game would be decided by a penalty shootout. This was an appropriate end to a thrilling cup tie, that in truth, neither side deserved to lose.   
  • Full Time:
  • Ferry Athletic
  • 3-3
  • St Murdochs
Greg Breen was the first taker in the shootout and the Ferry captain made no mistake with his penalty, sending it high into the top left corner. Lewis Knight was first up for St Murdochs and the striker sent his effort down the middle of the goal, allowing Westgarth to push the ball away.

Zak Foran was up next and the central defender made no mistake from 12 yards, planting his penalty in the bottom right corner of the net. With Ferry leading 2-0 after three penalties, Lewis Tough had to score, and did, sending his penalty into the bottom right corner.

Louie Porter was up next for Ferry, and found the net in emphatic fashion, putting his side 3-1 ahead in the shootout. Cameron Johnston, who’s goals had sent the game to penalties, was next up and he found the net.

Lloyd Birse was next up for Ferry and despite Sharp getting a hand to the ball, the hosts had a 4-2 lead. Westgarth managed to get two hands on Regan Gillespie’s penalty, sparking celebrations from his teammates. However, these proved to be premature as the ball made its way in to the net.

With Ferry leading 4-3, the responsibility fell to Louie Anderson, who had opened the scoring in regular time. The striker stayed calm and duly dispatched his spot kick, sending Ferry into the third round of the Tommy Clark Trophy.

Despite these two teams playing in different divisions, this was an excellent cup tie. Although St Murdochs will be ruing their missed opportunities, they showed that the can cut it with the teams in the division above, which will bode well for next season should they gain promotion.

Ferry on the other hand will be pleased with this result, especially when you consider that they only had 11 players available for the match. They will be hoping that this result will allow them to build some momentum, and move up the league table in the process. As for the Tommy Clark Cup, Ferry are certainly not to be taken lightly, and should fancy themselves to go beyond the third round.

Final Result: Ferry Athletic 3-3 St Murdochs (Ferry win 5-3 on penalties)

Lineups

Ferry Athletic
St Murdochs
1. Josh Westgarth
2. Zak Foran
3. Lloyd Birse
4. Daniel Ogilvie
6. Greg Breen
8. Jake Strachan
9. Owen McCord
12. Jaye McGrath
14. William Banyard
16. Louie Anderson
23. Louie Porter
24. Kieran Sharp
2. Jack Paterson
3. Reece Freeburn
4. Owen Ruxton
5. Findlay Fullerton
6. Josh Nelson
7. James Fraser
8. Steven Dell
9. Lewis Knight
10. Lewis Tough
11. Regan Gillespie
12. Cameron Johnston
14. Ben Holmes
22. Adrian Macdonald
Star Player
Ferry Athletic
St Murdochs
Greg Breen - The Ferry captain picked up two assists and got his side off to the ideal start in the shootout. Lead by example and epitomised everything that was good about Ferry.
Cameron Johnston - Bagged a brace in the second half and found the net in the shootout. Can be pleased with his performance.
Magic Moment
Ferry Athletic
St Murdochs
Westgarth's Penalty Save - Under normal circumstances, Louie Porter's peach of a second goal would get the Magic Moment, but Westgarth's penalty save got Ferry off to the perfect start in the shootout, and ultimately proved to be decisive in the final result.
Cameron Johnston's Second Goal - A cool finish that brought his side level, something St Murdochs deserved after all they put into the game. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't their day.
  • Match report and photos copyright Youth Football Scotland.
Last modified on Sunday, 13 November 2016 18:08
Published in East Region
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