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.