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Under 20s Progress In Cup

Mon, 11/09/2017 - 23:49

Steel and Sons Cup Round 3

Sirocco Works 0-1 Glentoran u20

Glentoran 20s emerged victorious from a very tight and tense East Belfast derby on Saturday in the third round of the Steel and Sons cup.

Sirocco had dispatched of East Belfast in the previous round and were confident of defeating another of their local neighbours.

The game really could have gone either way with both sides enjoying a host of chances in the game.

Glentoran started the strongest with 15 year old Christopher Conn causing problems down Sirocco's left hand side in the opening period and he was involved in two good early moves to create opportunities for Kym Nelson and Eoghan McCawl but on both occasions the efforts went just wide.

Conn himself had a shot over the bar before Padraig Hughes powered a header into the side netting.

Hughes was proving a real threat from set plays and forced a fine save from Sirocco's keeper from another corner before seeing a third goal bound header cleared off the line.

Sirocco, had more than played their part in the early exchanges but had failed to register an attempt on goal until the half hour mark but when they did it seemed to give them an extra spring in their step as they finished the half stronger and forced three fines saves out of Paul McLaughlin in the Glentoran goal.

Paul was in unbeatable form on the day and was equal to everything Sirocco could throw at him.

Sirocco played some excellent football in the second half as the Glens struggled to find any rhythm having lost Hughes and James McCarthy inside the first five minutes of the second half to injury - losing half of the back four so early was a blow and Sirocco sensed the vulnerability and really applied pressure for the first 20 minutes of the second half. 

Glentoran weathered the storm however and started to pick the Dixon Park men off on the counter attack with Eoghan McCawl going close again before Kym Nelson had a shot well saved.

It was from a counter attack that Glentoran made the breakthrough in the game when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box and the ball was picked up by Eric Foley who drove forward and played a super pass through to Kym Nelson who powered past the centre back and fired a left foot shot low into the corner of the net from 20 yards.

Glentoran stood firm for the final ten minutes to book their place in the fourth round and a difficult tie with St James Swifts.

Next up for the 20s is a home tie on Wednesday night against Linfield.

Sirocco Works 0-1 Glentoran u20

Scorer: Kym Nelson
Man of the Match: Paul McLaughlin

Starting XI - McLaughlin, Baird, McCarthy, Hughes, Sterling, Shaw, Foley, McCawl, Nelson, Conn, Duffy

Subs:
Wardlow for Hughes (50 mins)
Lowe for McCarthy (53 mins)
Andrade for Duffy (78 mins)

Not used:
Henderson, Scutt