North West & Coleraine Youth League
The Draperstown Youth push for the title took a slight dent with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Institute on Saturday morning in Derry. Draperstown were without 6 regulars due to injury or other commitments; however the players who came into the squad did not let themselves down and were unlucky not to secure a point for their efforts.
From the kick-off Draperstown were under pressure and could have been 3 down within the first ten minutes with poor Institute finishing being Draperstown’s saviour.
Draperstown slowly came into the game and on 15 minutes a long clearance from McAuley caused confusion among the Institute defence and under pressure from Lagan the centre half conceded a corner. Draperstown took the short corner and a cross from T. Flanagan found McKenna whose shot went just wide. Draperstown kept the pressure up and a few minutes later a shot from P.Flanagan was half cleared and the looping ball almost fell to Doyle but just spun out for a corner. McDevitt whipped in a great corner and McCabe’s glancing header bounced off the crossbar. In response Institute went straight on the attack and a long ball caught stand in keeper R. McGuigan in two minds.
However he recovered well, made a good stop and full back O.McGuigan cleared the loose ball for a corner. From this corner the Institute centre forward had a free header but he headed over when he should have scored. The first half finished with Institute on top when a great shot from the right winger was well saved by R.McGuigan and English.
The second half began the way of the first – Draperstown slow out of the blocks and they were almost made to pay in the 2nd minute but a good recovery by English broke up the danger. The next 10 minutes were a scrappy affair with neither side creating any decent chances. On 16 minutes Institute won a corner and confusion in the Draperstown area gave the chance to the Institute forward who finished well. This seemed to deflate the Draperstown team for a short period and Institute could have gone further ahead when the forward was left 1 on 1 with McGuigan who did just enough to put him off and make him shoot wide.
To their credit Draperstown did fight back and piled on the pressure but could not get the breakthrough. With Draperstown pushing for an equaliser they were open to the counter attack and with 5 minutes left only great tracking back from P.Flanagan prevented a great scoring chance for Institute. Draperstown continued to press but Institute managed to hold out for the win.
Draperstown Youth (4-4-2)
R.McGuigan, O.McGuigan, J.McAuley, J.English, C.McCabe (Capt.) D.Doyle, C.McKenna, P.Flanagan, C.McDevitt, A. Lagan, T.Flanagan
Subs: T.Greenwood, Z. Elalaoui, S.McBride
