Plenty of action at Bailey Russell Tournament

Five teams competed for the winner’s trophy in the U11s mini-soccer competition, every team playing each other in a league format. The teams were all fairly evenly matched and this saw virtually every game being a close encounter.

With one round to go the top two teams – Newry’s Midway United and Linfield – were drawn against each other with the winners sure to take the plaudits.

In a hard-fought encounter it was Midway who came out on top and went home with the winner’s medals and trophy, Linfield taking the runners’ up prizes, and medals also being presented to the Carnmoney, Glenavon and Dromore teams who all played their part in an enjoyable competition.

Alongside the mini-soccer, the U14 full 11-a-side game between the young Amateurs and Seagoe Youth kicked off in surprisingly dry conditions. Both teams wanted to start the season with a competitive win and this showed with attacks at both ends of the pitch.

Midway through the first half Dromore’s Jack Rice was first to break the deadlock, a corner seeing the ball eventually drop onto his favoured left foot and Rice rifling home from 14 yards. Seagoe had other ideas though, and didn’t take long to equalise after a mix-up in the Dromore defence, the score then remaining at 1-1 up to the half time whistle.

The second half saw both teams make changes, and with fresh legs increasing the pace it was Dromore who took the lead again. Callum Barnes on the left of the attack was picked out with a great ball, and he then picked up where he left off last season by running into the box and finishing into the bottom left. Minutes later he repeated his feat, this time curling a glorious shot from outside the box round the keeper and into the corner.

At 3-1 with 10 minutes left, Dromore should have been cruising but a mistake in defence gave Seagoe a lifeline and they took it by slotting the ball home. The Portadown team sensed that an equaliser was on the cards, and with only a minute or so remaining their midfield playmaker took possession midway through Dromore’s half and coolly lobbed the keeper from 20 yards.

The very impressive Bailey Russell George Best Trophy had to be won so the game went to penalties. With both sets of players rifling the ball past the opposition keeper on each occasion, it was going to take a misplaced kick to determine the outcome – the plaudits eventually going to the visitors as Dromore’s third spot-kick beat the keeper but not the post.

Dromore would like to place on record their sincere gratitude to the George Best Foundation and particularly the Irish Football Association for the support, equipment, and excellent medals and trophies provided.