Knockbreda v Wakehurst
Gavin Mark was the first goalkeeper in action when he saved well on 8 minutes from Miquel Chimes. Wakehurst's first goalscoring opportunity came on 16 minutes when Mark Crawford's super drive just shaved the post.
Unfortunately for Wakehurst, Conor Gregg had to retire through injury on 16 minutes and he was replaced by Steven McIlroy. First corner of the game went to Knockbreda on 20 minutes but was well cleared out of defence by Stephen Gage who was joined in defence by brother David making his debut. A free kick to Wakehurst on 24 minutes was taken by Steven McIlroy but his effort was high and wide. Wakehurst's best effort of the half so far came on 31 minutes when Stephen Gage hit the post with a great header.
Wakehurst should have broke the deadlock in the first minute of the second half when a great run and cross by Steven McIlroy found Lee McCaughern, making his debut, and his shot went just wide. It was all Wakehurst and on 53 minutes a mistake by the Knockbreda left back let Jason Paul in but the goalkeeper saved well. Wakehurst had a scare on 67 minutes when Chris McCracken's shot just went inches past the post.
Jordan Kenny also making his debut for Wakehurst was causing problems for Knockbreda and he fired off a great ball to Mark Crawford who unleashed a great shot from 40 yards which again for Wakehurst went agonisingly wide.
Wakehurst got the breakthrough they deserved on 65 minutes when Ryan Gregg made an inch perfect cross into the penalty area and Jason Paul rose above the Breda defence to head the ball into the top corner giving the goalkeeper no chance to make it 1-0.
On 68 minutes, it should have been two with Jordan Kenny giving Jason Paul a golden opportunity but his shot went just wide of the target. It was Jason Paul again on 70 minutes but again his shot went the wrong side of the post.
On 78 minutes the combination of Paul and Kenny should have finished the game off but again it went wide and unfortunately Wakehurst were punished for not taking their chances when they conceded a penalty in the last minute of the game and Miquel Chimes made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it 1-1. Wakehurst had another opportunity to win the match in injury time but Andy Erwin's shot went high without troubling the goalkeeper.
Wakehurst: Mark, Erwin, D Gage, Stevenson, S Gage, Crawford, C Gregg, McCaughern, Paul, Kenny, R Gregg Subs: Warren, McIlroy, Alexander, Parker, McErlean
.png){kind=logo}
