Trojans YCG 0-1 Tummery Athletic
Blain Campbell’s goal with just over 20 minutes to go at Oakland Park sent Tummery Athletic into the next round of the Junior Cup on Saturday.
The Dromore side made the trip to Derry coming off the back of a 2-1 win over Beragh Swifts in the Mercer League and it was to be another tight affair against Trojans YCG.
Kevy McAleer’s side edged a physical game that sees them march on into the next round of the coveted cup competition.
Speaking after the game, McAleer said: “It was a great game against a very good side, a tough game that wasn’t for the faint-hearted with a lot of big hits and tackles, all blood and thunder just how we like it.
"We wanted to be really aggressive and press high man for man, we knew they like to play out from the back so being brave and winning it high gave us a good chance to get in on goal with less passes and we did that right from the off.
"First-half we had a few great chances and probably should have been one or two up at least if it wasn’t for good saves from their keeper.”
Saturday’s game started with a fast tempo from the off with opportunities at both ends in the opening 45 minutes.
Athletic’s first big chance fell to Shea Devlin as the forward used his pace to get in behind but he was denied with a good stop from goalkeeper Patrick Quigley in a one-on-one position.
Malachy McLaughlin also went close to the opener when Oisin Gormley forced a turnover high up the pitch and forayed down the wing before cutting back a low cross across the box for McLaughlin to run onto and strike but again Quigley was in the way to deny Tummery.
McAleer’s side got on top of their opponents in the second half and were banging on the door for the go-ahead goal although the away side’s goalkeeper Nathan Hunter had to stay concentrated with a couple of Trojans waves in attack.
Chances fell for Devlin, Gormley and Emmet McNabb but again they couldn’t convert as it was beginning to look like Tummery weren’t going to find the breakthrough.
However, they eventually got the winning goal just before the 70-minute mark as Trojans failed to properly clear a corner and Tummery worked the ball out wide with Gormley laying the ball off for McLaughlin who drove it low across the box.
It evaded the boot of a Tummery attacker but Campbell snuck in to stab the ball home at the back post.
Trojans pushed hard in the final moments and Hunter was forced into a brilliant save to stop the equaliser.
Tummery return to league action at the weekend against Irvinestown Wanderers. McAleer added: “Irvinestown this weekend at the Bawnacre, never an easy place to go and get a result and with them having a few good results recently it only makes it harder.
"We know what it’s gonna take so we prepare correctly again and focus only on Saturday.”
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