Strabane Athletic secure final spot

NW Intermediate Challenge Cup semi-final

Strabane Athletic....4

Newbuilding....2

(AET: 2-2 at normal time)

IN a pulsating encounter, Strabane Athletic's intermediate team progressed to yet another cup final after an extra time derby victory over Newbuildings United.

This game wasn’t for the faint-hearted. A game of two halves as they say - albeit it took extra time to find a winner - chalk and cheese from both sides but it was Athletic that came out triumphant at the end to the rapturous roar of the sizeable crowd.

The first half saw Newbuildings well on top. Hard in the tackle, first to every breaking ball and their speed in attack was causing Athletic major problems.

If not for Ruairi McElroy in Strabane goals, who made numerous point-blank saves, the game could’ve and probably should’ve been a foregone conclusion at half time, but to everyone’s surprise Newbuildings only lead one nil at the break.

Their well-taken goal coming in the 25th minute from their left winger Matthew Pierce who gave McElroy little chance with a powerful drilled shot on the angle.

The half ended with Newbuildings crashing another shot of the upright but the difference in both teams was evident to see.

Newbuildings ‘bullied’ and outfought Athletic in all areas of the pitch in the first half but after the break it was Strabane who repaid their neighbours for the torment they suffered in the first period.

Athletic came out fired up and pushed forward at every opportunity. They were challenging for every ball and when they got it down, they played some fluent football.

Their defence was barely troubled and half chances came and went via Aodhan Doherty, Matthew Stephenson and Sean Ferry.

The impressive Ferry and Warner Mullen lead the line impressively and caused Newbuildings more and more problems as the game progressed.

Strabane’s equaliser eventually came on 67 minutes after a great in-swinging ball from Stephenson on the right was met by Ferry who headed powerfully home from six yards.

The large crowd in attendance had now found their voice and cheered the team forward at every opportunity.

However, it was Newbuildings who regained the lead against the run of play in the 80th minute, much to the anger of the Strabane players, management, and vocal supporters.

Strabane’s left winger, Declan Sharkey took a nasty kick to the head and instantly went down but to the amazement of everyone the referee continued to play on and awarded a free kick in a dangerous position to Newbuildings.

After much deliberation and arguing, up stepped Darren Robb to unleash a formidable curling free kick into the top right-hand corner of McElroy’s net.

From the restart Ferry pulled an effort wide and then Mullen saw an effort well saved but it was down to marauding left back Ronan McBrearty to step up.

He collected the ball on the left side of midfield and ran unchallenged to drill a powerful shot which Gilmour, in Newbuildings goal could only parry out to the onrushing Mullen.

A chance the forward wasn’t going to let go and he smashed the ball high into the net to bring the sides level again.

The game ended two all with many expecting it to go straight to penalties but extra time resumed.

Strabane totally dominated both halves and scored a goal in each. A cool outside-of-the-foot finish from Aodhan Bishop (97th min) inside a packed Newbuildings box ensured Athletic took the lead for the first time and then a powerful penalty kick (101st min) off the crossbar from Mullen ensured Athletic progressed to the final where they will either play Maiden City or Ballinamallard Reserves.

Details to follow in due course.

The only downside to an eventful evening and great hard-fought victory was a recurring calve injury to captain Luke McGeehan and a head injury to Declan Sharkey, who had to come off but is hopeful of making a full recovery for the remaining fixtures.

Afterwards, stand-in manager, Colin Foskett said that he couldn’t be happier with his players.

"They showed tonight what team spirit is all about and is now looking forward to another final," he said.