County Down 2
West Ham United 2
(West Ham win 5-4 on penalties)
By Paul Alexander
West Ham United retained their SuperCupNI Junior section title by defeating County Down on penalties at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday afternoon.
The East Londoners won their second penalty shoot-out in as many days to ensure they hold onto the prestigious trophy.
United were first to threaten with almost 13 minutes played when Eghosasere Ekhosuehi slipped the ball into Jude Longman but his shot was saved by Down goalkeeper Matthew Belshaw.
County Down also came close soon after. West Ham keeper Leo Waldron opted to kick an effort clear before the ball fell for Adam Nelson whose shot was cleared off the line by Emmanuel Fejokwu.
It would be the Hammers who would open the scoring in the decider in the 17th minute when Mitchell Brown managed to squirm the ball over the line despite the efforts of County Down centre-back Daniel Hashim.
Logan McKnight had a promising opportunity to level for Down, when he found himself through on the left, however he could only fire over the target.
Opppsing midfielder Lenny Noble tried to double the English side’s advantage at the end of the half but his strike from outside the penalty area flew wide.
West Ham continued to look for a second goal eight minutes into the second half. Brown narrowed in on the left although Belshaw did just enough.
The county side found an equaliser in bizarre circumstances as McKnight’s dangerous cross from the left was punched into his own net by Waldron.
Although United were ahead again three minutes later when Longman curled a free-kick into the right side of the net after Dara Akinlolu had been fouled.
Down produced another aerial threat in the form of a teasing right wing corner by Rory Prenter which Waldron just about managed to punch clear.
With three minutes to go until full time, Waldron denied Nelson from the penalty spot before Corey McBride tapped in the rebound to send the game to penalties.
Both sides scored their opening four penalties after West Ham won the toss. Logman, Giorgio Francescotti, Akinlolu and Fejokwu netted for United, whislt Mason Ayre, Nelson, McBride and Prenter scored for County Down.
The shoot-out was won and lost during the fifth round of spot-kicks. Pedro Santeugini converted his penalty before teammate Waldron thwarted Daniel Patterson to win the contest for the Hammers.
County Down: Belshaw, Mercer, Patterson, Hashim, Anderson, Ayre, Nelson, McKnight (McCreery, 61), Prenter, Forsythe (McGarry, 36), McBride
Subs not used: Trainor, McKay, Halliday, Anderson, Kumar
West Ham United: Waldron, Kamara (Okunzuha, 59), Fejokwu, Ekhosuehi, White (Ubazue, 59), Tonebi, Noble (Santeugini, 47), Longman, Brown, Okorie (Francescotti, 42), Akinlolu
Subs not used: Adisa, Aprovitolo