County Tyrone suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of English Premier League academy side Southampton at Anderson Park on Monday afternoon in the Junior section.
Tyrone had fought bravely throughout and the English side held a narrow 1-0 lead at half time but the Saints showed their class as they netted three further goals in just ten minutes in the second half.
With just one minute on the clock Tyrone nearly grabbed a shock lead. The Southampton ‘keeper was closed down quickly by Zak Young, but he could only watch his charge down trickle past the post.
Jon Birnie was next to go close for Tyrone as he made a lung bursting run down the centre of the park but his effort was deflected wide for a corner.
Southampton were starting to slowly but surely assert themselves and they claimed a deserved lead when their right back spun a clever ball down the line and their centre forward stabbed the ball past the stumbling Adam Groogan in the Tyrone goal.
Tyrone came out for the second half looking to respond instantly but with just 5 minutes gone in the second half the English side doubled their lead.
A clipped ball to the back post was superbly met by their left winger and his strike rattled off both posts before squirming over the line.
It was 3-0 just two minutes later as the Southampton number eleven doubled his tally as he danced inside before coolly slotting past Groogan.
Southampton grabbed their fourth and final goal when a long range free kick took a huge deflection and Groogan could only watch as it nestled into the back of the net.
At this stage both sides made a raft of changes and there was little fluidity to the play. Southampton will be well aware that they will face tougher challenges as the week progresses.