Strikers booked their place in the Salver semi-final with a 3-1 win over County Fermanagh.
In the tight opening exchanges Fermanagh dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. But it was Strikers, somewhat against the run of play, who took the lead; Lance Barker shot low, across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
But Fermanagh were not to be denied for long. Luke Flanagan teed up captain Jake Irvine after some good work on the left, who smashed the ball home unmarked to give the County a deserved equaliser.
It was Strikers, however, who came out the brighter in the second half. Christian Djurasevic’s header looped over the Fermanagh ‘keeper following a freekick from in their own half. Djurasevic almost got his second moments later, but this time heading wide from a corner.
The Americans were dominating possession, but County Fermanagh thought they’d got back on level terms when Jake Brown forced a corner and Irvine turned the ball in from the resulting set piece, only to see it ruled out for off side.
Strikers increased their lead soon after. Barker beat his man on the left before putting in a dangerous cross which was turned into his own net by Fermanagh’s Joshua Toai.
The County did come close to getting back in the game though, when Callum Jones hit his well taken freekick just wide of the post.
Fermanagh were really pushing to get back into the game, but were getting visibly frustrated and were losing their discipline. As a result, Strikers almost scored a fourth when Barker lobbed the goalkeeper, but his shot came back off the post; Arturo Chavaz saw his rebounded effort cleared off the line, the game finishing 3-1.
Ben Smith