Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Cockhill Celtic FC – 1 (M Moran)
Derry City Reserves – 1 (McLaughlin)
In slick conditions in Cockhill very even first half with the home team having a one goal advantage at half time. Derry rallied in the second half and deserved a share of the spoils.
On 9mins a Ryan Varma corner was headed goalwards by Garbhan Friel but cleared off the line.
On 15mins Ronan Doherty cut in from the right side but was denied by a brilliant low save from Jason McCallion.
Derry had a big chance on 21mins when Caolan McLaughlin sprung the Cockhill offside trap but shot straight at Lee Mc Carron.
Cockhill took the lead on 28mins when great movement and interplay from the Cockhill forwards released Mark Coyle for a shot. Although Rhys McDermott blocked the shot, it falls to Mark Moran who swept home.
Derry continued to create chances and should have equalised on 41mins when Callum Boyle was through. If anything, he had too much time and his eventual shot was well saved by McCarron.
Ht 1-0
The second half started in a similarly open fashion with Derry trying to equalise and Cockhill looking for the second goal.
On 56mins Moran thought he’d supplied it when his goalbound effort was brilliantly tipped onto the post by McCallion.
On 61mins Coyle worked an opening on the left but chose to cross when a shot looked on.
Cockhill were made to rue these missed chances on 65mins when Caolan McLaughlin beat McCarron to a long through ball to equalise.
Cockhill huffed and puffed after this looking for a winning goal, looking most dangerous from set pieces. Indeed, they almost snatched the win when another Friel header was hacked off the line. Derry continued to look to the ever-willing Aidy Delap to fashion a chance on the break but the draw was a fair result.