SuperCupNI | Penalty heartbreak for County Down as West Ham United retain Junior title

The Hammers defeated County Antrim last summer at the Showgrounds and this year they saw off the Mournemen in a pulsating encounter in a rain-sodden Coleraine.

West Ham’s Jude Longman was looking particularly sharp in midfield in the early stages as he darted and dodged several challenges before drawing a flying save from the Co Down keeper.

With West Ham possessing two players looking for the cherished golden boot, it was Dara Akinlolu that darted to the back post as the ball was lofted in and rifled home via a deflection off Down’s Daniel Hashim to bag his sixth of the tournament.

Co Down huddled together following the goal and nearly responded when Logan McKnight teed up a tantalising cross but was flagged offside.

However, they levelled via their pacey winger as he floated in a cross that dipped suddenly under the bar and West Ham’s Leo Waldron was powerless to stop it dipping into the back of the net.

Shortly after West Ham’s Akinlolu was brought down just outside the area and it was left to Longman to provide a sumptuous finish over the wall and into the top right-hand corner.

It looked likely that the game would run through to the end with the Hammers comfortably on top, but a careless challenge swung the pendulum once more as their full-back Etinosa Okunzuha made a rash sliding tackle which caused the Down frontman to lose his balance and topple to the deck.

A penalty was duly awarded, and it fell to the reliable boot of Adam Nelson to step up. He attempted to drive the ball low to the keeper’s right but Waldron anticipated his movement and produced a fine save.

The ball though would squirm away from him, giving Nelson an opportunity to score the rebound and as it trickled its way through, Corey McBride was on hand to tap home and level matters at the death.

It was then that the contest would go to its inevitable conclusion and in the cruellest of fashions, a penalty shoot-out. Both sides showed great tenacity and bravery by stepping up and slotting home their opening four penalty kicks. It was then up to Pedro Santeugini to tuck home the fifth and Down’s Jayden Anderson had the responsibility of taking the shootout to sudden death but he was unable to beat Waldron in the West Ham goal.

In the other finals, County Armagh edged past FC America in the Bowl and Charlton Athletic were 3-2 winners over County Londonderry in Anderson Park.

In the Vase final, Blackburn Rovers were comprehensive winners against Celtic scoring five goals without reply to mark their return to the tournament with a trophy.