Northern Ireland Milk Cup 2006 MatchReports

When the half time whistle blew Belvo were well in control, 2-0 ahead.

Two minutes after the restart mid-fielder Garvan Broughall saw his header crash off the frame of the goal, from a corner kick. Belvedere thought they had scored a third goal on 50 minutes when David Lodola tapped into an empty net after a great Gary Burke cross, only to turn and see the linesman's flag raised for Burke being offside.

Three minutes from time, Lee Dixon went one-on-one with the 'keeper, only to rush his shot and smash wide. Dixon had his second shot in a many minutes, this time however, the goalkeeper made a great save, tipping the ball onto the post and wide. With 64 minutes on the clock Belvo created their final chance, captain Paul Corry's free kick hitting the crossbar.

A great start for Belvo, who will look forward to taking on CSKA Moscow at Roe Mill Limavady tomorrow at 12 noon.

Belvo team - Henry, Dowling-Byrne, Joyce, Harney, Finn, Relihan (Burke, 40),
Broughall, Corry (c), Doyle, Dixon, Lodola.

Subs not used - Gelston, O'Connor, Hood, Harding, Meade, Traynor, Gaynor.

Report by Jamie Moore

After a good opening victory over Co. Tyrone yesterday, Belvo were looking for the three points today to go through to the last eight of the main competition. Unfortunately it was not to be and Belvedere will now play in the BT Northern Ireland quater finals to take on Dundalk.

Belvo started the match brightly at Roe Mill, Limavady and Stephen Doyle created the first chance after just two minutes, he broke through only to see his shot saved by the opposition goalkeeper. Seven minutes later captain Paul Corry whipped in a corner kick and David Lodola headed wide from six yards.

It was Corry and Lodola who combined to create the second chance, Corry again the provider, LaDola this time volleyed wide at the far post. After 11 minutes, defender Jason Finn was caught in possession, luckily for him and Belvo, CSKA missed a glorious chance to score.

Five minutes later Lee Dixon crossed into the box and Garvan Broughall volleyed wide from close range. On 18 and 23 minutes Broughall and Stephen Relihan both had long range efforts high and wide of the goal. Dixon, trying to do what his team-mates couldn't do, had his shot from 35 yards.

Three minutes before half time and with Belvo in control Dixon again did well down the left wing, he beat his marker three times before curling in a cross which Stephen Relihan headed wide of the far post.

Relihan almost made up for his miss two minutes later, his wonderful pass over the top found Doyle, however he had his shot blocked. Half time score, despite Belvo's dominance, remained at 0-0.

Two minutes after the break Broughall again tried his luck from long range, again his shot was way off target. Just a minute later Moscow went 1-0 ahead, a ball over the top caused trouble for the Belvo defender and
number 11 broke through to smash past Danny Henry from 18 yards.

CSKA went 2-0 up just 60 seconds later, following a foul in the box and the number 13 sent Henry the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.

Henry was called into action again on 40 minutes, he made a great one-on-one save and was quick to his feet again to tip the rebound past the post for a corner.

Ten minutes from time the Russians went three ahead, after a mix up in the Belvo penalty area, their striker poked home from close range. Henry made one last good save before the end but it wasn't enough for his team, and Belvo will now turn their attention to winning the BT Trophy instead.

Belvo team - Henry, Dowling-Byrne (Hood, 50), Finn (Harding, 52), Joyce,
Harney, Corry (c), Relihan (Burke, 43), Broughall, Dixon (Traynor, 46),
Doyle, LaDola (Gaynor, 56)

Subs not used - O'Connor, Meade, Gelston

Report by Jamie Moore

After a win and a defeat in their first two games Belvedere arrived in Broughshane to take on a Dundalk representative side in the BT Trophy quarter-final. With mid-fielder Garvan Broughall suspended, Belvo reverted to a four-four-two formation, with Gary Burke coming in to partner David Lodola in attack.

Belvo had their first effort after just five minutes, some good play down the right by pacey winger Stephen Doyle created a half chance for captain Paul Corry, but his wayward shot failed to trouble the opposition goalkeeper.

Dundalk, who were sitting back and allowing Belvedere pass the ball, showed their game plan early on when defender Jason Finn was lucky to escape injury after a very bad tackle.

Dundalk had their first effort after eight minutes, when mid-fielder Mark Connolly's shot was easily saved by Belvo 'keeper Danny Henry. Henry was forced into action again in the 24th minute, when he saved well from a
close range header after the linesman had missed a clear offside earlier in the move.

With 29 minutes on the clock Belvo won a corner. Corry's quick pass found the nippy Gary Burke, and his wonderful turn and cross found Stephen Doyle at the back post and he headed in to give his side a deserved 1-0 lead at half time.

Two minutes after the restart Belvo almost doubled their lead. Paul Corry's 25-yard free kick was brilliantly saved by Kevin Martin in the Dundalk goal and Burke's effort from the rebound was somehow blocked.

On 34 minutes 'keeper Henry had his heart in his mouth, as did the rest of the Belvo contingent, when he raced from his goal outside the box and fouled a Dundalk player with a late tackle. The visiting referee from Malta went for his back pocket but thankfully he produced only a yellow card. The resulting free kick was cleared.

Stephen Relihan thought he had scored in the 38th minute, however, his deflected shot spun inches past the post. A minute later Lee Dixon whipped in a great cross, which had to be turned over the bar by a defender.

It was a pity that that there were no television cameras recording this match because in the 46th minute Belvedere went 2-0 in front thanks to what would easily be the goal of the tournament. Following a neat interchange of passing Belvedere captain Paul Corry unleashed an unstoppable left-footed strike from all of 30 yards out, straight into the top corner, giving 'keeper Martin no chance.

Stephen Traynor had the final effort of the game, seven minutes from time, but his shot from 25 yards was well saved. Another good win for Belvedere who will play Crewe Alexandra in the semi finals of the BT Trophy tomorrow at Parker Avenue, Portrush, kick off at 1.30.

Belvo team - Henry, Dowling-Byrne, Finn (Harding 57), Joyce, Harney, Doyle, Dixon (O'Connor, 41), Corry (c) (Traynor, 52), Relihan, Burke (Meade, 52), Lodola (Gaynor, 52)

Subs not used - Gelston, Hood. Suspended - Broughall

Report by Jamie Moore

After a great 2-0 win over Dundalk in the quarter-final yesterday, Belvo took on English side Crewe Alexandra for a place in the BT Trophy final. Mid-fielder Garvan Broughall returned to the team after missing the last game through suspension for two yellow cards.

Belvo created the first chance of the game after only four minutes, Jason Finn's cross from the left was flicked on by David Lodola at the near post only for Stephen Doyle to head over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Just a minute later, Belvedere took the lead when a mix up in the Crewe box let in Lodola and he finished well from 16 yards into the bottom corner of the net. On eight minutes Belvo doubled their lead, this time it was Doyle who scored the goal.

Lee Dixon won possession in mid-field and played in a lovely ball which Doyle brilliantly slotted into the corner. Shocked after going two down so early the opposition made a substitution and three positional chances to try to change the game.

Doyle, who tormented his marker all day, had another great run down the right wing after thirteen minutes, that resulted in a Paul Corry corner being tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper. Corry had another effort on 18 minutes, however his shot from 18 yards didn't trouble the 'keeper. Five minutes later Crewe had their first opportunity when their striker shot wide from a tight angle.

Crewe didn't have to worry because they scored just a minute later. A free kick was whipped into the box and flicked on by the Crewe number eight and the ball flew into the far corner to give the English side a lifeline.

Danny Henry was for forced into his first save on 26 minutes, he easily stopped a volley from 18 yards. Lodola had another chance on 27 minutes, but he headed wide from 12 yards after connecting with a Lee Dixon cross.

Henry made the save of the game on 28 minutes, when he raced off his line to try and clear a through ball. However the striker got to the ball first, but Henry managed to get back on his line and brilliantly tip the ball away just as a Crewe player was about to head into an empty net.

Dixon was the provider again on 29 minutes, his corner found Lodola who headed wide from six yards under no pressure. Henry had to made another good save just after half time, a long ball up the pitch caused problems for the Belvo defence and Henry made a point blank save to deny Crewe a equaliser.

Belvo made a substitution six minutes into the second half as Gary Burke was replaced by Stephen Traynor. Broughall switched position to play up-front alongside Lodola, and he made his presence felt almost immediately, and what an effort it was. His half-volley from the corner of the box smashed off the frame of the goal and out.

Eleven minutes from time Finn caused a scare in his defence when he mis-headed a free kick inches just over his own crossbar.

Crewe resorted to playing a long ball game for most of the second half and it took the Belvo defence a while to come to terms with it. However, they continued to defend well as a unit to deny the opposition an equaliser.

Dean Gaynor then added some welcome pace up-front when he substituted for striker David Lodola, who had ran his heart out all day for Belvo.

At times some of the opposition's challenges were overly robust. Jason Finn was lucky to escape without serious injury after a horrible tackle by a Crewe player, who was only yellow carded for his challenge.

Belvo were made to sweat as the referee somehow played eight minutes of added time but when he finally blew the final whistle there were great celebrations as Belvo went through to play Everton in the final at Roe Mill, Limavady tomorrow, what a game that should be.

Belvo team - Henry, Dowling-Byrne, Finn, Joyce, Harney, Doyle, Dioxn, Corry
(c), Broughall, Burke (Traynor, 36), Lodola ( Gaynor, 52)

Subs not used - Gelston, Hood, Harding, O'Connor, Meade, Relihan

Report by Jamie Moore

After three wins and a defeat from their four games so far, Belvedere arrived at Roe Mill, Limavady to take on Everton in the final of the BT Northern Ireland Trophy.

The Toffees created the first chance after nine minutes and it came from a Belvo corner. Everton cleared and broke quickly. Jason Finn fouled 25 yards out from his goal and was booked, but luckily for Belvo the Everton player curled his free-kick just over the crossbar.

After 13 minutes, David Lodola found the pacey Stephen Doyle with a great pass down the right wing, but Doyle's cross was sliced clear by the sturdy Toffees' centre-half. Doyle, who caused his marker problems all day, was fouled just outside the box after 22 minutes. Captain Paul Corry's resulting free kick was headed over the bar by Finn at the back post.

On 26 minutes, Everton finally broke the Belvo offside trap and the number nine went one-on-one with Danny Henry, who made a great save. Two minutes later, Henry was forced into another save, as he got down to save a weak shot by the Everton number four.

Everton, again went through on 29 minutes when the number 13 latched onto a flick-on only to rush his shot wide of the far post when he really should have hit the target.

Belvo made two half-time substitutions, Rob Dowling-Byrne and Lee Dixon were replaced by Stephen Relihan and Gary Burke. That saw Danny Joyce move the right-back, Garvan Broughall drop back to centre-back, while Relihan slotted into mid-field with Burke playing just behind Lodola up-front.

On 36 minutes, Doyle curled a free-kick into the box and Corry's flick-on from eight yards flew just past the far post. A few minutes later Belvo were denied a "stone wall" penalty when Stephen Traynor was hauled down in the box but the ref somehow said play on.

Gary Burke's skill and craft caused the Everton defence problems and his cross on 54 minutes created a decent chance. On 56 minutes an Everton mid-fielder launched himself two-footed through the air and smashed through Corry's ankle from behind.

The referee only yellow carded the player. Paul can consider himself fortunate that he didn't suffer a serious injury from this very reckless challenge.

Just as the coaches from both teams were picking their penalty takers, Belvedere scored the winner, a minute into injury time.

A long ball into the box by Jason Finn was headed on by David Lodola and was deflected into the net off an Everton defender.

This sent the Belvo players, the bench and supporters into wild celebration. A minute later the referee blew the final whistle and Belvo are the 2006 BT Trophy winners.

There were loud cheers from the many parents and supporters present as Belvedere captain Paul Corry was presented with the BT Northern Ireland Trophy 2006.

Congratulations also to Neil Harney who was later named the "Belvedere player of the tournament" by his coaches.

Well done to all the Belvedere players and coaches, as well as the supporters for a brilliant Milk Cup week.

Thanks also to the Northern Ireland Milk Cup organisers for hosting a great tournament.

Belvo team - Henry, Dowling-Byrne (Relihan, 30), Finn, Joyce, Harney, Broughall, Corry (c), Traynor, Doyle, Dixon (Burke, 30) (Gaynor, 61), Lodola

Subs not used - Gelston, Hood, O'Connor, Harding, Meade

Report by Jamie Moore