
Ferry Athletic emerged triumphant in their Ross Ballantine cup semi final match against DUSC. The match was a thrilling affair with Ferry Athletic going 2-0 up, through Brandon McGiness and Josh McConville, before DUSC scored two for themselves, thanks to Kieren Barron and Robbie Johnson, to send the match into extra time. Owen McCord fired home for Ferry Athletic at the start of the second extra time period before Luke Queen finished off the game while DUSC were pushing for another equaliser. It was a classic cup-tie.
Ferry were straight out of the blocks in the early stages of the game and needed just 2 minutes to get themselves on the score sheet. Findlay McLean delivered a Ferry corner deep into the box and, following a bit of penalty area pinball, it fell to the feet of Brandon McGiness. The number 6 struck the ball first time into the top right of the net to give Ferry an early advantage.
In the tenth minute Ferry’s captain, Josh McConville, fed through Owen McCord who then had a clear run at goal. The attacker took his shot low but DUSC’s ‘keeper, Leighton Quinn, parried down to his right before claiming the loose ball.
Shortly afterwards it was DUSC’s turn to have a pop at goal. Daniel Ogilvie made a fine run down the left wing before firing a cross towards the lurking Conner McHugh. His resulting effort was saved and held by Ferry’s number 1 Thomas Egan.
In the 18th minute DUSC’s Aidan Simpson, in a similar fashion to Ogilvie, delivered a cross towards McHugh from the right side. McHugh directed the ball on target with a great header but could only find the hands of Egan rather than the back of the net.
A minute later Ferry Athletic went 2-0 up with a fine individual goal. Josh McConville, who was starting to pull all the midfield strings for his side, picked up the ball about 25 yards from goal. The midfielder then drove towards the target, evaded several challenges, and broke through the defensive line. McConville, now in a one on one situation, calmly slotted past the oncoming goalkeeper into the bottom left hand corner to put his team in a commanding position.
In the 24th minute Seff Mohammad of DUSC threatened to break through the Ferry defence with a fine individual run of his own. After appearing to successfully evade the oncoming tackles it looked as if he just had the keeper to beat, before McConville arrived at full barn storming speed to intervene and boot the ball away. Some great defensive work from the central midfielder.
Nine minutes later DUSC were back in the game. Kieren Barron managed to gain possession of the ball and found his way into the right side of the box. The number 7 then slotted past the oncoming Egan to reduce the deficit to one.
Just before the half time whistle DUSC’s equaliser nearly came. Deano Fowlis managed to receive the ball into his feet within the penalty area and unleashed a fierce shot at goal. Unfortunately for him it was straight into Egan’s arms.