West Ham defeat Co Down on penalties to retain Super Cup NI Junior title

West Ham United made it back-to-back Junior titles in the competition as they saw off a talented County Down side in Friday’s decider at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

The Hammers defeated County Antrim last summer at the Showgrounds and this year it was the Mournmen on the wrong end of a pulsating encounter at a rain-sodden Coleraine FC.

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 West Ham’s number 9 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 would draw level via their pacy 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 for the leveller. 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, beyond the despairing dive of the Co Down keeper.