Portrush FC 0 NFC Kesh 2

Kesh are into the last 16 of the Junior Cup after a goal in either half eased them past Portrush. Player-Manager Ryan Campbell opened the scoring after ten minutes, and the away side added a second midway through the second half from Jack Beatty to reach round five for the second year in succession.

Campbell was delighted with the result, and although he felt Kesh were not at their best, he still thought they were deserving of their victory.

“We weren’t at 100 per cent, but we battled well and got stuck in,” he said.

“They restricted us, but in the second half Stefan [McCusker] didn’t have too much to do, and once we got the second goal it was a matter of seeing it out.

“They weren’t a bad team and they put it up to us in the first half, and it took us a while to get settled.

“Once we got the first goal we settled a bit and played the better football, but we needed that second to kill the game. It gave them something to hang on to and they had a couple of half chances.

“At half time we knew it was important to get the second goal but it was starting to look like one of those days.

“Once we got the second goal though, we were comfortable enough, and apart form a few corners and long throw-ins they didn’t really create much.”

Campbell’s personal Junior Cup campaign has provided him with eight goals and two hat-tricks across the first three rounds, and it took him just ten minutes to add cup goal number nine.

The visitors earned a free kick 40 yards from goal and Lee Walker slid a ball down the side of the defence for Campbell, who rolled the defender and fired a low shot past the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

The prolific striker carved out a similar chance moments later, but this time the goalkeeper was equal to his effort.

Kesh continued to press for a second and the Portrush keeper did well to deny Campbell again. He also made a stop from Danny Wilson, who danced past three defenders before firing in a left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Stefan McCusker had to make a smart stop to deny Portrush an equaliser, but after the break, it was Kesh who were on the front foot again.

Campbell struck the post as they searched for the crucial second, and it eventually arrived courtesy of Jack Beatty, who blasted home at the back post from Campbell’s cross.

The victory takes Kesh into the latter stages of the competition, and Campbell is hopeful they can continue their winning run.

“We have stepped up to the mark in our games so far, and hopefully we can keep pushing on, and if we get the luck of the draw, you never know.

“We will just keep taking it one game at a time, and keep improving, and see where that takes us at the end of the season.”