After last week’s surprises at the top of the Ballymena Mortgages Saturday Morning League, it was back to the normal routone for the title challengers at the weekend. AHoghill Thistle still lead the way after beating Carnlough but champions Harryville Homers remain firmly in their slipstream after thumping Michelin. BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION ONE Carnlough Swifts 0, Ahoghill Thistle 2: After their surprise defeat last week Thistle rekindled their title bid thanks to a goal in each half. Carnlough almost took the lead midway through the first half when Stevie Morgan took a free kick from 22 yards but Stewart McDonald Thistle keeper got well across and pushed it on to the bar and out for a corner. Thistle went ahead from the penalty spot after Matthew Boyd was brought down Boyd stepped up to fire home and send Thistle one up at half time. With the wind at their backs in the second half, Thistle piled the pressure on and David Tennant hit the Carnlough woodwork before Ahoghill clinched victory with a second goal when Jason Stewart won the ball on the half way line, drove at Carnlough defence before and passing to Matthew Boyd who played a through ball to the on running Jason Stewart who ran on and slotted into the bottom corner. Michelin 0, Harryville Homers 4: Homers also bounced back from a disappointing result the previous Saturday with a convincing win. The Harryville side opened the scoring after just twelve minutes through striker Paul McNeill. The in-form front man showed his poise when presented with the chance from Ricky Nicholls pass before slotting left footed past Sean Ward in the Michelin goal, scoring for his tenth consecutive game in a row. With the bit between the teeth the Homers doubled their lead midway through the first half. The rejuvenated Mark McKay produced a tantalising cross to the back post for Alan Rainey to head his side further in front and give them a 2-0 half-time lead. Homers scored their third of this one sided affair when the ball fell kindly to Paul McNeill on the edge of the box. McNeill then rounded the keeper to complete his brace. The defending league champions added a fourth goal as midfield workhorse, Mark McKay, once again provided the ammunition for Alan Rainey at the back post for the spring heeled wideman to apply the killer touch with a strong header. Ahoghill Rovers 0, All Saints OB 3: Saints dominated this game from start to finish but in the end needed three second half goals to claim all three points. After a scoreless first half, Saints introduced debutant Emmet Kerr and he almost scored within minutes of coming on when he headed a Barry Hamill free kick against the bar. Two minutes later Saints got themselves in front. Kerr broke into the box and played the ball to Ryan Brady who in turn played the ball to Philip Lynn he turned his man before firing home. Twelve minutes later it was 2-0 when great work from Barry Hamill saw him get to the by line and squared for Ryan Wilkinson to fire home from close range. Emmet Kerr capped a promising debut when he smashed the ball home from 25 yards out to make it 3-0 and seal the victory for Saints. BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION THREE Newpark Olympic 5, Woodside 0: Newpark stole a chance to increase their lead at the top of Division Three to hammer Woodside when their rivals at the top Cullybackey Olympic and Glenravel were not playing thanks to a Gary Brown hat trick. Newpark got off to a flyer in the 8th minute when James Brown passed for Marky Freeburn to tap in the opener. Two minutes later they snatched their second goal when Stephen Brown sent in a wicked cross only for a Woodside defender to put the ball into his own net. It was all Olympic and their constant pressure paid off four minutes later when Billy McIlwaine hit a long ball for Gary Brown who slotted the ball past the helpless Woodside keeper. Newpark completed a great first half performance with their fourth goal when Glenn Todd crossed for Gary Brown to make it 4 nil and kill off the game as a contest before half time. The second half started with Olympic creating chance after chance but couldn’t find the net again until 55 minutes when Marky Freeburn put in Gary Brown to score and complete his hat trick. LEAGUE MEETING The next League Meeting is on Monday, March 24 in Michelin Social Club at 8pm. This will be the last Meeting before the Transfer Window closes on 31st March 2014 so all teams should be represented. OTHER RESULTS Rainey Cup, round two: Waveney Swifts 1, Clough Rangers 2. George McAuley Cup, round one: Seven Towers 1, Connor 4 Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Abbeyview 0, Ballykeel 1; FC Penarol 5, Shore Wanderers 2. Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Cloughmills 2, Randalstown 1; North End Shamrocks 2, Braid United 2; Riverdale 3, FC Antrim 4; Holywell 2, St Comgalls 4. Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Atletico Antrim 0, Galgorm Blues 1; Steadfast 1, Lisnafillan Swifts 2; Wakehurst Star 3, Templepatrick 3. FIXTURES Saturday, March 22 (10.15am) - Rainey Cup, round three: Abbeyview v Randalstown Sky Blues (Forum); FC Antrim v Ahoghill Thistle (Forum); Carnlough Swifts v Newpark Olympic; Cullybackey Olympic v All Saints OB (Tober Park); Clough Rangers v Glenravel; Connor FC v Harryville Homers. Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Carniny Rangers v FC Moylena (Wakehurst 1); Michelin v Shore Wanderers. Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Cloughmills v North End Shamrocks; Riverdale v Cushendall (Wakehurst 2); Seven Towers v Holywell (Showgrounds 4); St Comgalls v Raceview Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Lisnafillan Swifts v Templepatrick (Showgrounds 5); Steadfast v Atletico Antrim (Galgorm). PENAROL ANNIVERSARY FC Penarol will be holding a 40th Anniversary dinner and presentation evening on Friday, May 30, in the Leighinmohr House Hotel. Committee members will contact ex players and officials over the next few weeks with invitations to attend. Alternatively, anyone wishing to attend can contact members on the following numbers: John 07518 466626; Ivan 07720 929261; Finlay 07742 223810; Ian 07971 793733; Leo 07891 625184. Antrimnow Carriages Bistro, Larne, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Antrim RFC Antrim Grammar School Antrim ABC Mid Antrim Tractors Antrim Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio Antrim Community Rescue Service Antrim Boys The County Antrim Post Antrim Grammar School Hangover help delivery service Antrim Mishmash Antrim County Antrim Gaeilg Oirthear Uladh (East Ulster Irish Gaelic) Code Red Hair Company Antrim Rovers FC Antrims 2014 Real Poppy campaign Antrim/Randalstown Slimming World The Antrim Rambler The Chippy, Railway Street, Antrim
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:43:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015