Baird brace seals it for Swifts

Desertmartin took the lead through an own goal in the 25th minute, but then a brace by Gordon Baird on the 35th and 37th minutes put Kilbride in front.

The visitors inreased their lead on the 48th minute after Simon Lennox scored, but then saw Desertmartin reduce the deficit through Andrew Kelso scored on the 55th minute.

Referee - Steven Wallace

Other Intermeduate Division results:

Clough Rangers Athletic 2, Brantwood 1

Dunloy 2, Ballycastle United 0

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Killymoon Rangers Res 2

Newtownabbey FC 2

WITH some enforced changes due to work commitments and holidays Newtownabbey started the game on top, but struggled to create any clear chances.

They looked disinterested at times and didn't produce their usual amount of work rate.

Killymoon, playing counter attacking football, took the lead when one such attack earned them a free-kick. Although the free was well-hit. keeper Singleton will be disappointed he didn't keep it out.

The second half saw Newtownabbey draw level through a Jackie Moore penalty, but shortly after they conceded a second, after another piece of poor goalkeeping from the usually reliable Singleton.

Only after this did Newtownabbey wake up. At last they started to work on and off the ball, with the impressive Shaw pushing forward on the left. Killymoon were well and truly on the back foot and it was no surprise when the equaliser came from Graeme Pratt as he shot home from 10 yards.

Man of the match - D Shaw

Team - L. Singleton, J. Harper, R. Torrens, B. Gallaway, P. Harper, G. Helm (G. Pratt), M.Collingwood, B. Rea, D. Shaw, R. Pollock, J. Moore. Subs (unused): D. Reid, E. Smyth, S. Armstrong.

BALLYCLARE COMRADES RES 6

GLEBE RANGERS RES 1

The Comrades took a strong hold through goals scored by Aaron Ibinson and a hat-trick by Kevin Lynch before Lee Nevin pulled a goal back for the Glebe.

Comrades struck again with two goals scored by Steven Bainbridge and Noel Allen killing off any hopes Glebe had of saving the game.

Referee - Steven Gaston

FINVOY 2

NEWTOWNABBEY 7S 3

This was the Sevens’ first competitive game of the season and it did not take them long to get into their stride, with Andrew Mearns scoring on the ninth minute.

Finvoy came back strong but it was the 48th minute before they were level, after Michael Nutt converted a penalty.

The home team took the lead after Gordon Hannah scored on the 55th minute, but Rab Steele equalised nine minutes later and Mearns scored the winner in the 73rd minute.

Referee - William McConaghie

FC LARNE 1

MAGHERAFELT SKY BLUES RES 3

It was a much improved performance from Larne and they held the scoreline blank until Thomas Beattie opened the scoring for the Sky Blues on the 55th minute.

The vicitors increased their advantage when Thomas Beattie scored his second goal in the 75th minute, followed by a third scored by Michael McCormack five minutes later.

Larne, to their credit, never gave up and got a consolation goal when Phil Mawhinney scored in the 82nd minute.

Referee - Brian Patterson

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

BALLYCLARE UNITED 0

DESERTMARTIN SWIFTS 8

Ballyclare, who are finding it tough after promotion last season, went in four-down at the break through two goals each scored by Ryan Stewart and Paul Fulton.

The second half again saw the Swifts in control and two more goals for Ryan Stewart and one each for Paul Fulton and Steven Savage completed scoring.

3rd BALLYCLARE OLD BOYS 5

CARNLOUGH SWIFTS 1

The Old Boys took an early lead in this game after Andrew Gilmore scored on the fifth minute, but it was another 50 minutes before David Cowan score the second goal, following this up with his own second goal in the 57th minute.

Carnlough got back into the game after Conal Thompson scored on the 61st minute, but then goals scored by Robbie Murray and Ryan Davey on the 78th and 82nd minutes completed the scoring.

Referee - Gusty Crawford

BALLYCLARE NORTH END 1

COOKSTOWN ATHLETIC COLTS 5

North End, who saw their manager from last season and a number of players depart during the close season, were up against it after conceding three goals scored by Brian Devlin, Liam Mullan and Conor O’Hare of the 6th, 9th and 15th minutes of the first half.

O’Hare scored his second goal on the 30th minute, but North End got a life line when Andrew Stewart scored on the 35th minute.

Half-time was approaching when Dixie Doherty scored number five for the Athletic, which surprisingly was the final goal in the game.

Referee -Tom Stewart

JUNIOR DIVISION THREE

GRANGE RANGERS II 2

14TH OLD BOYS 2

GRANGE Rangers II opened their Ballymena Junior League programme with a draw against 14th Newtownabbey Old Boys.

This Division 3 encounter was staged at Threemilewater Park, where Rangers came from two down to secure a 2-2 draw, despite being understrength due to the demands of the senior side.

With defences on top both keepers had an easy time during the opening half hour, during which Scott Higgins and Mervyn Canders failed to put away half chances, but the 'Abbey lads turned round one up after having converted a penalty following a rash tackle by Gareth Lutton.

After the interval Rangers played with a little more urgency and Craig Dyer and Leigh Collins tested the keeper, but the home side doubled the lead on the hour when stand-in keeper, Wayne Lewis, was rather easily beaten by a shot from the edge of the box.

Rangers then had their best spell but Paul McConnell, Ben Hanna and Higgins were unable to finish fine approach work. Eventually the pressure paid off ten minutes from time when Lee Gailey toe poked the ball over the line in a goalmouth melee.

With the 'Abbey goal under siege in the closing stages, Rangers got a deserved equaliser when Lewis converted a penalty in the 87th minute following a handling offence.

Central defender Mervyn Canders earned the Man of the Match accolade, just ahead of Hanna and Higgins.

Grange Rangers II: Lewis; G Lutton, Canders, Dyer, Hanna; Gailey, Brown (C), McConnell, Collins; McFall, Higgins. Subs: Bell, Wilson, McDonald.

MALLUSK ATHLETIC 6

ENCORE FC 5

Encore raced into a two-goal lead through goals scored by Joe Ward and Brian Murphy, before Kyle Geddis pulled a goal back for Mallusk.

Encore went two in front again after Brian Wilkinson scored and then had a great chance to go three-up but missed a penalty.

Mallusk came back to take the lead with two goals scored by Mark McCord and one by Dave Grainger.

Gerard O’Neil equalised for Encore but two goals scored by Matt Fegan saw Mallusk in front.

As time ran out, Simon Quirck scored Encore’s fifth.

Referee - Harry Dunseath

RED STAR 1

BALLYNURE OLD BOYS ‘C’ 3

Ballynure took more of the chances to leave Red Star waiting for their first win of the season.

The visitors took the lead after Andrew Moore scored and an own goal saw them two-up before Glenn Williams pulled a goal back.

Late on, Nigel Stewart ensured all three points for Ballynure.

Referee - Lee Patterson

CANADA TROPHY ROUND ONE

BALLYNURE OLD BOYS ‘B’ 8

CASTLE STAR 0

Ballynure went in at half-time in a commanding position through goals scored by Kenny Reith, David Thompson and two by John Davey.

The Castle tried hard to get a foothold in the game, but four more goals by Robert McMullan and John Davey (3) saw Ballynure into the next round.

Referee - William Williamson