Ballyclare teams are frozen out

Frozen pitches were the order of the day on Saturday when the three Ballynure OB teams, and the Grange Rangers duo had their league fixtures postponed.

Having strengthened his panel recently, Robert Reid had been looking forward to the 'Nure senior side collecting all three Ballymena Premier League points at the expense of Rasharkin at Mossley, but the pitch there failed to survive an inspection.

Ballynure Youth XI manager, Roy McDowell, would have been less optimistic about the visit of league leaders Carnlough United to the Valley Leisure Centre.

Although the young lads have performed well in their debut season against adult opposition, and are nicely placed in fourth position, the odds would have been on Carnlough to enhance their pole position in the Ballymena Junior League Division 3.

Angus Henry's Second XI are having one of their worst seasons on record, sitting one-from-bottom in the Ballymena Junior League Division 1.

Just four points from a possible 10 starts leaves them in relegation trouble and raises next season's prospect of them coming up against the Youth XI, who might well clinch promotion at the first attempt.

Grange Rangers were scheduled to travel to Dromore Amateurs to fulfil an Amateur League Division 2A fixture, but it too was postponed owing to frozen ground conditions.

This weekend, Gareth Lutton's side have a home local derby league fixture with Kilroot Recreation at Foundry Lane, while the Reserves will resume their Ballymena Junior League Division 3 programme.

Ballyclare Comrades Reserves had no scheduled fixture for last weekend, but on Saturday they resume their Ballymena Junior League Division 1 programme in pole position, which is being threatened by Ballymoney United Reserves, who have matches in hand.