A 'Ferry good result for Carniny

Players and officials toiled on Saturday morning to clear the Wakehurst pitch of snow in time for the early afternoon kick-off - and were rewarded with a stunning comeback to win 4-3, having trailed 2-0 at the interval.

It maintains Carniny's dream of landing both the Junior Shield and Coca-Cola Junior Cup, although the flip side is that their backlog of matches in league and cup competitions continues to grow.

Meanwhile, many of the league matches scheduled for Saturday fell foul of the overnight frost on Friday night.

CO ANTRIM JUNIOR SHIELD

Carniny Rangers 4, Portaferry Rovers 3: In the first half when Carniny went two down, it looked as though their hard work had been in vain but Carniny turned in a blistering second half performance to hit four goals and progress to the quarter-final of the Paddy Power Co Antrim Junior Shield.

The visitors shocked Carniny when they opened the scoring after six minutes and apart from Maurice McDowell going close five minutes later, Portaferry dominated the first half.

Rovers were causing the Carniny defence lots of problems and it was no surprise when they increased their lead 10 minutes before half time and went in at the break 2-0 up.

The second half saw a different Carniny emerge and within five minutes they had reduced the deficit to one with their first goal.

After early pressure from Carniny they were awarded a corner kick which Roger Jones sent in from the left and Chris Dowie rose to power a header into the net.

This spurred on Carniny for eight minutes later they were level. Roger Jones collected the ball on the right touch line beat one defender then another defender before unleashing an thunderbolt of a shot which flew into the top corner of the net from 20 yards.

Mark Wadell was then put in the clear but shot wide as Carniny tore the Rovers defence apart.

Roger Jones was tormenting the Rovers defence with his pace and he got to the bye line and laid the ball into Chris Dowie path only for the Rovers keeper to make a great save.

In the next attack Mark Wadell hit the bar before Carniny took the lead for the first time. Jason Robinson started the move in midfield laying the ball off the Roger Jones who raced clear before crossing for Jason Robinson whose goalbound header was tipped over by the Rovers keeper but from the resulting corner kick, taken again by Roger Jones, Jason Robinson was on hand to head the ball into the net and put Carniny into the lead.

Man of the Match Jones then provided the telling pass to put Chris Dowie clear and he beat the offside trap to race clear and slot the ball home to put Carniny 4-2 up.

Rovers never gave up and reduced the deficit to one five minutes from time and should have sent the tie into extra time when their centre forward had a clear header but he sent it over the bar and Rovers last chance was gone.

A tremendous result for Carniny Rangers whose hard work in the morning clearing the snow was rewarded with a place in the last eight and they will the team that no one wants to meet as they are in brilliant form.

LEAGUE ROUND-UP

The overnight snow was the cause of postponement of most matches with only three beating the weather one in Division Two at Clough where the home team were beaten 3-1 by St Comgalls and two in division Three.

BSML DIVISION THREE

Lisnafillan Swifts 1, Cullybackey Olympic 3: Both these teams look favorites to be contesting the play-offs as Westend Athletic and Dunloy Athletic look to have sewn up the automatic promotion places so a win was essential to both teams to consolidate their place in the top six.

Swifts got off to a great start in difficult playing conditions, and scored on 10 minutes when Sean Norris sent over an inch perfect cross for Bobby Carlin to head home.

Cullybackey tried to get going but Swifts kept pinning them back and Jason Reid kept the score at 1-0 with a string of good saves from Sean Norris, Trevor McAleese and Bobby Carlin.

Olympic levelled just before half time when Aaron Wilkinson rounded the Swifts keeper Greg Knowles and netted from a tight angle.

The second half saw Olympic on top and, after a disputed goal was disallowed, they went ahead with 20 minutes to go when a Gareth Moody shot deflected over Greg Knowles and into the net.

Swifts then hit the post from a free kick by Trevor McAleese as Swifts pushed for an equaliser. Lisnafillan were being punished for over-playing it and with five minutes to go Gareth Moody sealed the match with his second when he drove home after a great pass from the excellent Phillip Glass.

In the only other match to survive the snow Inver Athletic climbed off the bottom of Division Three with a 2-1 win over Woodside in Larne.

FIXTURES

Saturday, February 6 - Coca-Cola Junior Cup, round five (1.30pm): Stranmillis v Carniny Rangers.

Arkmedia O'Kane Cup, round three (10.15am): Seven Towers v Carnlough Swifts (Showgrounds 4).

BSML Division One: All Saints OB v Ahoghill Rovers (Waveney 2); FC Moylena v North End (Forum); Templepatrick v Holywell (Forum); FC Antrim v Ballykeel (Forum); Harryville Homers v Randalstown Sky Blues (Wakehurst 2); Glenarm Rovers v Abbeyview.

BSML Division Two: Blackstone Rovers v FC Inter Stars (Wakehurst 4); Ahoghill Thistle v Braid United (Ahoghill); Connor FC v Riverdale (Connor); Michelin v Clough Rangers; FC Penarol v Shore Wanderers; St Comgalls v Broadway Celtic. Free - Waveney Swifts.

Sammy Moore Trophy, first round, second leg: Demesne Star (0] v Atletico Antrim (2] (Dunfane); Wakehurst Athletic (3] v Inver Athletic (2] (Wakehurst 1); Steadfast (2] v Woodside (2] (Galgorm).

BSML Division Three: Randalstown v Dunloy Athletic; Cloughmills Thistle v Cullybackey Olympic; Westend Athletic v Lisnafillian Swifts (Wakehurst 6).