Abbey ending to season for 'View

ABBEYVIEW made up for their loss in the O'Kane Cup Final with a comprehensive 5-1 defeat of Carnlough to win the Rainey Cup.

View got off to a perfect start when they took the lead after just six minutes when a Victor Gibson free kick deflected off a Carnlough player and ended up in the corner of the net.

Carnlough didn't let this early goal knock them as they took the game to View and could have drawn level a few times when Stephen Morgan headed over and Brendan McDermott firing wide. With Carnlough pushing for the goal Abbeyview were happy to pick them off on the break and they doubled their lead on one of these breaks ten minutes before the break when Darren Houston latched onto a ball by Alan Cochrane to lob the ball home and make it 2-0.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Eight minutes into the second half Abbeyview all but sealed the win when a Victor Gibson free kick from 30 yards slipped through the hands of the Carnlough keeper and made its way into the goal.

Abbeyview were then reduced to ten men but this did not hurt them as they made it 4-0 with 20 minutes to go when Andy Smith was on hand to head home at the back post after good work from Roy Robinson.

Carnlough to their credit kept plugging away and got a goal back with 10 minutes to go when Brendan McDermott fired home from close range.

Abbeyview were to have the final say though as with five minutes to go Ryan Carson cut in from the right and curled the ball home from all of 25 yards out to put the icing on the cake in a great victory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After the final whistle Brian Montgomery, BSML Secretary, on behalf of sponsor Alex Rainey handed the Rainey Cup over to winning Abbeyview Captain Jamie Crane and the celebrations began although Abbeyview's season is not yet over as they had the final of the Ace Cup last night (Monday) against Harryville Homers.

Abbeyview: Stephen Moore, Scott Magee, Victor Gibson, Jamie Crane, Alan Cochrane, Ryan Carson, Chris Perks, Andy Smith, Alan Donnelly, Roy Robinson, Darren Houston. Substitutes: David Thompson, Derek McGinley, Paul Dunlop and Jim Gallagher.

Carnlough Swifts: Sean Moran, James Mellon, Colin Laffin, Seamus Lee, Andrew Bird, James Aitcheson, Blain McDermott, Steven Morgan, Brendan McDermott, Conal Ward, Michael Abram. Substitutes: Ryan Mitchell, Kenny Hastings and Conal Thompson.

Referee: Mr Brian Patterson. Assistant Referees: Mr Finlay Sloan and Mr William McMaster.

LEIGHINMOHR HOUSE HOTEL CUP

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Clough Rangers 3, Shore Wanderers (Clough Rangers won 6-5 on pens): This game was a cracker for the neutral as it went all the way to penalty kicks and was only settled when Kyle McRoberts fired home Clough Rangers' sixth penalty to take them into the top flight next season.

Shore got off to the best possible start after five minutes when Sean Hale challenged Clough goalkeeper Phillip Simpson for a high ball and the ball fell to Hale who was quickest to react and slotted home.

This fired Clough into action but they were guilty of spurning numerous one on one chances because of bad finishing and an inspired Chris Wheatley in the Shore goal.

Clough eventually got the equaliser their pressure deserved when Johnny Cameron fired in a half volley after good work by Stephen Steele.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Soon after Clough took the lead when Laird Law latched onto a Stephen Steele through ball and rounded Shore keeper Chris Wheatley before finishing and sending Clough in 2-1 up at half time.

Clough continued to have the upper hand at the start of the second half and made it three when Stephen Steele found the net with a free kick which took a nasty bobble and totally deceived Chris Wheatley in Shore's goal.

Shore to their credit never gave in and upped their game in the last half hour but they had to wait until 6 minutes from time before Sean Hale got his second with a good finish to make it 3-2.

Shore completed the comeback when Willy Brown scored a well executed volley from a corner with two minutes remaining.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There weren't too many opportunities created in extra time. The best chance fell to Sean Hale who bought a good save from Philip Simpson.

Clough’s keeper Philip Simpson saved his best for the penalty shootout when he saved two penalties before Kyle McRoberts became the hero of the night when he fired home the winning penalty to send Clough back to the first division after a seven year absence.

After the initial celebrations abated, Brian Montgomery League Secretary presented the Leighinmohr Hotel Cup to winning Clough Rangers Captain Jonathan Rice and congratulated on them returning to Division One.

Clough Rangers: Philip Simpson, Kyle McRoberts, Lee Megaw, Steven Gage, Jonathan McCloy, Reggie Conville, Jonathan Rice, Stephen Steele, Richard Gregg, Jonathan Cameron, Laird Law. Substitutes: Richard McNeill, Jordan Leighton, Russell Craig, Colin Stewart and David Sloan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Shore Wanderers: Chris Wheatley, Aidan Clark, Aaron Scott, Shane Ruddy, Ryan McFadden, Gavin Andrews, Kevin Downey, Sean Gillen, William Brown, Sean Hale, Darren Craig. Substitutes: Barry Graham, Paul keenan, Chris McIntyre, Anto Quigg and Martin Campbell.

Referee: Mr Lindsay McConnell. Assistant Referees: Mr Finlay Sloan and Mr Stephen Gaston.

LEAGUE DINNER

The curtain comes down on another great season on Friday Night when the BSML holds its Annual Presentation Dinner at Leighinmohr House Hotel when all teams who won trophies, Player of the Year in all Three Divisions and Leading Goal scorers will be honoured.

OTHER RESULTS

Ace Cup semi finals: Harryville Homers 3, FC Moylena 1; Abbeyview 3, Randalstown Sky Blues 2.

Rainey Cup semi-finals: Abbeyview 2, FC Moylena 2 (Abbeyview won 4-2 on penalties); Carnlough Swifts 5, Ahoghill Rovers 1.