Bad day for local sides in Ballymena & Provincial League

All three Ballymena and Antrim-based teams in action suffered defeats in their respective games in the Michelin Athletic Club-sponsored championship.

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION

Chimney Corner 1, Newtowne 3: There was little to separate tie teams until Ryan Logue converted a penalty for Newtowne on the 29th minute and at half-time this goal separated the teams.

Newtowne got a second goal when Paul McIvor scored on the 46th minute.

Corner got back into the game after Jamie Willighan scored on the 63rd minute but then had a man sent off minutes later.

The Antrim side pushed hard to try and get the equaliser but Newtowne held firm and sealed the win after Ryan Logue scored his second goal in the game on the 88th minute.

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Antrim Rovers 2, Sport & Leisure Swifts Reserves 3: Rovers went in front after Jonny Rogers scored on the 16th minute then the Sports equalised on the 25th minute when a cross from Patrick Bradley was deflected into his own net by a Rovers defender.

Sports went in front after Sean McKenna scored on the 31st minute and held this lead at half-time.

Sports went two goals clear after Paul Ryan scored on the 60th minute but Antrim came back with Matthew Montgomery scoring on the 82nd minute setting up a hectic remaining minutes with Rovers going for the equaliser but Sports held out for the win.

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

Wakehurst Strollers 1, Cookstown Youth 7: Wakehurst suffered another defeat as their dip in form continued, due largely to losing a number of players to first team duty.

Jonny O’Neil scored a brace of goals on the 1st and 5th minutes and this score remained until Steven McElhatton made it three nil from the penalty spot on the 45th minute.

Mark Megarry made it four nil for Cookstown on the 47th minute then Steven Quigley pulled a goal back for the Strollers on the 54th minute from the penalty spot.

Mark Megarry scored his second goal on the 60th minute followed by Jonny O’Neil completing his hat-trick on the 65th minute.

Megarry completed his hat-trick on the 67th minute completing the scoring on the day.

FIXTURES

Matches involving locally-based sides this week are:

Thursday, April 7 (6.45pm) - intermediate division: Ballynure OB v Chimney Corner.

Saturday, April 9 - Junior Division One: Newington YC II v Antrim Rovers.

Junior Division ThreeL Antrim Rovers Swifts v 3rd Ballyclare OB.

Linda Welshman Memorial Cup, round three: Clough Rangers Athletic v Ballynure OB ‘B’.