Ballymena & Provincial League: misery goes on for local sides

Once again at the weekend, locals were left with the taste of defeat in their mouths.

In the Michelin Athletic Club-sponsored league championship, Raceview’s defence of their league title lies in tatters after they suffered an unprecedented third defeat in four league outings, this time at Desertmartin.

Carniny Amateurs, still searching for their first win of the campaign, bowed out of the Steel & SOns CUp, beaten by the odd goal in three by Lisburn Rangers.

FIXTURES

Matches involving locally-based sides this Saturday, September 15, are:

O’Gorman Cup Rd 1: Clough Rangers Athletic v Dunloy.

Junior Division One: Ballymoney Utd Res v Antrim Rovers.

Junior Division Two: Carnmoney FC v Carniny Amateurs II; FC Larne v Wakehurst Strollers.

Irish Cup, round one: Carniny Amateurs v Ardstraw.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

Desertmartin 3, Raceview 1: Raceview who have not had the best of starts to their season took the lead on the 10th minute through a goal scored by Dean Dunlop but Desertmartin came back with Daniel McIlhatton scoring the equaliser on the 35th minute.

Half-time came with the teams still locked together then on the 61st minute Mark Shields scored the all important third goal which saw Desertmartin go in front. Raceview then had to chase the game then with time running our Desertmartin struck a decisive blow when Jonny Smyth scored their third goal on the 85th minute.

STEEL & SONS CUP 1st ROUND

Lisburn Rangers 2, Carniny Amateurs 1: Carniny can count themselves a bit unfortunate not to have taken the game into extra time as the game was tied a one each until late in the second half the home side got a hotly disputed winner.

Jordan Graham with a sweetly struck free kick had put Carniny in front on the 34th minute then in the second half the Rangers equalised followed by the disputed winning goal.

Other results: Ballyclare Comrades 1, Ballynure Old Boys 0; Bloomfield FC 5, Brantwood 4 (aet); Larne Tech Old Boys 6, FC Ballynure 1.

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Antrim Rovers 4, Magherafelt Sky Blues Reserves 3: This was a cracking game with Rovers edging the result at the end.

Allan Jones scored putting Rovers in front on the 32nd minute then goals scored by Jonny Rogers and a second for Allan Jones on the 47th and 53rd minutes saw the Antrim side three goals up.

Sky Blues came back with goals scored BY Jon McGuckin and Conor Bell on the 58th and 61st minutes before Jonny Rogers scored his second goal in the game on the 65th minute.

Sky Blues never gave up and after Shane Henry scored on the 83rd minute, Rovers were on the defensive until the final whistle.

Other results: Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 3, Mallusk Athletic 1; 3rd Ballyclare Old Boys 0, Cookstown Olympic 5.

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

Wakehurst Strollers 1, Chimney Corner Reserves 2: The goal scoring in this game took place during the first half with the first goal coming on the 31st minute when Conor Warren scored putting Strollers in front.

Corner replied with Aaron Mitchell scoring the equaliser on the 36th minute and then took the lead when Myles Devine scored on the 40th minute. The second half saw plenty of chances created but alas no more goals.

Moyola Park Olympic 3, Carniny Amateurs II 1: This game played at Mill Meadow saw both teams play a lot of good football but at half-time there was still no goals scored.

This changed on the 55th minute when Dean Wright scored putting Carniny in front.

Moyola came back with Brian Holmes scoring the equaliser on the 55th minute then took the lead after Paul Clarke scored on the 72nd minute then sealed the win when Brian Holmes scored his second goal on teh 76th minute.

Other results: 1st Mossley YM 4, Ballyclare North End 0; Red Star 0, Castle Star 5.

JUNIOR DIVISION THREE

Results: Encore FC 2, FC Ballynure Reserves 3; Remo FC 2, Sport & Leisure Swifts Reserves 1; York Road Loughside ‘B’ 4, Carrick Young Citizens 0.

CRAWFORD CUP

Round one results: Dunloy 16, Larne Olympic 1; Carnlough Swifts 4, Carnmoney FC 2; Rathcoole FC 4, Ballysillan Swifts 1. Round two results: Glebe Rangers Reserves 3, 14th Newtownabbey 3 (N’abbey win 4-2 on pens); Tobermore United Reserves 0, FC Whiteabbey 3; 1st Carrickfergus OB 1, AFC Carrick 3.