Carniny dominate game but fail to make Junior Cup progress

CARNINY went out of the Junior Cup losing 1-0 to Bessbrook, at the last 16 stage but they must be wondering today why they did not win this match as they totally dominated this game from start to finish.

The first half saw Carniny control the match and had the ball in the net twice through Chris Dowie but both goals were ruled out as offside and the side went in level at half time.

The second half saw no let up from Carniny as they pegged the home team into their half. Roger Jones and Alan Cochrane were causing the home team lots of problems but the home side defended for their lives and kept Carniny at bay. Carniny again had the ball in the net through Alan Cochrane but the referee ruled it offside which looked very harsh. Then in the 79th minute Bessbrook won the ball in mid field and broke clear to score completely against the run of play. Although Carninyb threw everything at Bessbrook in the last 10 minutes they could noy break down the resolute home defence.

A great achievement by Carniny to get to the last 16 and as they get closer to winning the Cup they look like the best chance for a BSML Team to bring back the Junior Cup for the first time in BSML History.

Rainey Cup 1st Round

Ahoghill Thistle 1

Randalstown Sky Blues 4

This looked liked a banana skin for Sky Blues as they travelled to Thistle who are top of Division Two and favourite for promotion but the 1st Division side Sky Blues made no mistake and ran out easy 4-1 winners.

Randalstown were on top from the start and took the lead after12 minutes when David Drummond collected the ball on the right and slipped past 2 Thistle defenders before unleashing a 30 yard shot which beat Stewart McDonald in the Thistle goal for the opening goal. The visitors continued to press and were rewarded with their second on the half hour mark. Mervyn Crawford played the ball to Randal Reid who split the Thistle defence with a pass to John Kitson which left him with a one on one with Thistle keeper and he rounded him to score Sky Blues second and send them in two up at half time.

The tie was over as a contest eight minutes into the second half when Sky Blues got their third when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out. Scott Bruce took the free kick and his goal bound shot took a wicked deflection to fly into the net and give Thistle keeper Stewart McDonald no chance. Sky Blues fourth goal came when Darren Quigley played a corner kick into the near post where Randal Reid beat his marker to head the ball into the roof of the net. Fair play to Thistle they kept trying and they got their reward with a consolation goal late on when David Tennant fired home but it was too late for a come back and Sky Blues were into the 2nd Round of the Rainey Cuip.

TOWER BLINDS BSML DIVISION ONE

All Saints OB 5

Ahoghill Rovers 1

Saints stretched their lead over Champions Carniny Rangers thanks to a superb team performance which saw them run out 5-1 winners against a good Ahoghill Rovers side.

The game flowed from end to end in the opening exchanges with both sides looking to play free flowing football and the first chance fell to Rovers when Jason Logan dragged a shot wide when well placed. On 16 minutes Saints got the breakthrough when a Philip Lynn shot was handled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Ryan Lyness stepped up and fired home the resulting spot kick. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when a Ryan Lyness throw in was headed home at the near post by Liam Cassley. Rovers got a goal back on the half hour mark when a Lee Garrett corner wasn’t cleared and Steven Kernohan fired home from 12 yards out. This sparked Saints into life again and they made it 3-1 almost immediately when Liam Cassley pounced to fire home from close range after a shot from Gavin Burnside was parried out. Just before half time Saints made it 4-1 when a superb cross from Alan Telford was coolly volleyed home by Gavin Burnside at the back post.

The second half saw Saints control the game and take the game to Rovers and they put the game beyond doubt on 52 minutes when a Ryan Lyness throw in was flicked on by Liam Cassley for Gavin Burnside to head home from close range. Saints should have added to the scoreline after this with Philip Lynn, Gavin Burnside and substitute Conor Crilly all failing to score when well placed. At the other end Rovers tired hard to get a consolation goal and they almost did when a Lee Garrett free kick rattled the post but Saints had done what they needed to win the game and clinch the three points.

TOWER BLINDS BSML DIVISION TWO

Holywell 1,North End 3

North End kept up their chase of Ahoghill Thistle at the top of Division Two with a superb first half performance seeing them beat a resolute Holywell side.

In a pretty even start it was North End who had the better chances and had two goals ruled out when Dean Dunlop and Colin McCambridge found the net only for those to be disallowed for offside and handball. North End finally broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Gerard Spurgeon fed the ball out right to Dean Dunlop who beat his marker before drilling the ball home from an acute angle. Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Dean Dunlop skipped past two Holywell defenders before cutting the ball back for Brian Paul Donnelly to side foot home from six yards out. North End were well on top now and made it 3-0 four minutes before the break when Chris Smiley controlled a long ball swivelled and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out.

Holywell got a goal back three minutes into the second half when Micky McKendry rose highest to head home a Chris McIntyre corner kick. Colin McCambridge then missed a great opportunity to regain North End’s three goal cushion but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy. After this both sides defences were on top with Damien McGarry and Kieran Butler excelling for North End and Derek Johnston doing well for Holywell as North End seen out the game to clinch all three points.

TOWER BLINDS BSML DIVISION THREE

The big result of the day was Steadfast’s two nil shock win over potential Play off side Braid United while in the other matches Inver Athletic beat Templepatrick 3-2 at Larne and this result makes them serious contenders for the promotion places. Galgorm were convincing winner against Newpark Olympic 4-0 and looked certain for at least the play offs.

FIXTURES

Ballymena Saturday Morning Football League

Saturday February 18- Paddy Powers Junior Shield Round 5 (1.30pm): Greenwell Star v Carniny Rangers.

Paddy Powers Junior Shield Quarter Finals (1.30pm): Randalstown Sky Blues v Harryville Homers

Ace Cup 1st Round one (10.15pm): Shore Wanderers v Clough Rangers; Abbeyview v Ballykeel; Ahoghill Rovers v Westend Athletic (Ahoghill)

Tower Blinds BSML Division One: FC Moylena v All Saints OBs; Glenarm Rovers v Michelin; Tower Blinds BSML Division Two: Carnlough Swifts v Holywell; Cullybackey Olympic v Dunloy Athletic (Tober Park); Connor FC v Cloughmills Thistle (Connor); North End v Seven Towers (Dunfane 1); FC Penarol v Randalstown (Waveney); St Comgalls v FC Antrim; Waveney Swifts v Ahoghill Thistle (Waveney 2).

Sammy Moore Cup 1st Round 1st Leg: Lisnafillan Swifts v Newpark Olympic (Showgrounds 4) Sammy Moore Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg: Woodside (1) v (3)Inver Athletic (Wakehurst 4); Steadfast (0) v (3)Riverdale (Galgorm); Templepatrick(3) v (0) Cushendall; Braid United (3) v (0) Wakehurst Athletic (Broughshane).

Tower Blinds BSML Division Three: Raceview Athletic v Galgorm (Wakehurst 3) Wakehurst Star v Atletico Antrim (Showgrounds 5)