Carniny Junior Cup and Shield 'double' still on

CARNINY Rangers' hopes of a dream 'double' of Junior Shield and Junior Cup glory remains intact.

Robert Young's side, who are already into the last 16 of the Province-wide Junior Cup, reached the same stage of the County Antrim-wide Junior Shield, coming from 2-1 down at the break to defeat Ballynahinch Olympic 6-2.

CO ANTRIM JUNIOR SHIELD

Carniny Rangers 6, Ballynahinch Olympic 2: The visitors took a surprise lead after 12 minutes when Carniny keeper Johnny Reid mis-kicked a clearance to a visiting attacker who put the ball into the empty net.

Midway through the half, Jason Robinson played a great through ball for Mark Waddell whose fierce shot was tipped over the bar by the Olympic keeper.

Maurice McDowell sent over the resulting corner kick and Ryan Bamber got in front of his marker at the near post to head home the equaliser.

Although Olympic created very little chances they snatched the lead on half time when a shot somehow found its way past two defenders and Johnny Reid and although it seemed to be cleared from the line, the referee awarded a goal.

Carniny tortured the visitors in the second half with Maurice McDowell on the left and Roger Jones on the right causing lots of problems and the deserved equaliser came on 53 minutes when Jones sent over a corner from the left which Alan Gaston headed down for Chris Dowie to fire home from close range.

The visitors tried to hit back but five minutes later they were caught on the break when Jones raced clear before slipping in McDowell who lobbed the ball over the advancing Olympic keeper.

It was all Carniny now and the fourth goal came 10 minutes later when Jones swung over a free kick which fell to the unmarked Dowie who hammered the ball into the net.

Carniny's fifth goal came late on when a through ball from Robinson saw Dowie challenge the visiting keeper and the ball fell to Waddell who found the empty net and send his side safely into the next round where they face a home tie against Portaferry Rovers this Saturday.

BSML DIVISION ONE

All Saints OB 1, Harryville Homers 2: Homers started the New Year after a seven week lay off and continued their winning run thanks to a hard fought victory against All Saints which keeps their title hopes well and truly alive.

Saints started the game well and almost got off to a great start when some neat interplay by Liam Cassley and Aidan O'Kane set up Paddy Logan whose shot was parried out by Richard Aitcheson in the Homers goal to Liam Cassley who was upended, but was adjudged to been offside.

After this Homers worked their way into the game and took the lead on 28 minutes when Jason Magill slipped the ball to Alan Rainey 20 yards out and his deflected shot came off the base of the post and fell to Jason Stevenson who hammered home the rebound into the empty net.

This stung Saints into life as they took the game to Homers and they drew level three minute before the break when Brian Watt curled a free kick past Richard Aitcheson in the Homers goal from all of 25 yards out to send the sides in level at the break.

Homers got a perfect start to the second half when they regained the lead on 52 minutes when Alan Rainey nipped in front of his marker to head home an Ian Millar corner kick.

With three minutes to go Saints almost snatched a point when a long throw by Paul McCann was met by Ryan Lyness at the near post but his header grazed the crossbar and went over as Homers held on for a vital three points.

Abbeyview 4, Holywell 1: Abbeyview continue to lead the First Division with this convincing win over their Antrim rivals.

Abbeyview dominated the early play in this derby match and were rewarded when after good work down the left Jackie Todd made space to cross for Darren Houston to fire home to make it 1-0. Abbeyview kept the pressure on the Holywell defence and Andy Robinson on the right missed a couple of good chances but on 35th minute Chris Perks played the ball through to Andy Smith who made it 2-0 and send Abbeyview in with a comfortable first half lead.

In the second half Abbeyview again dominated with Dee Thompson and Alan Cochrane going close before they hit Holywell with a third goal, when a quick free kick from Jamie Crane put Roy Robinson through one on one with the Holywell goalkeeper and he coolly slotted home. Abbeyview's fourth and best came when Ryan Carson picked the ball up in midfield and rang through the Holywell defence to smash the ball into the top corner.

Holywell's consolation came in injury time when they were awarded a penalty which Jeff McNicholl converted to make the final score 4-1.

BSML DIVISION TWO

FC Inter Stars 4, Seven Towers 2: Both teams had a lot to play for in this game with Towers looking to keep alive their automatic promotion hopes and Inter Stars looking to make a push for the playoffs.

In a tight first half the only real chance fell to Inter Stars and it produced the first goal on 35 minutes when Vladimir Brzak played in Jaroslav Sveck who chipped the ball over Stephen Marrs in the Towers goal.

Towers hit back with an equaliser on the hour mark when they were awarded a penalty kick which Ryan Brady calmly slotted home.

After this it was the Sebi Condurache show as he took control of midfield and was instrumental in setting up the next goal for Inter Stars when he played the ball across the box for Jaroslav Sveck to flick the ball home.

Five minutes later it was 3-1 when a 40 yard pass from Pavel Basilidez was chested down by Brzak before he fired home from close range.

Inter made sure of the three points 10 minutes before the end when Emil Frusinoiu nipped in to score from a pass by Brzak..

Towers got a consolation goal late into injury time when Barry McArdle fired home but it was to little too late as Inter Stars had done enough to win all three points.

Shore Wanderers 3, Clough Rangers 1: A hard fought victory for Shore against a Clough side who played the better football but lacked end product.

The game was a midfield battle until Shore opened the scoring after 25 minutes when a Willy Brown corner was met on the volley by Shane Ruddy.

Clough had barely recovered when five minutes later Shore captain Sean Gillen took advantage of a Clough defensive mistake and slid the ball past the keeper.

Clough had the majority of possession in the second half but Shore managed to soak up the pressure and broke with Darren Craig dribbling into the box and Shore being awarded a penalty which Barry Graham slotted home.

Clough continued to battle away and eventually scored from a set piece from Jonathan Rice with Shore sleeping.

BSML DIVISION THREE

Cullybackey Olympic 2, Westend Athletic 3: This was both teams' first game back after a long break over Christmas, and it showed as both teams struggled early on to adapt to a heavy pitch.

However the game swung into life midway through the first half, when Westend won a free-kick 20 yards from goal, and David Currie stepped up to curl the ball into the far top corner, giving Cullybackey keeper Steven Balmer no chance.

However, Cullybackey got back into the game two minutes later, when a ball over the top allowed Philip Anderson to chip Steve Greer in nets, and although the shot was cleared off the line but Gary Moody followed up to smash home from the edge of the box.

Cullybackey exerted some pressure, but Westend finally found their feet in the last 10 minutes of the first half, and got a second goal when Mark Watson hit a shot for 25 yards which took a deflection and looped over the Cullybackey keeper.

Athletic could have gone further ahead, when Rab Andrews was brought down in the box, but the normally reliable David Currie saw his penalty and follow up well saved by Balmer.

In the second half Westend showed a lot more fight as they gained the upper hand, and were soon rewarded as Nigel Small played in an excellent early cross to allow David Currie to turn in the box and knock past the keeper for his second and give Westend some breathing space.

Westend continued to press and were controlling the midfield and Mark Watson made sure of the points when he ran with the ball for 10 yards before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 20 yards across goal.

As both teams tired near the end, Cullybackey got a late goal when Philip Anderson was allowed space to control the ball and cut inside to shoot from 10 yards.

OTHER RESULTS

BSML Division One: FC Antrim 0, FC Moylena 4; Ballykeel 4, Carnlough Swifts 2; Randalstown Sky Blues 2, North End 2.

BSML Division Two: Ahoghill Thistle 1, St Comgalls 1; Broadway Celtic 6, Riverdale 1; Connor FC 4, Braid United 3; Michelin 2, Blackstone Rovers 0; Waveney Swifts 3, FC Penarol 3.

Sammy Moore Trophy, first round, first leg: Atletico Antrim 2, Demesne Star 0.

BSML Division Three: Lisnafillan Swifts 3, Randalstown 1.

FIXTURES

Saturday, January 30 - Paddy Power Co Antrim Junior Shield, round five (1.30pm): Carniny Rangers v Portaferry Rovers (Wakehurst 1).

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

BSML Division One: Ahoghill Rovers v FC Antrim; FC Moylena v Templepatrick (Forum); North End v Ballykeel (Dunfane); Holywell v Glenarm Rovers; Randalstown Sky Blues v Harryville Homers.

BSML Division Two: Blackstone Rovers v FC Inter Stars (Wakehurst 5); Broadway Celtic v Michelin (Showgrounds 4); Clough Rangers v St Comgalls; FC Penarol v Connor FC; Riverdale v Ahoghill Thistle (Wakehurst 2); Waveney Swifts v Shore Wanderers (Waveney 2).

Sammy Moore Trophy, first round, second leg: Demesne Star (0] v Atletico Antrim (2] (Waveney 1).

BSML Division Three: Cloughmills Thistle v Inver Athletic; Lisnafillan Swifts v Cullybackey Olympic (Galgorm).

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