Clubs draw blank in Junior Cup

Broadway Celtic, Braid United and St Comgalls all exited the competition, with league officials hoping for better fortune for four sides who embark on their Junior Cup campaigns this Saturday.

COCA-COLA JUNIOR CUP

Broadway Celtic 1, Churchtown 2: Broadway threw away this tie which was played in atrocious wet weather especially as they dominated for long periods but two defensive mistakes caused their exit.

Celtic dominated the early part of the first half with Paul O'Neill and Philip Lynn going close with half chances but 15 minutes from time the visitors scored on one of their rare attacks.

A mistake by Broadway keeper Sean Ward gifted the visitors with their second goal as he kicked the ball out from the edge of his goal mouth on the right only for the ball to fall to a Churchtown player 30 yards out and he sent the ball into the unguarded net to put them two up.

Celtic's chances were further hampered when they had a player sent off and their was further woe when Philip Lynn was upended in the penalty area and Celtic were awarded a penalty. Ryan Brady hit the spot kick which the Churchtown keeper brilliantly saved.

Celtic did pull a goal back six minutes from time when Philip Lynn beat three defenders in the penalty area before sliding the ball home but it turned out to be a consolation goal.

ARKMEDIA O'KANE CUP

Cullybackey Olympic 2, Ahoghill Rovers 1: This was the shock of the day as second division Cullybackey put out top-flight Ahoghill thanks to a brace from Aaron Wilkinson and brilliant keeping by Gary Glass..

Ahoghill hit Cullybackey with a sucker blow after 20 minutes when, in their first attack, Nolan Logan stole the ball from an Olympic defender and drove the ball home from just inside the box.

Rovers now started to create more chances but Olympic were dangerous on the break and equalised just before half time when good work from Jason Peacock set up Aaron Wilkinson who rounded the Rovers keeper to score.

The second half was very tight but on 60 minutes Olympic went in front when again good approach work from Jason Peacock set up Aaron Wilkinson to score his second.

Olympic keeper Gary Glass then produced two wonderful saves in the dying minutes to put his team into the next round.

Waveney Swifts 3, FC Penarol 0: This looked an attractive tie between Division Two league leaders Waveney and Division Three pacesetters FC Penarol but Penarol froze early on and were two down after six minutes and never really recovered as Swifts ran out easy winners.

Swifts shocked Penarol with an opening goal after two minutes when Ryan McFadden pounced on a loose ball 20 yards out and sent an unstoppable shot past Penarol keeper Billy Mitchell.

They were rocked by a second goal four minutes when William McNabb broke down the right and out paced the Penarol defence before slotting the ball home.

Penarol should have pulled a goal back half way through the half when a cross field ball by Craig Young put Ricky Stewart through but his shot was parried out by Swifts keeper Richard Fulton but Andy Balmer somehow sent the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

Although Penarol were on top and forced several corner kicks the Swifts defence held out and 10 minutes to half time they broke away to score a third. William McNabb who was a constant problem for the Penarol defence and he worked his way through two tackles before rifling the ball into the Penarol net to send Swifts in three up at half time.

Westend Athletic 0, Carniny Rangers 7: Holders Carniny Rangers strolled through this Cup game with second division Westend Athletic and ran out easy winners.

Scotty Drummond opened the scoring on 16 minutes and this opened the flood gates as Carniny hit another three before half time through Jordan Kenny, Drummond again and a Jason Robinson goal just on the half time whistle.

There was no let up for Westend in the second half with Carniny hitting another three goals through former Irish League player Drummond who hit another three goals, one of which was a penalty, as Carniny ran riot and showed they are the team to beat this season.

BSML DIVISION ONE

Only three games in Division One with Ballykeel beating Carnlough Swifts 3-0 to move into second place in the table.

Gelenarm Rovers move off the bottom of the Division with a 2-1 win over bottom side Clough Rangers while in the other match, Connor FC proved too strong for North End who they beat 3-1.

BSML DIVISION TWO

Ahoghill Thistle 2, Holywell 4: Both these teams are expected to be in the running for honours in Division Two but Holywell proved too strong for the Home Team

Holywell started this match well but had to wait until 30 minutes to open the scoring when Darren Adair got on the end of a cross from Aaron Giles to tap in at the far post.

Ahoghill drew level two minutes later when poor Holywell marking from a corner allowed Gary Tennant to scramble the ball home.

Holywell's second goal came after the hour when Giles turned in a corner from Connor Johnston. Darren Adair capitalised on a bad back pass to make it 3-1 shortly after and it looked like Holywell would run away with the game.

However Ahoghill pulled a goal back when Philip Dickey cut in from the left and found the net with a dipping shot from 25 yards.

Holywell were forced into making 3 changes late on in the game due to injuries and two of the subs combined late on when Aaron Mitchell crossed for Michael Brennan to tap in and seal the points.

BSML DIVISION THREE

Cloughmills Thistle 3, Cushendall FC 2: Both teams have had a great start to the season in Division Three and fought out a five goal thriller with Cloughmills just shading it.

In the 20th minute, against the run of play Cloughmills forward Michael Ross hit a shot from the edge of the box which flew into the roof of the net to put Thistle in front.

Ten minutes later Cushendall hit back with a great move down the left wing and Stephen McKeegan crossed to the back post where Thomas Quinn headed home the equaliser.

Cloughmills came out in the second half a much more determined side and started to dominate the play and on the 57th minute David Allen took a quick throw in to Gregory Patton to flick on for Chris Blaney to slot home in the bottom corner.

Then against the run of play Cushendall made it two all with a long ball over the top which the Cloughmills defence didn't deal with and Terry Gillan slotted past the advancing Thistle keeper. Not to be undone Cloughmills piled on the pressure and with 20 minutes left David Allen took a long throw which landed to Gregory Patton who put the ball between the defender's legs and into the net for a winning goal which sends Thistle to the top of the table.

LEAGUE MEETING

The next BSML League Meeting is on Monday 27th September at 8pm in the Ballymena United Sports and Social club. All teams must send a representative.

OTHER RESULTS

Coca-Cola Junior Cup, round one: Magherafelt Sky Blues 3, Braid United 1; St Comgalls 2, Brentwood 3.

Arkmedia O'Kane Cup, round three: Templepatrick 1, All Saints OB 5; FC Antrim 3, Seven Towers 4.

BSML Division Two: Shore Wanderers v FC Inter Stars – match abandoned.

BSML Division Three: Randalstown 3, Atletico Antrim 0; Wakehurst Star 1, Galgorm 5; Steadfast 2, Riverdale 0; Woodside 0, Lisnafillan Swifts 2; Inver Athletic 4, Wakehurst Athletic 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday, September 25 - Coca-Cola Junior Cup, round one (2pm): Connor FC v Killen Rangers; Armagh Blues v Randalstown; Tollymore United v Carniny Rangers; Richhill Res v Randalstown Sky Blues.

Arkmedia O'Kane Cup, round three (10.15am): FC Inter Stars v Ballykeel (Waveney 2).

BSML Division One: Broadway Celtic v Harryville Homers (Showgrounds 4); FC Moylena v North End (Forum); Ahoghill Rovers v Clough Rangers; Glenarm Rovers v Abbeyview.

BSML Division Two: Braid United v Ahoghill Thistle (Broughshane); Dunloy Athletic v Cullybackey Olympic; FC Antrim v Westend Athletic (Forum); St Comgalls v Waveney Swifts (Inver Park); Michelin v Templepatrick; Holywell v Seven Towers (Forum).

BSML Division Three: Atletico Antrim v Cushendall; Wakehurst Star v Inver Athletic (Dunfane); FC Penarol v Cloughmills Thistle; Lisnafillan Swifts v Steadfast (Portglenone); Galgorm v Wakehurst Athletic (Galgorm); Riverdale v Woodside (Wakehurst 2).