Henry’s men miss out on chance to go top

Manager Angus Henry travelled to Castledawson with an understrength side to take on Moyola Park Olympic, but returned empty-handed on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline.

With league leaders Castle Star involved in the Canada Trophy, a ‘Nure win would have promoted them to the summit, but they will have to be content to remain in third spot.

Both teams struggled to come to terms with the slippery conditions underfoot, but the hosts turned round two up, and then it was all over bar the shouting when they increased their lead five minutes into the second session.

Robert Houston pulled one back from a Sammy Duff pass and it was game on when Darren Guy rammed home the rebound after Matthew McClurg’s free had been parried by the keeper.

Five minutes from time, with Ballynure players protesting about an incident in their goalmouth, a long clearance left the home centre-forward with a clear run on goal to give John McCormick no chance.

In the closing seconds Conor Graham almost got his name on the scorecard, but he was foiled by the keeper.

Man of the Match: Robert Houston, midfielder.

Ballynure OB ‘B’: McCormick; J Graham, Guy, Harvey, Caldwell; C Graham, McClurg, Houston, Gregory; Davey, Goodman. Subs: Patterson for McClurg, Duff for Gregory, McWilliams.

The seniors and Clough Rangers Athletic players assembled at Mossley for a Ballymena Premier League fixture, but the referee declared the pitch unplayable owing to waterlogging, so this one will have to be rearranged.