IRISH CUP: Saturday’s action reviewed

Mossley boss Garry Campbell said: “We just didn’t turn up as a team - we were toothless. Eighteenth were more up for it, they were stronger and tighter all over the pitch. You have to give them credit.”

It may have been different had Lee Graham not been denied by keeper Andy Green in an early one-on-one, but it was the Old Boys who forged ahead through Stuart Anderson.

A Robbie Barton header cancelled that one out before Ryan Williams and Ryan Greer gave 18th a 3-1 win.

Eighteenth’s victory was tarnished by Curtis McCullough sustaining an ankle break as well as ligament damage. Mossley’s Kyle Crowe also needed hospital treatment.

Elsewhere, a debut goal from 16-year-old new recruit Josh Mannis was enough for an understrength Wellington Rec away at Lurgan Town.

Also through are Rathfern Rangers, although it wasn’t quite so straightforward at home to Richhill who could have had one foot in the next round had the crossbar not prevented them going two up. Instead, David Moore restored parity and Rangers seemed to have had it won after a David McCrea cross veered in off Alan Kerby’s knee. But it was all back in the melting pot after a disputed Richhill penalty.

The match looked set for extra-time, but Rangers sparked back into life with another stirring strike from Moore and a Gary Orr spot-kick.

Missed chances cost Nortel dearly as they went down 3-2 to Crumlin United. Mark Wilkinson had a shot was cleared off the line onto the post after Nortel had taken the lead through Tommy Hamill.

United made the most of their reprieve, and it was too little too late when sub Adam Irwin pegged one back.

Robert McElhome’s own goal gave Abbey Villa a 2-0 lead with 15 minutes remaining against UUJ. The Millisle side added two more, sandwiched between a late consolation for Adam Boyce.

It’s four defeats on the spin for Barn United who lost 2-1 at Moneyslane. Andy Kane set them on their way but Gary McKee’s own goal evened things up and it was the home side who notched the winner.

Rathcoole booked their place in round two of the Irish Cup thanks to a 3-2 win over Ballymacash Rangers at the Diamond.

Ballymacash had the better of the play in the first-half and led 2-0 at the interval. Rathcoole pulled a goal back through Aaron Lindsay on 52 minutes before Brian Black got them back on level terms. Graham Bingham netted the all-important fifth goal in the game to win it for Rathcoole.

Elsewhere, Islandmagee suffered their first defeat of the season as the exited the Irish Cup at the first hurdle losing 2-1 to north-west side Trojans.