LEADERS STILL UNBEATEN

Berthas stay in second after their win at home to Brook Street while Hillview recovered from their first defeat of the season to record at good victory over Mountview. Balnamore scored two injury time goals to pick up the points against Ballyrashane while FC Windyhall came from behind to beat West Bann Athletic. Dunaghy Old Boys romped to victory against basement boys Coleraine Olympic while The Taverners took a surprise win at home to Hazelbank.

For more up to date information on the league, log on to www.htwl.leaguerepublic.com

FC Macosquin 1 Glebe Rangers Old Boys 4

Glebe Old Boys travelled to Lodge Road Playing Fields for this league fixture on Saturday morning. With namesake DJ McBride oversleeping Alan McBride returned to the starting line-up. Les Nicholl also started in place of the unavailable Jimmy Coulter. In a frenetic opening big ‘Chin’ Blair nodded a Wilmont corner wide before the home side took the lead when Downs, seeing Allen off his line, lobbed home from fully 30 yards.

The Old boys responded positively and created a number of clear-cut openings which were spurned with Blair, whose heading was slightly awry in the first half, nodding the best opportunity wide. Macosquin were dangerous on the break with Biggart a constant threat and he struck the post with a fine effort. However it was the Glebe who scored next when Patterson scrambled home after a Wilmont corner wasn’t cleared to leave the sides level at half-time.

The Old Boys opened the second half on the offensive and should have gone ahead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Wilmont. However Bellingham’s spot-kick was well saved by Tosh. The visitors were awarded a second penalty when Patterson was impeded and this time McBride showed how it should be done as he gave the Old Boys the lead. They quickly made it three when Wilmont finished well from Nicholl’s pass before the same player continued his recent hot streak with a confident finish after some magical trickery by Patterson. Despite the efforts of both sides this was the final goal of the day to leave the Old Boys victors by four goals to one. Man of the Match: Jason Wilmont (Glebe Rangers Old Boys)

Berthas FC 5 Brook Street 2

Both teams went into this game short on personnel with the home side missing a number of first team players while Brook Street could only muster 10 to take the field. It was Berthas who were predictably on the front foot with Andrew Minihan giving them the lead with a cute flick from MacAulay’s corner. They soon grabbed their second when McLaughlin ran onto Caldwell’s flick to fire past the keeper. Berthas spurned a number of clear-cut chances with McLaughlin twice and Caldwell guilty when they should have done better.

Brook Street pushed hard and worked their socks off against the numerical disadvantage and Cochrane in the home team goal had to be alert to save to drives from Joel McDonald and one from Davidson. Their efforts were rewarded when Berthas switched off at the back, Morton finding Tosh who poked home from eight yards. Into the second half and again Berthas missed a host of chances but finally put the game to bed with three goals in 15 minutes.

First McLaughlin hammered home from just outside the box, Pollock then grabbed his first when he ran onto MacAulay’s through ball to fire past Tosh and then the same player lobbed home exquisitely from the edge of the area for number five. Brook Street kept going and got their second when Bacon found Morton in the box and he fired home low past Cochrane. Berthas saw out the win and should have won by more but massive credit to the 10 men of Brook Street who gave it their all for 90 minutes that would have pleased their manager. Man of the Match: Ricky Pollock (Berthas FC)

Hillview FC 5 Mountview FC 2

It was a slow start to the match with both teams cancelling each other out. Mountview passing a through ball by the Hillview defence with McDowell in the Hillview net rushing out and giving away a pen - Hugh McAllister stepping up to send McDowell the wrong way. The equaliser came 60 seconds later, some good football down left a good ball into the box for McCrellis to tap in from five yards. Hillview kicked on from there and were the better team throughout the rest of the game scoring four goals without reply, the best coming from Johny Millar, good passing seeing Millar one-on-one with the keeper and rounded him to slip the ball into the empty net. Doherty, who was very quiet the whole game, scored a conselation 10 minutes from time for Mountview. Man of the Match: Ryan Sweeney (Hillview)

Balnamore FC 2 Ballyrashane FC 1

Balnamore produced the get out of jail card in this match to steal the points in injury time and breathe a sign of relief when in truth they were only a few minutes from defeat. Balnamore lost midfield supremo Andy Heggarty through the week to a work accident and Beetle had to shuffle the pack. The home side started really bright, Simon Armstrong hit the bar and the upright in the first ten minutes and Willy Corr should have found the net when one on one with the keeper but pushed his effort wide.

As Balnamore missed chances and the game wore on Ballyrashane grew in confidence, McIntyre marshalled his back line well to absorb the pressure. Balnamore had loads of possession but could not break the Ballyrashane men down, Their keeper Ronnie Kane was having a superb game in goal. Balnamore walked off at half time frustrated with all their hard work and nothing to show.

After the break Balnamore constantly bombarded the opposition and were camped inside the visitors half for long spells of the game. Ballyrashane had to play with ten men as Doherty hobbled off injured, but still no break through. The game took a change in the seventy-fifth minute, Balnamore won a corner and threw bodies in the box trying to get that elusive goal, however Ballyrashane cleared the danger and got the ball quickly to Alan Freeman who found space and with pace ran toward goal and fire past James Elder to put the visitors up.

The Fulton park men tried everything but Ballyrashane held firm as the clock ticked down Balnamore threw caution to the wind and sent Nicky Tweed and Lee Kelly up front, eventually the pressure paid off, in the 90th minute David McDowell fired home from the edge of the area that long awaited goal. Balnamore sniffed victory and in injury time Ballyrashane hearts were broke as Sean Hogg got to the ball before keeper Kane, his shot at goal was charged down on the line, but Nicky “Ballipele” Tweed was the sharpest to respond and find the net for a winner. Ballyrashane were gutted after such a heroic battle but credit to the Fulton park men who never gave up. Man of the Match: Ronnie Kane (Ballyrashane)

Dunaghy Old Boys 11 Coleraine Olympic 1

Dunaghy got off to a flying start against Olympic when W Blair smashed his shot into the top corner on six minutes. N Blair then put W Blair through with a great cutting pass, his shot was well saved but with the ball finding Robinson he gave the keeper no chance. Olympic tried hard to get back into it and had a couple of long range efforts go just wide. M Blair got Dunaghys third on 32 minutes with a cross-cum-shot. On 36 minutes Olympic’s Cook latched onto a bad back pass and tucked it away to give them a fighting chance.

Ian Blair replied instantly with a low shot to the bottom corner. Three minutes later Dunlop scored the goal of the game finishing a fine five man move with a blistering drive. The second half saw Old Boys run away with it W Blair grabbing his second followed by two from Moore and two more from Robinson to complete his hat-trick with Bartlett completing the rout. Man of the Match: Ian Blair (Dunaghy Old Boys)

FC Windyhall 2 West Bann Athletic 1

Both teams came into the match looking for three points to make amends for defeats the previous week against Hazelbank and Mountview. Windyhall were trying to close the gap on their visitors to one point, while West Bann wanted to close the gap on Finn McCools and Hazelbank. West Bann started the match the brighter of the teams and it wasn’t long before they were ahead. A throw in from the left into the box towards Bacon, who was allowed too much time to turn and place the ball into the corner and past Newman.

The Windyhall men were fuming with each other how he was afforded so much time and space in the box. West Bann continued to press to try and increase their lead but the Windyhall defence of Thompson, Lyle Crawford, Ferguson and Laverty stood firm to prevent any further goals leaving Newman no further saves to make. Windyhall had their chances in the first half but nothing clear cut.

Windyhall made a change at half time bringing on Mark McClelland and changing the formation. It seemed to work Windyhall improved and the ball seemed to stick more up front with Johnston and McClelland. The next goal of the game didn’t come until the 58th minute as McClelland 35 yards out from the goal controlled the ball and laid it off the Donnell. With the ball bouncing he struck an unstoppable volley into the top right hand corner. A contender for goal of the season.

Windyhall had the momentum and were attacking with more urgency than earlier in the match. Johnston brought a good save from Jones and McClelland put the ball wide when he really should have scored. Windyhall wrapped it up on 79 minutes as R Sweeney won the ball in midfield before releasing McClelland into the box, he gave the keeper the eyes and dinked it over him. Man of the Match: Stephen Donnell (FC Windyhall)

Saturday 1 December

Brook Street v Ballyrashane Crescent 3

Dunaghy Old Boy’s v West Bann Athletic Dunaghy

FC Macosquin v Balnamore FC Rugby Avenue 2

FC Windyhall v Finn McCool’s Rugby Avenue 4

Glebe Rangers Old Boys v Coleraine Olympic Megaw Park

Hazelbank v Bertha’s FC Rugby Avenue 1

Taverners FC v Mountview FC Riada 2

Villagers FC v Hillview FC Castlerock