Ports off the mark with first win

After six successive defeats on their return to the Michaelin Athletic Club-sponsored championship, Michael Larkin's men notched their first win in style, with a 6-3 cuffing of Ballycastle United on Saturday.

But the news wasn't so good for the Ballymena borough's other two intermediate clubs, with Clough Rangers Athletic losing 6-1 at Dunloy, while Raceview bowed out of the Irish Cup after a 4-2 home defeat by Comber Rec.

FIXTURES

Matches involving locally-based sides this Saturday, September 25, are:

Intermediate League: Ballycastle United v Clough Rangers Athletic; Raceview v Dunloy; Brantwood v Portglenone.

Junior Division One: Glebe Rangers Res v Carniny Amateurs; Killymoon Rangers Res v Chimney Corner Res.

Junior Division Two: Carnlough Swifts v Raceview Athletic.

Junior Division Three: Encore FC v Wakehurst Strollers.

Irish Junior Cup, round one: Queens Grads v Antrim Rovers.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

Dunloy 6, Clough Rangers Athletic 1: The game was a lot closer than the score suggests and in the end mistakes cost Clough dear.

Dunloy raced into a two goal lead through goals scored by Kevin McAllister and James Dixon on the 9th and 12th minutes before Clough replied when Adie McDonald headed in from a corner kick on the 18th minute.

This scoreline remained until Kevin McAllister took full advantage of a mistake by Clough in not clearing the ball to score on the 50th minute.

Two more goals followed quickly with Paudie Shivers and John John McFerran scoring on the 53rd and 60th minutes. As time was then running out Jamie McFerran completed the scoring on the 85th minute.

Portglenone 6, Ballycastle United 3: Portglenone took the lead after Paul Storey scored on the 15th minute then doubled their tally with a superb 35-yard free kick by Mark McNicholl on the 17th minute.

Ballycastle pulled a goal back when Alex Campbell scored on the 28th minute but then saw Chris Kearns score for Portglenone on the 31st minute.

Ballycastle cut the deficit again after John Joe Collins scored on the 36th minute but goals scored by Kieran Byrne and Paul Storey on the 38th and 40th minutes saw Portglenone three clear before Martin McGarry scored a third for Ballycastle on the 45th minute.

After the goal feast in the first-half the second, in terrible conditions, saw only one goal scored by Mark McNicholl on the 76th minute.

Other result: Cookstown Olympic 4, Rasharkin United 7.

IRISH CUP ROUND ONE

Raceview 2, Comber Rec 4: Both teams overcame the incessant rain during the game and were glad to hear the final whistle.

Comber took the lead after Craig Gordon scored on the 6th minute then added to this when Andy McIntyre scored on the 37th minute.

Comber still held the two goal lead as the second half progressed then on the 81st minute Andy McIntyre scored his second goal putting his team three clear.

Raceview then hit back with two goals scored by Jordan Lemon and Bobby Hanna on the 83rd and 86th minute to give them a chance but in chasing the equalizer they got caught with Andy McIntyre completing his hat-trick on the 89th minute.

Other results: Shorts 2, Ballynure Old Boys 4; Ards Rangers 10, FC Ballynure 2; Desertmartin 0, Brantwood 2; Kilbride Swifts 4, Groomsport 3 (aet).

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Carniny Amateurs 7, Chimney Corner Reserves 1: Carniny took the lead after Jordan Graham scored on the 6th minute and held this until Jamie Nutter equalized on the 37th minute.

Half-time was almost reached when Ryan Wilkinson put Carniny back in front on the 42nd minute.

Carniny increased their lead when Adam Whitehurst scored on the 52nd minute and straight after this the Corner had a man sent off.

With the extra man Carniny went on to score four more goals through Adam Whitehurst 60th, Nicky McCartney 78th and 83rd and keeper Kevin Coogan a penalty on the 85th minutes.

Other results: Finvoy 0, Tobermore United Reserves 1; FC Larne 0, Newtownabbey FC 4; Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 1, Newtownabbey Sevens 1.

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

3rd Ballyclare Old Boys 5, Raceview Athletic 2: Steven Todd opened the scoring for the Old Boys on the 4th minute and a second goal scored by Ryan Davey on the 29th minute saw Raceview with it all to do to get something from the game.

Raceview rose to the challenge pulling a goal back when Peter Adams scored on the 42nd minute. Raceview went looking for the equalizer in the second half but got hit by three goals in quick succession when Andy Gilmore, Ryan Davey and Jonny Gracey scored for the Old Boys on the 60th, 65th and 69th minutes secured the points though David Duncan scored a second for Raceview on the 82nd minute.

Other results: Ballynure Old Boys 'B' 1, Desertmartin Swifts 2; FC Ballynure Reserves 2, Cookstown Athletic Colts 4; Ballyclare North End 1, Carnlough Swifts 3.

JUNIOR DIVISION THREE

Mallusk Athletic 1, Wakehurst Strollers 2: Strollers started off well and went in front through a well taken goal scored by Stuart McKinney on the 14th minute and held this lead until Matt Fegan scored the equalizer for Mallusk on the 35th minute to leave the teams level at half-time.

The Strollers scored their second goal on the 47th minute After Jason Adams controlled a good pass before slotting the ball in for the goal that won the game.

Other results: Castle Star 0, Grange Rangers II 1; 14th Newtownabbey 2, Encore FC 6; FC Ballynure YM 0, Ballynure Old Boys 'C' 4.