Saints knock holders Harryville out of Top Four Trophy

SAINTS secured a Top Four Final place at the expensive of holder Harryville Homers who were chasing their third Top Four win in a row.

The game was only six minutes old when Saints struck the opening goal. Aidan O'Kane put a Homers defender under pressure from a high ball and when he tried to head it back to Richard Aitcheson in goals it was intercepted by Michael McCarry who coolly slotted the ball home from 12 yards out. This goal shocked Homers but they were finding it hard to get a foothold in the game with Saints not letting them settle on the ball. Saints made it 2-0 on 26 minutes when Michael McCarry took a quick throw in to Ryan Lyness who found himself free in the box and his square ball was turned into his own net by a Homers defender. The rest of the half was confined to a midfield battle with Saints going in at the break with a two goal cushion.

Homers came out after the break determined to make amends for the mistakes in the first half putting Saints under intense pressure with Ian Millar probing but they rarely threatened the Saints defence in which Steven McAvoy and Colin Laffin were outstanding. The only real chance Homers had was when David Gibson hit a thunderbolt from 25 yards which Saints keeper Brian Martin somehow got his hand to to tip it round the post. Saints started to get a hold of the game after this with them working hard to force error in the Homers defence and after a few half chances were squandered they were gifted the third goal when Richard Aitcheson saw a clearance intercepted by Chris Smiley who slotted the ball into the far corner of the net and ensured Saints of a place in the Top Four Final.

Carniny Rangers 3 v 2 Abbeyview

These teams met in the Final of last years O'Kane Cup when Carniny hammered Abbeyview 8-1 but a more determined Abbeyview went close in this Semi Final and were only beat by the odd goal in five.

In a match played in good spirits Carniny opened the better and applied the early pressure with Ryan Bamber and Ryan Canning keeping the Abbeyview full-backs on their toes. Abbeyview's keeper Dee Thompson made some excellent saves with Scotty Drummond and Leslie McCaughern having chances to open the scoring. Carniny opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Ryan Bamber burst down the left wing and rifled a low cross for Ryan Canning to score from 6 yards out. Abbeyview equalised against the run of play when Alan Cochrane collected the ball inside his own half and went on a fantastic run before hammering his shot into the roof of the net from edge of 18 yard area giving Alex McCosh in Carniny goal no chance.

In the second half Abbeyview took the lead in the 54th minute when after a defensive lapse by Carniny the ball fell to Andy myth who smashed a half volley from 25 yards into the Carniny net. Carniny had to battle hard to get back in the game and showed their character when Jordan Kenny won the ball in midfield beat his marker and hit a great through ball to Scotty Drummond who scored from close range. In the midfield battle that ensued Carniny came out winners after Jordan Kenny fired a cross over the Abbeyview defence which fell for Ryan Balmer to blast home the winner from 2 yards. A hard fought victory for Carniny which takes nothing away from the excellent performance by Abbeyview.

BSML Division One

Broadway Celtic 1 v 4 Ballykeel

After starting life back in the Division One with four wins out of four Celtic have suffered a major setback with suffering back to back defeats this one at the hands of a much improved Ballykeel side.

The game was very even with both sides cancelling each other out early on. The first chance came on the half hour mark when Daniel Boyd was presented with an open goal for Ballykeel but he somehow shot wide. Daniel Boyd made up for this two minutes later when he ran onto a Jason Magill pass and slotted the ball home to open the scoring. Celtic were finding it hard to break Ballykeel down with them only creating a few half chances which fell to Colin McCambridge but he failed to draw his side level.

Celtic kept on the pressure at the start of the second half and they almost drew level 10 minutes in when a shot by Brian Maybin was brilliantly turned away by Stephen Watson in the Ballykeel goal. Ten minutes later Ballykeel doubled their lead when Barry Bonnes sent in a low cross to Ricky Culbertson who bundled the ball home at the second time of asking. Fifteen minutes from time Ballykeel made it 3-0 when Mark Turton found the net with a free kick from 25 yards. Celtic gave themselves a lifeline five minutes from time when a Michael Maybin shot fell to Paul O’Neill who volleyed home from 15 yards out. On the final whistle substitute Steven Mark collected the ball just inside the Celtic half and went on a mazy run past two defenders to seal a comprehensive win for Ballykeel.

BSML Division Two

FC Antrim 1 v 2 Michelin

Michelin went close last year for promotion and are expected to be one of the front runners this season but they made hard work in collecting the three points in this match mainly due to bad finishing.

The visitors got off to a great start with a goal in 2 minutes when Stephen Sexton ran on to a through ball from Alan Craig and slotted the ball home. Antrim hit back with a screamer 15 minutes later when Pearse O’Boyle collected the ball 30 yards out and fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of the Michelin net. Michelin dominated the rest of the half and should have gone in at half time ahead when they were awarded a penalty kick but Roy Davidson fired his spot kick wide.

The second half saw Michelin well on top but Stephen Sexton and Roy Davidson squandered several chances before 20 minutes from time Leroy Kennedy split the home defence to put Roy Davidson clear and he chipped the ball over the advancing Antrim keeper Damian McAllister to give Michelin a deserved lead. Antrim battled on to the end and should have levelled the match in the final minute when Oliver Duffin was left with an open goal only to fire over the bar and gift Michelin with the three points.

BSML Division Three

Penarol continue to dominate this Division with a comprehensive 6-0 hammering of Steadfast to stay top with 5 straight wins. Cloughmills Thistle move into second place when they won a five goal thriller at home to new club Galgorm who suffered their first defeat.

RESULTS

Edel – Tonic Sports Drink

Ballymena Saturday Morning Football League

Saturday 4th September 2010 10.15 KO

The Mortgage Shop Top Four Semi-Finals

All Saints OBs 3 Harryville Homers 0

Carniny Rangers 3 Abbeyview 2

ARKMEDIA Sponsored O’Kane Cup 2nd Round

Randalstown 1 Cullybackey Olympic 3

BSML Division One

Broadway Celtic 1 Ballykeel 4

FC Moylena 2 Ahoghill Rovers 2

Carnlough Swifts 0 Glenarm Rovers 1

North End 3 Randalstown Sky Blues 1

BSML Division Two

Braid United 0 Dunloy Athletic 3

FC Antrim 1 Michelin 2

FC Inter Stars 1 Seven Towers 2

Holywell 2 Templepatrick 2

Shore Wanderers ABAN St. Comgalls

BSML Division Three

Riverdale 1 Atletico Antrim 3

Wakehurst Athletic 4 Wakehurst Star 2

Cushendall FC 5 Lisnafillian Swifts 1

Steadfast 0 FC Penarol 6

Cloughmills Thistle 3 Galgorm 2

Inver Athletic 2 Woodside 2

FIXTURES

Edel – Tonic Sports Drink

Ballymena Saturday Morning Football League

Saturday 11th September 2010 10.15 KO

ARKMEDIA Sponsored O’Kane Cup 2nd Round

Harryville Homers v Glenarm Rovers @ Wakehurst 2

BSML Division One

Ahoghill Rovers v Broadway Celtic @ Ahoghill

All Saints OBs v Abbeyview @ Showgrounds 5

Clough Rangers v Carniny Rangers @ Clough

FC Moylena v Carnlough Swifts @ Forum

Randalstown Sky Blues v Ballykeel

Connor FC (R) and North End Free

BSML Division Two

Dunloy Athletic v FC Antrim

Cullybackey Olympic v Braid United @ Tober Park

Templepatrick v Ahoghill Thistle @ Forum

Waveney Swifts v Holywell @ Waveney 2

Seven Towers v Westend Athletic @ Showgrounds 4

St Comgalls v FC Inter Stars

Michelin (R) & Shore Wanderers Free

BSML Division Three

Atletico Antrim v Woodside

Lisnafillian Swifts v FC Penarol @ Portglenone

Wakehurst Athletic v Cloughmills Thistle @ Wakehurst 4

Galgorm FC v Inver Athletic @ Galgorm

Wakehurst Star v Randalstown @ Dunfane

Cushendall FC v Riverdale

Steadfast Free