Second semi-final for Carniny

CARNINY Rangers created history on Saturday when they became the first Ballymena Saturday Morning League team to qualify for Junior Cup and Shield semi-finals in one season.

Robert Young's side saw off the challenge of Crumlin Star to take their place in the last four of the Coca-Cola Junior Cup and keep alive the dream of bringing one or other or both of the two most sought-after trophies in junior football back to Ballymena.

Elsewhere, the wet weather again did damage to BSML fixtures with only six matches surviving the heavy rain on Friday.

JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Carniny Rangers 2, Crumlin Star 0: Both these teams are undefeated in their respective leagues this season and were both trying to reach the Junior Cup and Shield Finals in this season so something had to give.

Carniny opened the brighter and were unlucky not to take the lead when Chris Dowie broke free before playing in Jason Robinson but a Crumlin defender got back to block his shot then a Leslie McCaughran cross was blasted over the bar by Chris Dowie as Carniny pinned the visitors in their own half.

The big breakthrough came half way through the first half when a run by Mark Waddell was stopped when he was upended in the penalty area and Carniny were awarded a penalty kick. Roger Jones buried the spot kick low into the right hand corner of the net to give Carniny a deserved lead which they took into the half time break.

Crumlin took the game to Carniny at the start of the second but tremendous work rate put in by Carniny midfielders and defenders reduced Crumlin to long range efforts which did not trouble Carniny keeper Alex McCosh.

At the other end Carniny looked dangerous on the break and were unlucky not to add to their slender lead when Ryan Balmer broke free on the left but when he squared the ball to Chris Dowie a last minute tackle by a Crumlin defender saved a certain goal.

Crumlin then went through a purple patch and were unlucky not to level the tie when they hit the post and the bar with the Carniny keeper well beaten.

Crumlin again hit the bar before Carniny snatched the all important second goal seven minutes from time when Roger Jones sent in a low corner which the Crumlin defence failed to clear and during a goal mouth scramble Leslie McCaughran scrambled the ball over the line and into the net to send Carniny Rangers into their second semi-final in a week.

BSML DIVISION ONE

Abbeyview 2, Harryville Homers 2: This was a big game for both teams as Homers sit top of Division One while Abbeyview are second and both are trying to increase their lead over Carniny Rangers who have games in hand and are still the main danger.

In the end they both had to settle for a point apiece in a thrilling draw.

Abbeyview took the lead after 15 minutes when they were awarded a penalty kick when Andy Robinson was brought down in the penalty area. Chris Perks stepped up to rifle home the spot kick.

The great start Abbeyview made continued and they doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Ryan Carsen picked the ball up wide and slipped his marker before rounding Homers keeper Richard Aitcheson leaving Darren Houston the simple task of firing into an empty net.

Homers started to creep into the match with Ian Millar getting to grips with Abbeyviews mid field and he nearly created the opening for Homers when he sent in a corner kick which John McDowell headed against the cross bar.

This should have been a warning for Abbeyview but instead they conceded a goal three minutes before half time when Millar took a corner kick on the right and from the flag kick curled the ball straight into the net to give Homers hope of a revival.

Homers took the game to the home team but they had to wait to the 70th minute to get the equaliser and again it came from a set piece. Jason Stephenson sent in a corner kick from the right for Gary Bonnes to nip in at the near post to head home the equaliser.

The impetus was given back to Abbeyview five minutes later when Homers had a player sent off but efforts from Andy Robinson and Darren Houston were off target and the game finished all square.

All Saints OB 2, Randalstown Sky Blues 0: Saints capitalised on the Abbeyview-Homers draw and kept themselves in with a chance of winning Division One with this hard fought victory against a resolute Sky Blues side.

In a dour first half both sides cancelled each other until Saints opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break. Brian Watt played the ball down the line for Liam Cassley whose cross was just about to be met by Conor Crilly but he was upended and Saints were awarded a penalty.

Ryan Lyness stepped up and made no mistake in firing past David Reid in the Sky Blues goal.

The second half saw Saints control proceedings and should have doubled their lead on several occasions with Aidan O'Kane and Damien Kelly failing to hit the target when well placed.

Saints got the second goal they craved on 75 minutes when good link up play from Liam Cassley and Conor Crilly set up Micky McCarry who slotted past David Reid from 10 yards out.

In the dying minutes Saints should have added a few more goals with sub Conal Rogers going close but Saints had done enough to secure all three points.

BSML DIVISION THREE

Lisnafillian Swifts 3, Cloughmills Thistle 2: Galgorm was one of the very few pitches to hold up to last week's rain and Lisnafillan got off to a flyer when Sean Norris latched onto a delightful through ball from Gareth Burnside and the striker cooly lofted the ball over the onrushing Thistle keeper Gary Elder to put the Swifts one up after five minutes.

The opening half was all Lisnafillan and great midfield play from Ricky Davis released Mark Graham down the Swifts right and he cut inside his marker and fired his shot into the Thistle net to make it 2-0.

This stirred Thistle into life and they got a goal back when Mark Lowry nodded home from a Denver Campbell corner kick.

Lisnafillan's open football paid off with their third goal when a great run from Ryan O'Neill down the left created an opening for him to send in an inch perfect cross which was met by the inrushing Ryan McKinley who skipped past the Thistle keeper before he slotted home from a yard out.

Thistle make a few changes at half time and started to put the Swifts under some pressure and had chance through Philip Hanna and Gregory Patton which were squandered.

The missed chances were soon to catch up on the Swifts as a cross from Philip Hanna was met by Malcolm McDonald and he headed past Gregg Knowles to make it 3-2.

Chrissy Graham missed a golden opportunity to put the Swifts further ahead with his first touch after coming on as a sub but his 20 yard effort shaved the post. Thistle threw everything at Lisnafillan but the home team always looked dangerous on the counter and Trevor McAleese could have wrapped up the game but Gary Elder in the Thistle goal denied him on several occasions.

OTHER RESULTS

George McAuley Cup, round one: FC Inter Stars 4, FC Penarol 3.

BSML Division Three: Randalstown 0, Atletico Antrim 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday, March 6 (10.15am) - O'Kane Cup quarter-final: Seven Towers v Abbeyview (Showgrounds 4).

Rainey Cup, round one: FC Penarol v All Saints OB; Carnlough Swifts v Ballykeel; FC Inter Stars v Broadway Celtic (Waveney 1).

BSML Division One: Ahoghill Rovers v Carniny Rangers; Glenarm Rovers v FC Antrim; North End v Randalstown Sky Blues (Dunfane); Holywell v FC Moylena.

BSML Division Two: Shore Wanderers v St Comgalls; Braid United v Ahoghill Thistle (Broughshane); Blackstone Rovers v Riverdale (Wakehurst 1); Clough Rangers v Michelin; Waveney Swifts v Connor FC (Waveney 2).

Sammy Moore Trophy, first round, second leg: Cullybackey Olympic (2] v Dunloy Athletic (8].

Sammy Moore Trophy, quarter-finals, first leg: Randalstown v Cloughmills Thistle; Woodside v Wakehurst Athletic (Wakehurst 4); Westend Athletic v Atletico Antrim (Wakehurst 2).

BSML Division Three: Inver Athletic v Demesne Star; Steadfast v Lisnafillan Swifts (Galgorm).

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