SML duo remain in hunt for Junior Cup glory

Goalkeeper Alex McCosh proved the hero for Carniny Rangers as Ballymena Saturday Morning League sides maintained a double-edged presence in this season’s Coca-Cola IFA Junior Cup.
Deborah Boyd of Fun Factory presents Raceview FC players Ian Millar and Stefan Calderwood with sponsored team track suits. INBT 47-950HDeborah Boyd of Fun Factory presents Raceview FC players Ian Millar and Stefan Calderwood with sponsored team track suits. INBT 47-950H
Deborah Boyd of Fun Factory presents Raceview FC players Ian Millar and Stefan Calderwood with sponsored team track suits. INBT 47-950H

McCosh saved the decisive penalty as Carniny squeezed past Coleraine Crusaders in a shootout after the sides had drawn 2-2.

The other remaining BSML representatives, Harryville Homers, had a much easier time, beating Maghera Strollers 6-2, although they did trail 2-1 at the interval.

IRISH JUNIOR CUP

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Carniny Rangers 2, Coleraine Crusaders 2 (Carniny won 4-3 on pens): The Coleraine side opened the scoring on the half hour mark when the hard working Johnny Gaile made good ground down the left and his cross was steered past McCosh via a deflection. Substitute striker Richard Reid eventually took the game to extra time with his goal deep into time added on.

In the second half of extra time, the game lit up once more as Jonny Spence, operating at full back won the ball at the halfway line and his pace took him the length of the field to cross for Richard Reid to have two efforts blocked before Darren Kidd forced the ball over the line to give Carniny the lead.

With five minutes to play Crusaders came back once more and after Alex McCosh made a fine save from a well struck volley Bryan Tosh was first to react and his shot through a group of players evened things up once more.

Both sides had scored three penalties from four as Jason Robinson stepped up to despatch Carniny’s final penalty to put them in the lead. The stage was then set for Alex McCosh to make a magnificent save to send his team into the last 32 of the Junior Cup.

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Maghera Strollers 2, Harryville Homers 6: The Harryville side got off to a dream start when Mark McKay’s deep, searching cross was headed back across goal by Alan Rainey for captain Gary Bonnes to volley his side into a second minute lead. The Homers were made to pay for missed chances as the home side equalised against the run of play with a well taken goal midway through the half.

Maghera then took the lead just before half time with a close range headed goal from a left sided corner kick.

After harsh words from manager Robert Duddy at the interval, Homers responded early in the second period as Darren Campbell back heeled the loose ball back across the goal to Jasin Magill who hit the bar from close range but he still managed to bundle the resultant rebound over the line to draw his side level.

The visitors regained the lead five minutes later as David Gibson raced onto a through ball. The defender just got to the ball ahead of the advancing keeper who could only manage to deflect the ball to Darren Campbell who watched his shot go in over the keepers prostrate body.

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Maghera then had their first goalscorer sent off for dissent and Darren Campbell scored his second shortly after, chipping the ball into the unguarded net from 20 yards.

Homers took full advantage of the extra man as Gary Bonnes added the fifth with a close range header.

Bonnes completed his hat trick with a trademark back post header to finish off the Strollers who were by now down to nine men having had another man red carded.

BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION ONE

Randalstown Sky Blues 0, Ahoghill Thistle 1: While title rivals Carniny and Harryville Homers were on cup duty, Ahoghill Thistle took full advantage with their 11th straight league win.

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The decisive goal came in the first half when Thistle keeper Stewart McDonald sent a long kick out down field, Matt Boyd flicked it on for David Tennant to race through and slot the ball pass the Blues keeper.

In the last ten minutes Sky Blues threw everything at Thistle but the visitors held on to extend their lead at the top of Division One.

Abbeyview 1, All Saints OB 1: The game burst into life eight minutes into the second half when Saints were awarded a penalty kick after Ciaran Lemon was brought down by Abbeyview keeper Dee Thompson. Gavin Burnside stepped up, but fired his kick over the bar.

The breakthrough eventually did come 18 minutes from time when Gavin Burnside drilled the ball across the box and the ball was missed by both Ciaran Lemon and the View keeper but fell to Brian Watt unmarked at the back post and he slotted into the empty net.

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This looked like being enough to seal all three points for Saints until seven minutes from time when Davy McWilliams broke clear on the right and he fired a ball across the box for Stefan Getty who beat his man to the ball to earn his side a point.

BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION TWO

Seven Towers 0, Connor FC 1: Connor should have taken the lead early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty but Jason Trainor watched in amazement as Towers keeper Mark Graham pulled off a great save from his spot kick.

The deadlock was finally brown on 65 minutes when a cross by David McWhirter was flicked on to Darren Trainor who fired home the only goal.

OTHER RESULTS

Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Abbeyview 1, All Saints OB 1; Ahoghill Rovers 0, FC Moylena 3; Ballykeel 0, Shore Wanderers 1; FC Penarol 0, Clough Rangers 1; Michelin 2, Carnlough Swifts 3.

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Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: FC Antrim 4, Cloughmills 5; Holywell 2, Randalstown 1; Raceview 4, Waveney Swifts 0; St Comgalls 6, Braid United 2.

Sammy Moore Cup, first round, second leg: Steadfast 4, Woodside 3 (Steadfast win 7-6 on aggregate); Atletico Antrim 2, Galgorm Blues 2 (Galgorm Blues win 5-4 on aggregate); Templepatrick 5, Cullybackey Olympic 2 (Cullybackey win 7-5 on aggregate).

Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Glenravel 0, Newpark Olympic 1; Wakehurst Star 0, Lisnafillan Swifts 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 23 - Co. Antrim Junior Shield round three (1.30pm): Ballynahinch Oly II v Connor; All Saints OB v Ahoghill Thistle (Showgrounds 5); Clough Rangers v St Lukes (Clough); FC Moylena v Ballynafeigh YM (Forum); FC Penarol v Suffolk (Showgrounds 4); North End Shamrocks v Greenisland (Dunfane 1); Basement YM v Carniny Rangers.

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Ballymena Mortgages Division One (10.15am): Ballykeel v Michelin; Carnlough Swifts v Ahoghill Rovers; Harryville Homers v Abbeyview (Wakehurst 2); Randalstown Sky Blues v Shore Wanderers.

Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Braid United v Randalstown (Broughshane); Cloughmills v Cushendall; FC Antrim v Raceview (Forum); St Comgalls v Seven Towers; Waveney Swifts v Riverdale (Waveney 2).

Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Cullybackey Olympic v Lisnafillan Swifts (Tober Park); Atletico Antrim v Galgorm Blues (Forum); Newpark Olympic v Wakehurst Star (Forum); Templepatrick v FC Bayern Money (Forum); Woodside v Glenravel (Wakehurst 3).

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