SML round-up: Connor continue promising start with Junior Shield win

In the same competition, Carniny Rangers’ progress to the next round was much more straight-forward as they plundered SIXTEEN goals against outclassed Belvoir II, while Ahoghill Thistle also hit double figures in their tie against Ballywalter Rec II.

CO ANTRIM JUNIOR SHIELD

Clonduff 3, Connor FC 4: Connor struck the opener on 20 minutes when long throw in from Jason Trainor was headed in off the post by Glen Ross to give the visitors the lead but Clonduff hit back with an equaliser 10 minutes before the break.

Within 10 minutes of the second half, Connor had regained their lead. Darren McKelvey was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and Jason Trainor fired the resulting free kick into the top corner.

Eight minutes later the home side drew level once again when a long ball wasn’t dealt with by the Connor defence.

Connor took the lead for the third time when during a goal mouth scramble the ball struck a Clonduff hand and a penalty was awarded. Jason Trainor stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

This lead lasted only three minutes before Clonduff drew level once again, but with seven minutes to go Connor took the lead once again. Mervyn Crawford made a good run into the heart of the home defence before slipping in Ross Wilson who slotted the ball past the keeper.

FC Penarol 2, Stranmillis 37 A 0: This was a much needed and well deserved win for Penarol after a poor start to the season

Penarol broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when Johnny Clarke was upended in the box and Darren Cummings struck home the resultant penalty.

With ten minutes to go Jonny Clarke went through on the right and drove the ball low and hard to the keeper`s right to seal the match.

BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION ONE

Randalstown Sky Blues 2 All Saints OB 2: Saints came from two goals down to claim a point away to Sky Blues and keep up their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Sky Blues took the lead when keeper Leon Bonnes launched the ball upfield and it was flicked on for Henry Nutter to race on to and fire home.

Three minutes later Sky Blues doubled their lead when a drilled cross come shot from Henry Nutter beat Brian Martin and found Paul McIntyre unmarked at the back post to head home into the empty net.

On 55 minutes Saints got a goal back when keeper Martin played a long ball upfield for Gavin Burnside who cut inside his man and fired a shot at goal which was palmed out by Leon Bonnes back to Burnside whose second shot was blocked but fell to Peter McReynolds to fire into the roof of the net.

Ten minutes from time Gavin Burnside broke clear in the inside right channel before being pulled down in the box. Sky Blues’ protests led to them being reduced to ten men, but the delay did not thwart Burnside as he stepped up and fired home from the spot to draw his side level.

Harryville Homers 8, FC Moylena 1: Paul McNeill opened the scoring with an instinctive strike from just inside the box, shooting hard and low across the keeper.

The second followed courtesy of a Darren Campbell near post header, closely followed by a Jason Logan thunderbolt.

Moylena got on the score sheet when Jeff McNicholl shot from just outside the box swerved and dipped to beat Ryan Martin in Homers goal. Darren Campbell grabbed his brace just before halftime as the midfielder raced onto a through ball to calmly slot past the keeper.

The evergreen Keith Wylie used his strength to out muscle his opponent before producing a slide rule pass putting Alan Rainey in the clear to shoot low past the advancing keeper.

McNeill scored his second with a shot through a crowd of players and he then completed his hat-trick after rounding the keeper. Veteran Jason Stevenson completed the scoring, rifling the ball high into the net.

BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION TWO

Seven Towers 4, FC Antrim 1: Antrim took the lead on four minutes when Joe McKernan converted from the penalty spot.

Towers levelled on 35 minutes when Paul Herbinson crossed for the unmarked John Kitson to fire home.

Towers’ dominance paid on the hour mark when a cross from Alan Telford was headed in by Leslie McCaughern. Towers made it 3-1 when a shot from Telford cannoned back off the post for Matt McAnally to tap home.

Ten minutes from time Towers sealed the victory when Gary Taggart outpaced the visiting defence to score.

OTHER RESULTS

Co Antrim Junior Shield 1st Round: Carniny Rangers 16, Belvoir III 0; Saintfield United II 1, Clough Rangers 2; Abbeyview 4, Malachians II 5; Holywell 2, Albert Foundry II 4; Steadfast 1, Dundonald II 8; Waveney Swifts 2, Newington Rangers II 3; Ahoghill Thistle 10, Ballywalter Rec II 1; Ballynafeigh YM 3, Cloughmills 2; Michelin 4, Comber YM 4 (Michelin won 3-0 on pens).

Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Ballykeel 2, Ahoghill Rovers 2; Carnlough Swifts 4, Shore Wanderers 3.

Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Braid United 7, St Comgalls 2; Cushendall FC 0, Riverdale 4; North End Shamrocks 1, Raceview 3.

Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Atletico Antrim 3, Templepatrick 1; Cullybackey Olympic 6, FC Bayern Money 2; Woodside 7, Wakehurst Star 2; Newpark Olympic 2, Glenravel 2.

FIXTURES

Saturday 5th October - Co Antrim Junior Shield 1st Round (1.30pm): Ballyvea v Raceview; Ballynure OB B v St Comgalls; FC Bayern Money v Shore Wanderers; North End Shamrocks v Moat Park Rangers (Dunfane 1); St Oliver Plunkett v Braid United; ll Saints OB v Chimney Corner Res (Showgrounds 5); Greencastle Rovers v Randalstown Sky Blues; Belfast City v Newpark Olympic; Remo v FC Antrim; 18th Newtownabbey OB II v Ballykeel; Atletico Antrim v Ardoyne WMC (Forum); Woodvale II v Cullybackey Olympic; Sirocco Works II v FC Moylena; Galgorm Blues v Willowbank (Galgorm); Templepatrick v 22nd OBA (Forum).

County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup 3rd Round (10.15am): Michelin v Harryville Homers.

Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Abbeyview v Carnlough Swifts (Forum); Carniny Rangers v Clough Rangers (Wakehurst 1); Ahoghill Rovers v FC Penarol.

Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Cushendall v Seven Towers; Holywell v Connor FC (Forum); Randalstown v Cloughmills; Riverdale v Waveney Swifts (Wakehurst 2).

Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Glenravel v Steadfast (Waveney 2); Lisnafillan Swifts v Wakehurst Star (Showgrounds 4).