SML round-up: Late goals bring Thistle Junior Shield bid to end

Two late goals brought Ahoghill Thistle’s bid for Toals Junior Shield glory to an end as they lost 3-1 to Ballyvea on Saturday.
David Fusco of Firmus Energy presents the BMSL Division 1 player of the month award of Luis Marcote of Abbeyview. Looking on are Darren Burgoyne (Divison 2, Glenravel), Darin Quiqley (Division 3, Glenravel), Brian Montgomery (BMSL) and David King (BMSL). INBT11-228ACDavid Fusco of Firmus Energy presents the BMSL Division 1 player of the month award of Luis Marcote of Abbeyview. Looking on are Darren Burgoyne (Divison 2, Glenravel), Darin Quiqley (Division 3, Glenravel), Brian Montgomery (BMSL) and David King (BMSL). INBT11-228AC
David Fusco of Firmus Energy presents the BMSL Division 1 player of the month award of Luis Marcote of Abbeyview. Looking on are Darren Burgoyne (Divison 2, Glenravel), Darin Quiqley (Division 3, Glenravel), Brian Montgomery (BMSL) and David King (BMSL). INBT11-228AC

Ballyvea were in the ascendancy for most of the first half playing with a strong breeze on their backs and they used this to their advantage when they took the lead on 40 minutes.

Thistle then went close on two occasions before the break through George Courtney as he had a shot saved and then a free kick tipped over the bar as they finished the half behind.

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Ryan Sands and David Tennant both had the ball in the net for Thistle early in the second half but both were judged to be offside as Thistle looked to get back in the game.

David Fusco of Firmus Energy presents the BMSL Division 1 player of the month award of Luis Marcote of Abbeyview. Looking on are Darren Burgoyne (Divison 2, Glenravel), Darin Quiqley (Division 3, Glenravel), Brian Montgomery (BMSL) and David King (BMSL). INBT11-228ACDavid Fusco of Firmus Energy presents the BMSL Division 1 player of the month award of Luis Marcote of Abbeyview. Looking on are Darren Burgoyne (Divison 2, Glenravel), Darin Quiqley (Division 3, Glenravel), Brian Montgomery (BMSL) and David King (BMSL). INBT11-228AC
David Fusco of Firmus Energy presents the BMSL Division 1 player of the month award of Luis Marcote of Abbeyview. Looking on are Darren Burgoyne (Divison 2, Glenravel), Darin Quiqley (Division 3, Glenravel), Brian Montgomery (BMSL) and David King (BMSL). INBT11-228AC

Thistle did get themselves level with 25 minutes left on the clock when Paul McBurney crossed from the right and found David Tennant to score with a glancing header.

Just as the game looked like it was destined for extra time the visitors were awarded a penalty kick. Sean Ward did well to save the Ballyvea spot kick but the striker followed up to score the rebound.

Ballyvea hit Thistle with another goal on the break as they sealed their passage into the last four of the Junior Shield.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Ahoghill Thistle players Alan Moore and Gary Tennant, and Ahoghill Rovers players Chris Duff and Derek Livingstone, are pictured receiving defibrillators from Gareth and David Lowry, on behalf of the Stephen Lowry Memorial Trust.  INBT11-289ACAhoghill Thistle players Alan Moore and Gary Tennant, and Ahoghill Rovers players Chris Duff and Derek Livingstone, are pictured receiving defibrillators from Gareth and David Lowry, on behalf of the Stephen Lowry Memorial Trust.  INBT11-289AC
Ahoghill Thistle players Alan Moore and Gary Tennant, and Ahoghill Rovers players Chris Duff and Derek Livingstone, are pictured receiving defibrillators from Gareth and David Lowry, on behalf of the Stephen Lowry Memorial Trust. INBT11-289AC
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Raceview 2, Clough Rangers 1: Raceview again proved they are a match for any team in Division One with this hard fought victory over Top Four chasing Clough.

Clough came out of the blocks quickest taking the lead on four minutes. Ricky Dunlop launched a long throw into the Raceview box and it was flicked on by David Gage for Jordan Leighton to score at the back post.

Ricky Dunlop then had a shot saved by Dean Adams in the Raceview goal before David Gage somehow failed to score with the goal at his mercy after a Colin Byers free kick came back off the bar.

Raceview worked their way into the game and came close to drawing level late on in the half when David Calderwood fired a shot off the post and the rebound fell to Craig Larkin whose shot came back off the crossbar and the danger was cleared.

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Four minutes in to the second half Raceview drew level. Colin Craig laid the ball in to David Calderwood who flicked the ball into the path of Jamie Craig who thundered a 25 yard strike into the top corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Clough then almost got back in front but Colin Byers free kick again hit the crossbar.

With eight minutes to go Raceview got the winner when the evergreen Ian Millar unselfishly slipped in Reece Kernohan to slot the ball home and make it 2-1.

Connor 0, All Saints OB 1: Saints got back on track after back to back league defeats with this hard fought victory over Connor who couldn’t break down a resolute Saints side.

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The visitors took the game to Connor early on and Gavin Burnside crashed an effort off the post as Saints went in search of the opener.

Saints eventually got the breakthrough their play deserved halfway through the half when Ryan Wilkinson fizzed in a free kick at the near post and it was helped into the net by the head of Gavin Burnside.

Ten minutes later Saints cause was dealt a major blow when they had a man ordered off after an off the ball incident.

Saints could have got the next goal when Philip Lynn again spurned a great chance when well placed and then in the dying seconds of the half Gavin Burnside broke clear but Connor did well to get back and clear the danger as the half finished with Saints leading 1-0.

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Connor were playing with a strong breeze at their backs in the second half and they used it to their advantage but again struggled to threaten Brian Martin in the Saints goal.

As the game wore on Connor pushed harder to get back into the game and Mervyn Crawford forced a brilliant one handed save from Martin with 10 minutes to go.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION TWO

Seven Towers 4, Glenravel 2: Towers are the form team in Division Two and they moved up to second in the table with this victory over fellow promotion chasers Glenravel.

It took Towers only 25 seconds to open the scoring when Mark Graham hit a speculative shot from the halfway line which bounced over the Glenravel keeper and found its way into the net.

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Despite this great start Towers were on the back foot for most of the first half and their keeper Mark Wilson had to make a great save from Brian Paul Donnelly to keep them one goal ahead.

On the half hour mark Towers doubled their lead against the run of play when Colin Corry drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net after good work from Gary McIlroy to give his side a two goal cushion at the break.

Towers started the second half full of confidence and made it 3-0 soon after the restart when good work down the right from Timmy McKillen released Gary McIlroy who crossed for Colin Corry to sweep the ball home from close range.

Glenravel were then reduced to 10 men but this didn’t stop them getting a goal back with 20 minutes to go when Darren Burgoyne scored from close range after good wing play from Conan Dunne.

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This gave Glenravel hope but their cause was dealt a major blow when they had another man given his marching orders for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Towers capitalised on this and made it 4-1 when Timmy McKillen and Ryan Brady combined to set up Gary McIlroy to slot the ball home.

With five minutes left, Glenravel got a goal back when Cormac Gordon scored from close range after a good corner from Sean McCann, but it was no more than a consolation goal.

OTHER RESULTS

Rainey Cup, round two: Harryville Homers 1, FC Antrim 0; Waveney Swifts 1, Riverdale 3.

firmus energy Division Two: Carnlough Swifts 4, Ahoghill Rovers 4; Cloughmills 3, Braid United 1; Holywell 3 Newpark Olympic 5.

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firmus energy Division Three: Templepatrick 5, Cushendall 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday, March 14 (10.15am) - Rainey Cup, round two: Newpark Olympic v Clough Rangers; FC Penarol v Seven Towers (Showgrounds 5); Cushendall v Atletico Antrim.

firmus energy Division One: Abbeyview v Raceview (Forum); Ballykeel v Connor (Ballykeel); FC Moylena v Ahoghill Thistle (Forum); Harryville Homers v Michelin (Wakehurst 2).

firmus energy Division Two: Ahoghill Rovers v Glenravel (Ahoghill); Braid United v Lisnafillan Swifts (Broughshane); Carnlough Swifts v Riverdale; Cloughmills v Holywell; Galgorm Blues v Cullybackey Olympics (Galgorm); Waveney Swifts v St Comgalls (Waveney 2).

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CGRSC Sammy Moore Cup semi-final, second leg: Wakehurst Star [5] v Templepatrick [7] (Dunfane 1)

CGRSC Sammy Moore Cup Semi Final, first leg: Rectory Rovers v Randalstown (Waveney 1).

firmus energy Division Three: Woodside v Sporting Ballymoney (Wakehurst 6).