SML round-up: Thistle maintain perfect league record

Stewart McDonald’s side notched their 14th win from 14 league outings with a comfortable success over Raceview.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Ahoghill Thistle 3, Raceview 0: The visitors started well in this game as they created several good chances early on with Mark Watson blazing over before Colin Craig and David Cameron had efforts saved by Stephen Watson in the Thistle goal.

After this early Raceview pressure Thistle started to take control and the opening goal came on 22 minutes when Ryan Sands slid in Matt Boyd and he smashed the ball past Andrew French at his near post to give his side the lead.

Five minutes later Thistle doubled their lead when Alan Moore played the ball down the right for Ryan Sands who held the ball up before laying back to Alan Moore, whose scuffed shot fell at the feet of Jason Stewart in the box and he controlled and fired home to send his side in with a two goal cushion at the break.

Thistle killed the game off as a contest on 65 minutes when they scored their third goal.

David Drummond played the ball into Matt Boyd who brilliantly held the ball up before setting Alan Moore free on the right and his cross was met magnificently by Matt Boyd whose header looped over Andrew French and into the net.

RAINEY CUP

Carniny Rangers 8, Waveney Swifts 0: Carniny breezed into the last 16 of the Rainey Cup with this comprehensive win over second division Waveney.

Manager Robert Young exercised the full depth of his squad giving first starts to keeper Macauley Cairns and midfielder Lee McCallion.

Swifts set out to frustrate their hosts playing with a high defensive line but after a few offside decisions Carniny broke through on 15 minutes with Dean Magill beating the last defender to slip the ball past Richard Fulton from 12 yards.

A second goal came on 27 minutes when Craig McCaughern’s teasing near post corner found the net via the head of a Waveney defender.

On 33 minutes Dean Magill, impressing as a front man, scored from 8 yards as Waveney failed to clear a corner. Right on half time Darren Kidd added a fourth after coming close to scoring on a couple of earlier occasions.

Darren Kidd scored again on 53 minutes after Dean Magill unselfishly left him with an open goal having drawn Richard Fulton from his goal and squared the ball to his striking partner.

Young striker Robbie Perkins was having a frustrating morning against experienced defender Gareth Gordon but his perseverance was rewarded on 74 minutes when he netted from close range with Dean Magill again the provider.

Craig McCaughern was proving a continual threat down Carniny’s left side in the second half and from one of his crosses Darren Kidd completed his hat trick.

Frazer Young came off the bench in the closing stages to add to Carniny’s attacking threat and it was from his pass that Robbie Perkins added an eighth goal on 88 minutes to complete a victory that saw his side through to a last 16 clash with Abbeyview.

Wakehurst Star 4, Sporting Ballymoney 3: Division Three Star took the lead after 13 minutes after an unfortunate defender headed into his own net.

Just before half time Sporting equalised as the Star keeper struggled to deal with a high ball in the box and Andy Davis put away the loose ball.

Ten minutes into the second half John McConaghy evaded his marker to head in from inside the box to give Sporting the lead.

But it wasn’t long before Star were back on level terms. Darren McNeilly crossed in from the right for Liam Quigley to stab home.

Darren McNeilly added one himself to make it 3-2 and Troy Ramsey gave Star a two goal cushion. Shane Crutchley added a consolation at the final whistle but it is Wakehurst Star in the hat for the next round.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION TWO

Cloughmills 1, Michelin 4: Michelin kept themselves in the hunt for the Division Two title with this victory over Cloughmills, thanks mainly to a hat trick from Paul O’Neill.

The breakthrough goal came eight minutes before the break when Paul O’Neill brilliantly curled home a free kick from 25 yards out.

Michelin started the second half on the front foot and they doubled their lead soon after the restart. Thomas McCullough picked the ball up on the left and he slid a brilliant through ball into the path of Paul O’Neill to fire home his second goal of the game.

Cloughmills got a goal back just before the hour mark when a great cross field ball from Mark McFall found Austin Graham unmarked to cut the deficit to just one.

Michelin regained their two goal cushion with 20 minutes to go when a great run from Colin Corry resulted on him crossing for Derek Montgomery to poke the ball home.

O’Neill rounded off the scoring and completed his hat trick when he chipped Peter Gillespie in the Cloughmills goal after great set up play from Derek Montgomery and Joey Patton.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION THREE

Braid United 2, St Comgalls 1: Braid inflicted the first defeat on Champions elect St Comgalls with this hard fought victory, which gives them a good chance of sealing a playoff place.

The opening goal came on 67 minutes when Roy Davidson fed Kyle Jackson who had his shot parried by the keeper, Darren Rodgers reacted quickest scoring the rebound from close range.

Braid kept up the pressure and when a corner was only partially cleared to Andy Clail who sent over a great cross which was headed in superbly by sub Craig Young scoring on his debut before St Comgalls pulled a goal back through Brian Quinn with five minutes to go.

CGRSC SAMMY MOORE CUP

Carniny Amateurs 4, Steadfast 0: Carniny opened the scoring on 17 mins from open play when Tyler McAuley sent overlapping full back Matthew O’Flaherty down the right flank, who whipped in a cross with Adam Heron on hand at the back post to net for the home side.

In the second half, Carniny were awarded a free kick 25 yards out that Ricky Hanna drove hard and low past the keeper.

Eight minutes later Heron was on the scoresheet again with his second and Carniny’s third scoring from inside the box.

Jake Armstrong completed the scoring on 81 minutes after collecting the ball outside the box after a corner, driving hard and low past the keeper’s right in to the bottom corner.

OTHER RESULTS

firmus energy BSML Division One: Clough Rangers 1, Abbeyview 1; Glenravel 0, Harryville Homers 11; Riverdale 2 FC Moylena 3.

firmus energy BSML Division Two: Carnlough Swifts 1, Ahoghill Rovers 1; FC Penarol 5, Randalstown 2; Galgorm Blues 0, Holywell 8.

firmus energy BSML Division Three: Atletico Antrim 2 Northend & District 1; Ruby’s Rovers 2, Southside Rangers 5.