Weekend review: No stainless Steel Saturday for Amateur league clubs

Knockbreda's Dylan Wilson and Larne Tech OB's Gary Workman. INLT 38-909-CON Photo: Presseye

Championship 1 class told for Larne Tech beaten 4-0 at Knockbreda. Old Boys coach Niall Curneen suggested: “We had a game plan – which went out the window after conceding two poor goals in the opening 20 minutes. We could have made a fist of it had we taken one of the two good chances at 3-0 but Scott McNally and Reece McGinley both pulled the trigger when there were better options in the middle. They nicked a fourth and it could have been more but for a couple of top saves from Keith Wilson.”

Meanwhile, Barn United also had a game plan in their 3-1 away defeat to Ards. Manager Jim Pherson explained: “We were trying to stay in the match as long as possible and it was working until Ards’ controversial opener on half time. We thought it was a foul on Dean Haggan for in today’s football, you can’t touch the keeper!

“On the day, Ards’ superior fitness told, especially after the hour. But we were the team who tried to get the ball down and Andy Kane had a great chance at 0-0. At least we came away with some respectability and we enjoyed our day out!”

Ben Browne notched a double and James Sofley landed the other before Barn sub Alan McCune grabbed a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time.

UUJ were no match for the Welders, losing 7-1 at the Factory Grounds while at Millbrook, Wellington lost 5-0 to Larne. Rec boss Stephen Donald admitted: “Larne were just too sharp for us. They had too much quality. We expected that, but it was a good day for the club.”

At Solitude, Nortel held Cliftonville Olympic until the 70th minute, before going down 4-0, while a last-gasp Kilmore Rec winner ended Rathfern’s hopes as they went down 2-1 at Robert Adams Park. Substitute Willie Holland got the Rangers goal.

In the Amateur League’s Premier Division Islandmagee were hammered 7-0 by Crumlin United. In 1C, Newington Rangers won 2-1 at Iveagh United and four goals from Lee Graham helped Mossley to a 5-3 win at Dunmurry YM. Kyle Harper was their other marksman.

In Division 2B Greenisland won 4-0 at Civil Service. Whitehead Eagles beat Donaghadee 5-0 in 2C, while 4th Newtownabbey and Grange played out a 3-3 draw.