Harryville Homers reach third final in a row and knock out the holders

Homers made it into their third consecutive Top Four Final with this convincing victory over holders Saints.
On a charge in to the Randasltown half were Carniny Rangers FC during the Top4 play-off. INBT 37-904HOn a charge in to the Randasltown half were Carniny Rangers FC during the Top4 play-off. INBT 37-904H
On a charge in to the Randasltown half were Carniny Rangers FC during the Top4 play-off. INBT 37-904H

It took Homers only eight minutes to open the scoring when Darren Campbel was fouled just inside the box and a penalty was awarded. Darren Campbell dusted himself down and fired the spot kick past Brian Martin in the Saints goals.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when a Tyler Norwood free kick was met by Gary Bonnes who found the net with a looping header. Saints were given a golden opportuniy to get back into the game on 20 minutes when Liam Cassley was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded.

Gavin Burnside stepped up and fired the spot kick low into the cornerbut Ryan Martin was equal to it and tipped the effort round the post. This kicked Homers on and they made it 3-0 on the half hour mark when a cross from Alan Rainey caused havoc and the Saints defence and Gary Bonnes was on hand to poke the ball home.

Homers capped a superb half as they made it 4-0 right on half time when Darren Campbell played a through ball for Tyler Norwood to race onto and slot past Brian Martin in the Saints goal. Saints showed some character in the second half with efforts from Gavin Burnside and Liam Cassley forcing Ryan Martin into a save, but Homers started to take control again and created a few chances with Jason Magill going close before they made it 5-0 on the hour mark. Alan Rainey raced down the right and swung over a cross which was headed into his own net by a Saints defender. Saints had keeper Brian Martin to thank for keeping the score down after this as he made two saves from substitute Paul McNeill as Homers ran out easy 5-0 winners.

Carniny Rangers 4 Randalstown Sky Blues 2: Heavy rain greeted the two sides this morning for this Top Four semi final which saw Carniny ease through to reach the first final of the season. Johnny Spence opened the scoring in the first five minutes as he netted following Mo McDowell’s free kick. Carniny should have increased their lead before half time but wastefulness in front of goal and some fine saves from Leon Bonnes kept them at bay. Johnny Spence doubled the lead early in the second half with Mo McDowell the provider again. The Sky Blues responded instantly and Jordan Craig scored after an initial effort was blocked. The Sky Blues back line was still under pressure and while Scott Bruce marshalled his troops well Carniny thought they had ended the game as a contest in the 75th minute after goals from Ryan Bamber and Ryan Logan, both from Mo McDowell corners.

However the Sky Blues had other ideas and when some slackness appeared in the Carniny defence Ian Murray punished them with a second goal for his team. A deflected shot on to the woodwork was all the Sky Blues mustered before the referee ended the game with Carniny comfortable winners.

Shamrocks 1 Connor 3: This top of the table clash saw Connor keep up their 100% start to Division Two thanks mainly to a blistering 30 minute spell in the first half.

Connor controlled the game from the start and they opened the scoring on 15 minutes when David McWhirter played in Mervyn Crawford who raced clear before rounding the Shamrocks keeper to give his side the lead.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 when Mervyn Crawford again was sent clean through this time by Geoff Kernohan and he fired home from 18 yards out. Connor were in total control now and on 36 minutes they made it 3-0 when they were awarded a penalty kick. Mervyn Crawford who was a constant threat for Connor was fouled and Jason Trainor stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty kick.

Five minutes before the break Shamrocks got a goal back when Barry McGonigal bundled the ball home from close range after a long throw from Anthony Lee. The home side came out in the second half all guns blazing and they forced Bobby Mitchell in the Connor goal into a couple of saves as he saved from Chris Brady and Coin McCrory.

Connor weathered this early onslaught from Shamrocks thanks mainly to some good defending by Jason Trainor and after this they controlled the game without adding to their score, but had done enough to win the game and keep up their 100% start.

Division Three

Glenravel 4 Galgorm Blues 0: Glenravel maintained their unbeaten start to the season with this victory over Galgorm Blues.

The home side were awarded a penalty kick after 10 minutes when Aidan McCafferty was fouled in the box. Dean Dunlop stepped up and made no mistake with the spot kick. The game flowed from end to end but it was Glenravel creating the better chances as they limited Galgorm to long range efforts.

Glenravel made it 2-0 on 25 minutes when a neat move between Kieran McKeown and Aidan Cafferty resulted in the latter crossing from the right for Dean Dunlop to head home at the back post. The half ended in a midfield battle as Glenravel went in with a two goal lead at the break. The second half started as the first end with both teams scrapping for supremacy and it was Glenravel who won this battle and added a third goal on 58 minutes when a cross from Aidan McCafferty was diverted into his own net by a Galgorm defender.

Twelve minutes later Glenravel made it 4-0 when Chris O’Hagan slotted home after being played in by Joel Scullion.

Galgorm tried to get a consolation goal late on but Glenravel defended well with Caolan McCambridge and Ryan McGlade immense as Glenravel ran out 4-0 winners.

FIXTURES

Coca Cola Cup 1st Round 1.30pm KO: FC Moylena v Red Star (Forum); Enniskillen Town United v Clough Rangers; Riverdale (Benburb) v FC Antrim; Raceview v BBOB (Londonderry); Limavady Rugby Club v Connor. County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup 3rd Round 10.15 KO; Glenravel v Carnlough Swifts (Waveney 2); Holywell v Shore Wanderers (Forum); Randalstown Sky Blues v Cullybackey Olympic; All Saints OBs v Templepatrick (Showgrounds 5); Wakehurst Star v Steadfast (Showgrounds 4) Division One: Carniny Rangers v Ballykeel (Wakehurst 1); Abbeyview v FC Penarol (Forum); Ahoghill Thistle v Ahoghill Rovers (Ahoghill). Division Two: Cushendall v Cloughmills; Riverdale v Braid United (Wakehurst 2) St Comgalls v Randalstown; North End Shamrocks v Waveney Swifts (Dunfane 1). Division Three: FC Bayern Money v Galgorm Blues; Newpark Olympic v Atletico Antrim (Forum) Woodside v Lisnafillan Swifts (Wakehurst).

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