Holders Taverners see off Berthas in Shield

HOLDERS The Taverners progressed to the next round of the Shield with a come from behind victory against a depleted Berthas FC, the team they beat in last year’s final.

League leaders Glebe Rangers Old Boys went through with a comfortable win away to Finn McCools while Riverside Athletic sauntered to victory at home to Coleraine Olympic.

There was also a comfortable victory for Dunaghy Old Boys while Hazelbank one a goal fest at home to The Villagers. In the League there was victory for Macosquin Village in a 12 goal thriller while Hillview put seven past Ballyrashane without reply.

Mountview put some recent bad form behind them to record a solid victory away to West Bann Athletic.

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Berthas FC 2

The Taverners 4

In a repeat of last year’s final Berthas came into this well short on numbers and their resources were further stretched when Barry Greene limped off in the warm up.

The Shield holders The Taverners had to cope with the loss of inspirational captain Adam Shields who was sitting this one out through suspension.

Berthas started the brightest putting the Taverners under alot of pressure, and got what they deserved when Willie Stewart stole in to calmly finish past a bewildered Taverners defence.

It only got worse for the Taverners 10 minutes later when Davy Caldwell rose at the back post to make it 2-0 to the home side.

This was a wake up call the Taverners needed and they started to get a hold on the game, Niall O Kane, Neal Thompson and Conrad Bradley were very effective going forward.

Captain Peter Baird controlled the midfield and managed to pull one back before half time.

In the second half the Taverners were the only team in the game and were wasteful with several chances including a missed penalty. They managed to compose themselves enough to get the equaliser they deserved through another strike from the impressive Baird. The Taverners defence was strong throughout with Brian ‘Bean’ Blair commanding as usual.

Taverner’s manger Marshall Craig changed tactics to try and put the game to bed, it seemed to work with Taverners looking like the only winner.

The breakthrough came when Terry Mullan cleanly struck a 20-yard effort that rippled the back of the net. Berthas were a man down five minutes later when David Hoey brought down Conrad Bradley to deny a goal scoring chance. Peter Baird sealed a very impressive performance and victory for the Taverners with his third goal of the game. Man of the Match: Peter Baird (The Taverners)

Finn McCools 1

Glebe Rangers Old Boys 6

A youthful Finn McCools entertained the Old Boys in this knockout Shield encounter on Saturday morning.

Manager DJ McBride freshened things up handing Wilmont and Colin McBride starting roles in place of Steele who was carrying a slight knock and Gary McCracken who was suffering from his exertions of the previous week. Finns harried Glebe from the off, never giving their opponents time on the ball, and chances were at a premium early on.

Indeed it was only from a slip in the home defence that the recalled McBride opened the scoring finishing well from just outside the box.

Ian Bellingham then increased the lead from the penalty spot after action man Lee Kyle had been impeded.

However Finn’s immediately pulled one back with Gary Conway notching with a long range effort which deceived Allen.

Immediately on half-time Glebe notched the decisive goal with McBride justifying his manager’s faith by scoring his second with an attempt which somehow found it’s way in past a number of the home defenders.

In the second half Glebe began to find more space and from a nice passing move Patterson finished from close range after Wilmont burst down the right flank.

Finns continued to battle and forced a number of corners but they were unable to add to their tally. It was then left to Steele to complete the scoring with a late brace of goals.

The first, a neat finish from a miscued DJ McBride pass, whilst the second was typical Steele, a predatory strike from inside the six yard box.

This was a hard-earned victory for the Glebe against a Finns team who have improved considerably since the start of the season. Man of the Match: Mervyn Greer (Glebe rangers Old Boys)

Riverside Athletic 8

Coleraine Olympic 1

Having gone out of this competition on penalty kicks in the previous two seasons, and coming on the back of last week’s defeat in the league to leaders Glebe Old Boys, the last thing the hosts needed was to be struggling to field a team. Injury, work commitments and illness saw them forced into six changes.

Most notable inclusion was that of Chris McCloskey, out of an 18 month retirement, in central defence, and still a legend in his own mind. Despite the changes they were off and running early on when the hard running Kernohan fired them ahead after good work by McGoldrick. Ricky Hanna soon made it two and shortly after Paul Coyles headed on from a corner kick and big Alex Workman made it three.

Then the game became the James McGoldrick show as the pacy winger / striker rattled home two before the half time interval. Olympic made three changes at the break and pushed another player up front, which only gave McGoldrick more space to exploit, and exploit it he did with another quick fire double.

Leading 7 - 0 the game was well and truly over as the hosts ran down the clock, but McGoldrick still had time to take his tally to five. With time just about up Hanna claimed a consolation for the visitors. Man of the Match: James McGoldrick (Riverside Athletic)

Brook Street 0

Dunaghy Old Boys 7

Dunaghy were right on top from the first whistle and after three missed chances they took the lead when Christie rounded the keeper to slot home.

They increased their lead moments later from the penalty spot with Paul Robinson the scorer.

The Brook Street keeper made some fine saves before Christie grabbed his second, heading home at the near post after good work from Blair and Robinson.

Christie completed his hat trick on the half hour mark with a low drive that found its way into the bottom corner of the net. Brook Street battled on and won themselves a penalty but Docherty in the Dunaghy goal made a great save to sent his team into half time, four goals to the good. Christie got his fourth of the game when he controlled Fulton’s pass, dummied the defender, cutting in on goal and beating the keeper at his far post.

After this both teams were just going through the motions until Fulton let rip from 25 yards, bursting the back of the net and giving the keeper no chance. Gary Dunlop rounded off the scoring with a fine solo effort, beating three men before finding the back of the net with a superb chipped effort. Man of the Match: Ian Christie (Dunaghy Old Boys)

Ballyrashane FC 0

Hillview FC 7

Hillview started the game strongly, but failed to capitalise on any of their chances early on.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Hutchinson was brought down in the box half way through the first half.

The resulting penalty was taken by Close who sent the keeper the wrong direction. It wasn’t long before their lead was extended. Kirgan was brought down in the box by the Ballyrashane keeper with what looked like sure fired second penalty that wasn’t given.

The ball eventually rebounded to the Hillview striker and his shot could only be turned into the roof of the net by some last gasp defending on the line. Hillview now began to apply the pressure and looked like scoring every time they went forward. They went close to extending their lead further when McClelland beat two men on the left hand side of the pitch and picked out Johnston at the back post. The midfielder seen his shot pushed wide by an excellent save by the Ballyrashane keeper. Johnston turned provider for Hillviews third goal, just before half time. His ball forward put McClelland straight through on goal and the striker coolly slotted the ball under the advancing keeper.

Ten minutes into the second half and Hillview made it 4-0. Miller beat two men down the right wing and played the ball perfectly to Kirgan whose shot fired low into the bottom left corner. Ballyrashanes best chance came shortly after when a speculative shot from 30 yards rebounded back off the crossbar.

With the game won, Hillview took the opportunity to make a few substitutions and it was two of these who were involved in the fifth goal. Sweeney combined with Hutchinson, who pulled the ball back the Frazer 20 yards out.

The striker took one touch and blasted the ball home. Ballyrashane were reduced to 10 men in the aftermath of this goal when there keeper was given a second yellow card after complaining to the referee that Hutchinson was off side in the build up to the goal. Hillview sixth goal came when a free kick on the right from Fillis found Calvin unmarked at the back post to head in. The goal scoring was complete when McDowell dazzled the Ballyrashane defence with some neat foot work and fired low into the bottom right corner. Man of the Match: Jonathan Miller (Hillview)

West Bann Athletic 0

Mountview FC 1

Both teams have had a run of bad results in recent weeks so on paper this one could have went either way. West Bann had the better of the chances in the first half although most of them were from long-range shots. The most notable incident in the first half was when Pancott's header was cleared from behind the line, but the well-placed referee judged the whole ball didn't cross the line. West Bann nearly took the lead just before half time when Holmes' shot hit the crossbar.

The second half was a fairly even contest, both teams playing well and creating half chances.

But as the game was looking as if it would finish scoreless, Mountview took the lead five minutes from time. From a Willis corner, Tosh's shot was controlled well by an onside Kerr who found himself with only the keeper to beat as the West Bann defence pushed out. Kerr placed his shot into the left of the goal beyond the reach of Tosh in the West Bann goal. Man of the Match: Davy Tosh (Mountview)

Fixtures for Saturday 6 November

Brook Street v Dunaghy Old Boys Crescent 3

Coleraine Olympic v Hillview F.C Rugby Avenue 1

F.C Macosquin v Balnamore F.C Rugby Avenue 2

Finn McCool's v Taverners F.C Bushmills

Glebe Rangers Old Boys v Somerset Riada 2

Hazelbank v Mountview F.C Rugby Avenue 3

Macosquin Village v Bertha's F.C Ballysally 2

Riverside Athletic v West Bann Athletic Fulton Park

Villagers F.C v Ballyrashane Castlerock