Lucky thirteen for rampant Glebe

GLEBE Rangers Old Boys, Berthas FC and Riverside Athletic are the only three teams remaining with a 100% record after Saturday’s round of fixtures.

Glebe sauntered to victory over a depleted Coleraine Olympic while Berthas took the points in a keenly contested fixture against West Bann Athletic.

Riverside kept up their good start to the season with a decent victory over Finn McCools.

Elsewhere, Hillview kept up their unbeaten record by defeating Mountview by the odd goal in three as Macosquin Village bounced back from last week’s defeat to hammer Brook Street.

Dunaghy Old Boys won a real hum dinger against Balnamore while The Taverners comfortably saw off the challenge of Ballyrashane FC. In the remaining games, Hazelbank FC beat The Villagers while Somerset and FC Macosquin battled to a 3-3 draw.

As always, keep up to date with all the latest Hutchinson Tiles Winter league news @ www.htwl.leaguerepublic.com

Glebe Rangers Old Boys 13 Coleraine Olympic 2

In what turned out to be a high-scoring affair at the Joey Dunlop Centre, Coleraine Olympic were at a disadvantage from the kick-off as they had only 10 men in their starting line-up.

Glebe welcomed back Bellingham, Greer and Colin McBride and all three got on the score sheet as the Old Boys boosted their goal difference by notching up an impressive 13 goals.

Glebe went on the offensive straight from kick-off and should have been ahead before Olympic took the lead with a neat finish from Sweeney after a mix-up in the home defence.

However Glebe were soon level when Bellingham, taking on penalty duties in the absence of Sticky Steele, found the net despite a brave attempt by the Olympic keeper.

An own goal put Glebe ahead but Olympic fought back and shocked the home team when Clifton equalised from a corner. Again questions will be asked of the Glebe defence which failed to deal adequately with the cross.

However this was the signal for Glebe to step up the tempo and in a devastating spell prior to half-time McBride notched a brace and further goals from Wilmont and Bellingham saw the teams turn round with Glebe 6-2 ahead.

The one-way traffic continued towards Olympics goal in the second half. Chris Holmes found his shooting boots with an impressive display of finishing seeing him score five goals.

Ian Bellingham completed the first hat trick of a long career when he swept home from a Wilmont free kick and Mervyn Greer who finished calmly after being set up by Patterson completed the scoring.

Manager Davy-John McBride was a happy man after the game and was quick to pay tribute to his team for their display. He also praised the efforts of understrength Coleraine Olympic who continued to battle right to the end despite the obvious disadvantage of playing 90 minutes with 10 men. Man of the Match: Billy McCurdy (Glebe Rangers OB)

West Bann Athletic 1 Berthas FC 3

On paper this was going to be a tough one for both sides and that is how it turned out. Berthas took the lead after only five minutes of play when Watton’s galloping run led to him exchanging passes with Cochrane before he centered for Davy Caldwell who smashed home from four yards.

It didn’t take long for West Bann to get on level terms when Biggart plucked McIllreavy’s pass out of the air before side stepping his man and shooting across McCrory and into the net. West Bann nearly got a second but McCrory was equal to Biggarts low effort. Berthas could have taken the lead soon after but Graham shot wide after a quick break away.

Just before half time the away side did edge themselves in front when McGarvey beat three men in the midfield before finding Ridgell on the by line whose cross-found Caldwell and the big man controlled before curling the ball high beyond the reach of Tosh for his fourth in two games.

The first half was a tight affair but Berthas were the better in the second half and only just failed to get their noses further in front with Graham, Cochrane and Ridgell unable to find the target.

However they did get their third in slightly controversial circumstances when Caldwell received MacAulay’s long pass.

With the home team claiming the ball had just nipped out, Caldwell’s cross hit the post before rebounding for Ridgell to score past a static West Bann defence.

The home teams protests fell on deaf ears and the goal stood.

This rattled West Bann and they nearly fell further behind but Graham’s low shot went inches past the post. West Bann rallied towards the end with Biggart firing a free kick over the bar while Shirlow powered a header just over aswell. Berthas however held out for a good three points against a more than capable West Bann outfit. Man of the Match: Darren McGarvey (Berthas FC)

The Villagers 0 Hazelbank FC 3

Colin McClarty opened the scoring on 15 minutes, heading in from the tightest of angles at the back post from Sheppard’s cross.

On the half hour he doubled the lead, converting a penalty after Dave McClean had been brought down in the box. Nigel Sheppard should have stretched the lead to three, but his free header went well wide so it went in 2-0 at the break to the visitors.

Nigel got a chance to make up for the header, Colin McClarty the provider, laying off for Nigel, running onto it and lashing in from 18 yards. Hazelbank saw out the remainder of the game, as The Villagers just couldn’t find any form. Man of the Match: Mark Crawford (Hazelbank)

Mountview FC 1 Hillview FC 2

Hillview dominated large parts of the first half in this game and took the lead midway through with Timmy Close the scorer.

Hillview got their second right at the end of the half when Nathan Black converted.

Mountview kicked up a gear in the second half but should have fell further behind when David McClelland blasted over the bar when it should have been easier to score. Mountview pulled one back when Jonny McMullen found the back of the net. Mountview searched for the equaliser but Hillview held out. Man of the Match: Timmy Close (Hillview)

Riverside Athletic 3 Finn McCools 0

Good goalkeeping from both custodians ensured that that the score line remained blank for the first twenty minutes, as McLean, standing in for Mackey in the home goal, and Boyce in the visitors pulled off more than a few decent saves.

The home team broke the deadlock in emphatic style with a quick double on 23 and 24 minutes.

First Ricky Hanna, who has converted well from fullback to striker, netted his fourth goal of the season, and Connelly quickly followed this with his first for the club.

The two goal cushion allowed Riverside to settle and take the game to the visitors, although Boyce was still keeping a good goal to ensure the game stayed at 2 - 0.

Eventually his goal was breached again when McNabb's long ball and a slip by a defender allowed Hanna in for his second. Finn's made some changes at the start of the second half and with those changes they proved more of a threat.

But with Kernoghan restored to the home defence after a brief dalliance in midfield in the previous game, and his pace supplementing the experience of Blair, McNabb and Coyles, they ensured that the 3 - 0 lead remained intact. Despite Riverside continually threatening on the counterattack the game ended with that score line. Man of the Match: Richard McNabb (Riverside Athletic)

Brook Street 3 Macosquin Village 8

With a poor result last week Macosquin new they had to up their game but went one down on six minutes when Shane McVey’s deflected free kick gave Doey no chance in the Macosquin nets.

Macosquin leveled the game on ten minutes when great link up play with Darren Stewart and Chris Wade set up Ryan Moffat to slot home from close range.

Four minutes later the favour was re-paid when Stewart released Moffat who crossed the ball across the goalmouth for Chris Wade to convert from five yards to put Macosquin two one up.

Macosquin kept pilling on the pressure and where three one up on twenty-five minutes when Ronnie Riley’s thirty-yard pass was coolly brought down by Stewart, who volleyed home from just outside the box, Macosquin should have had a couple more before the break only for the crossbar and some good keeping from Davy McKissock.

The second half started with Macosquin going at Brook street and got their fourth on 52 minutes when Johnston put Stewart through who rounded the keeper for his second of the match.

Brook Street kept fighting and got two goals in five minutes when two silly mistakes in the Macosquin defence allowed Smith and Dinsmore to bring the deficit to on goal. Macosquin settled their heads and started playing good football again and went five three up on 68 minutes when substitute John Doherty thundered his shot into the back of the net from 12 yards out.

With Brook Street going down to ten men after Downes saw red, Macosquin took advantage and were 6-3 up on 80 minutes when a Brook Street clearance was volleyed into the by Ryan Moffat from outside the 18 yard line. With 10 minutes left on the clock Macosquin kept their foot on the gas and went 7-3 up when Chrissy Campbell beat two men and neatly lobbed the keeper for a great finish from the wee winger. John Doherty completed the goals with his second on 88 minutes to give Macosquin a well deserved 8-3 victory. Man of the Match: Darren Stewart (Macosquin Village)

The Taverners 5 Ballyrashane FC 0

This was a tough fought battle between a much-improved Ballyrashane team who were absent some key players, and a Taverners team who have managed to fight for the club’s survival with a talented new manager Marshall Craig at the helm.

Both teams started bright but the Taverners were boosted by the presence of Zane Adams who was solid throughout the first half, the break through came when Taverners’ Jason Moore finished off a good move to leave it poised at 1-0 at half time.

Both teams played good football in the second half with Ballyrashane applying pressure through out, however the Taverners took advantage with a composed finish from the ever-troubling Peter Baird.

The Taverners then pushed on and sealed the victory with a superbly cool finish from Rodney Doherty.

After a good move and a great through ball from Taverners captain Adam Shields, Jason McKeeman made it four. A late goal for the impressive Jason Moore ensured the Taverners walked away with an inspired victory. Man of the Match: Rodney Doherty (The Taverners)

Dunaghy Old Boys 4 Balnamore FC 3

Both teams settled quickly with the pace of Balnamore’s front men always a worry for the Dunaghy defence.

Dunaghy took the lead after 10 minutes when Ted Bartlett scored with a header but Balnamore quickly equalised with a good 20 yard effort from Myers.

Nathan Blair restored Dunaghy’s lead after a good move involving Bartlett and Christie.

Balnamore got level soon after with another good strike from Myers. Dunaghy should have gone into the break with the lead but they missed from the spot. On 65 minutes a looping shot by Gary Dunlop flew into the corner of the net from all of 35 yards before Bartlett further extended his team’s lead with a well taken left footed strike. More heartache for Balnamore came when they were reduced to 10 men but they rallied and scored moments later to make it a tense ending. Dunaghy held out though to pick up a good three points. Man of the Match: Ted Bartlett (Dunaghy Old Boys)

Somerset 3 FC Macosquin 3

The away team took the lead in this game when Ian McClelland scored neatly from a corner kick after 15 minutes.

It didn’t take long for Somerset to hit back as Martin McAllister scored from close range after a corner to bring his side level. Gary Millar then put the home side in the lead with a peach of a finish with the outside of his right boot.

Two quickly became three when Scott Fraser powered home a header from Fenton’s corner kick. The second half was fairly even until Ian McClelland got his second of the game when he bundled home McGahon’s centre.

FC pushed and pushed for the equaliser as Somerset were content on holding on to what they had and they were made to pay for this negativity when McGahon scored with a minute to go give his team a deserved point. Man of the Match: Martin McAllister (Somerset)

Fixtures for Saturday 11 September

Balnamore F.C v Ballyrashane Fulton Park

Coleraine Olympic v Riverside Athletic Rugby Avenue 1

F.C Macosquin v Dunaghy Old Boy's Rugby Avenue 2

Finn McCool's v Somerset Bushmills

Hazelbank v Brook Street Rugby Avenue 3

Hillview F.C v Bertha's F.C Crescent 3

Macosquin Village v Glebe Rangers Old Boys Ballysally 2

Taverners F.C v Mountview F.C Riada 2

Villagers F.C v West Bann Athletic Castlerock