Rasharkin off in style against Ballycastle

THE season got under way on Saturday with five Intermediate League games played.

Next Saturday will see some of the junior teams kick off though the majority will not start to the end of August due to pitch availability.

Saturday will also see game played in the 1st Round of the County Antrim Steel & Sons Cup played with five teams from the league participating.

LEAGUE

Ballycastle United 1 v 5 Rasharkin United

Ian Parkhill making his debut for Rasharkin got off the mark quickly by scoring his first goal on the 2nd minute and then followed up with his second on the 12th minute.

Ballycastle went further behind when conceding an own goal on the 18th minute this being followed by a fourth for Rasharkin on the 24th minute scored by Karl Smith.

After this Ballycastle began to settle down and held this scoreline until half-time only to go five down when William Beckett scored for Rasharkin on the 50th minute.

Ballycastle to their credit never gave up and with a number of very young players on view got a deserved goal when Darren McKillop scored on the 60th minute but unfortunately they failed to take another two good chances the created before full time. Referee Mr Paul Doherty

Brantwood 5 v 1 Cookstown Olympic

Brantwood with a couple of signings added to last season’s panel will no doubt be in the hunt for honours this time round and got off to a quick start when Paul Heatley scored on the 17th minute.

After this both teams settled down to play a lot of good football. Cookstown had a good chance to equalise then two quick goals in the second half scored by Patrick Kelly and Jonny Hanna on the 50th and 55th minutes saw Brantwood take a strong hold in the game. Cookstown pulled a goal back on the 61st minute but then when chasing the game got caught with Jonny Hanna scoring his second goal on the 70th minute.

Time was then running out when Paul Heatley scored the final goal in the game on the 85th minute. Referee Mr Neil Gillespie

Clough Rangers Athletic 0 v 3 Ballynure OB

This game was a lot closer than the scoreline would suggest as Clough created a number of good scoring chances but failed to make the best use of these unlike Ballynure who took theirs.

Ballynure took the lead on the 21st minute when Mark Leckey scored and then doubled their lead when Mark Moore scored a crucial goal on the 44th minute. Clough pushed forward in the second half but Ballynure held firm at the back thon on the 89th minute Brian Henry killed off any hope Clough had when scoring number three for Ballynure. Referee Mr Kenny Gibbons

Desertmartin 6 v 1 FC Ballynure

Dunloy 2 v 3 Kilbride Swifts

This result was a bit of a shock for Dunloy who lose few games at McCamphill Park but a very late goal scored by Kilbride saw the visitors take all three points. Kilbride started off well taking the lead after debutant Gordon Baird scored on the 28th minute and held this lead until an own goal concede by Dunloy saw Kilbride two up on the 68th minute.

Dunloy then got going pulling a goal back when Benny McGarry scored on the 73rd minute and a minute later were back level after Kevin McAlonan scored. Time was then running out for both teams when Michael McNeil scored what proved to be the winning goal for Kilbride on the 87th minute.

Referee Mr Gary Curran

Fixtures Intermediate Division

Wednesday 11 August

Ballynure Old Boys v Brantwood

Desertmartin v Dunloy

Cookstown Olympic v Portglenone

Rasharkin United v Ballycastle United

Raceview v Clough Rangers Athletic

Kilbride swifts v FC Ballynure

All kick off at 7.00pm

Saturday 14 August

Ballynure Old Boys v Portglenone

Cookstown Olympic v Dunloy

Rasharkin United v Desertmartin

Kick off 2.00pm

Steel & Sons Cup Round One

Carrick Rangers v Brantwood

Raceview v Lower Maze

Ballywalter Rec v Ballycastle United

FC Ballynure v Nortel

Groomsport FC v Kilbride Swifts

Kick off 2.30pm

Junior Division One

Finvoy v Magherafelt Sky Blues Res

Chimney Corner Res v Ballyclare Com Res

Ballymoney Utd Res v Killymoon Rangers Res

Kick off at 2.00pm

Junior Division Two

Carnlough Swifts v FC Ballynure Reserves

Desertmartin Swifts v Cookstown Ath Colts

Kick off at 2.00pm