Taverners seal cup final Berth

LAST year’s Challenge Shield winners The Taverners will again compete for the trophy in this year’s final after they came through a very close semi-final contest against Somerset.

Their opponents in the final will be Berthas FC after they narrowly defeated Hillview FC in their semi-final at the Crescent.

The two teams are also due to meet in the semi final of the Knockout Cup, as well as a league fixture so both teams are going to get familiar with each other over the next few months.

In the league, Hazelbank moved up into second place with an impressive victory away to Macosquin Village while Mountview FC also advanced up the table with an equally impressive victory away to Dunaghy Old Boys.

Riverside Athletic continued their decent form of late with a comfortable victory over Finn McCools. West Bann Athletic hit Brook Street for 5 as Ballyrashane Coronation kept their first clean sheet of the season after they won the battle of the basement boys against Coleraine Olympic. In the remaining tie, FC Macosquin defeated The Villagers 3-0.

All managers are reminded to text in the match result before 2pm on the Saturday to either Chris Patterson or Alan McCloskey.

Somerset 2 The Taverners 4 (aet)

This semi-final always had the look of a cracking game with plenty of goals and it didn’t disappoint as straight from the kick off both teams settled in to it very quickly.

The visitors should really have been in front when excellent play from McCurdy picked out Ferris and the big centre forward used all his strength to evade two tackles before forcing a great save out of the Somerset keeper.

Then as Taverners were caught out by a great through ball to Hannah whose pinpoint cross-found Knight and he had the simple task of heading into an empty net to put Somerset one up.

This certainly didn’t faze the Taverners and good work from Carton released Robinson who neatly sidestepped a lunge from McGerrity to play in Graur who picked his spot to draw the teams level 1-1 half time.

The second half started pretty same as the first then McNabb saw an incident that he thought changed the game.

With Millar down hurt the ball was tried to be played out as three Taverners players stopped Knight went ahead and scored to put Somerset 2-1 up.

The Taverners players disputed this but McNabb was furious because he thought Somerset were right to play on as they were in possession at the time and his players didn’t play to the whistle.

After the debate Somerset allowed Graur to run the ball into an empty net to level the scores 2-2 to the amazement of the Taverners players and McNabb who thought his team were lucky but fair play and sportsmanship to Somerset to allow this.

The game continued to 90 minutes at 2-2 so in we went to extra time. First period was frantic and with Knight going close to his hat-trick before excellent work from Graur beat two defenders and his low cross was only palmed out to the oncoming Hartin who coolly finished to put the Taverners 3-2.

Right at the end Somerset pushed forward and they were caught at the back where Graur killed the game off with his hat trick to leave final score 4-2.

Manager McNabb was delighted with his team’s performance who he thought were excellent throughout especially Small and Carton who surely deserved a man of the match apiece but that went to Graur and he also praised Nick Boyd and his team for their sportsmanship as a lot of teams wouldn’t have done that. Man Of the Match: Andrei Graur (The Taverners)

Hillview FC 3 Berthas FC 4

These two team met for the fourth time this season and with all previous games being a close contest, this one was no different.

Berthas had the first big chance of the game when Greene slipped in Drake but McVey was quick off his line to deny the striker. Hillview then took the lead against the run of play when Dunlop’s long ball from the back found the unmarked Kirgan who advanced on goal before sliding the ball past McCrory and into the net.

Berthas got on level terms midway through the half when Ridgell caught out Frazer at the back before finding Cochrane who fired in from six yards.

The away side went in front moments later when Wattons long throw into the box found the head of Colin Rainey who flicked it over the out stretched arm of McVey and into the net. As the first half came to a close, Hillview got back on level terms when Frazer’s long clearance evaded the Berthas defence, and after a scramble in the box, the ball eventually fell to the feet of Nathan Black who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

The away team got a stern talking to a half time and this paid dividends as the played the opening period of the second half on the front foot.

They got the goal their play deserved when Cochrane’s shot looped up off McVey and down to Drake who headed home clinically from two yards.

Berthas pressed on and got an all-important fourth through Davy Graham. Neat play involving Greene, Ridgell and Cochrane found Rainey in space, his shot was well saved by McVey but the ball rebounded to Graham who side-stepped Cosgrove before placing the ball past McVey and into the net.

Berthas made a few subs and one of them nearly made an instant impact when David Patterson powered through two challenges before exchanging passes with Graham but his shot of the volley just went past the wrong side of the post. Hillview picked up their efforts and gave the game a tense finish when another long ball from the back by Loughery found McClements in on goal and the young man made no mistake in hammering the ball into the net.

Hillview pushed men forward but Berthas held firm to reach their third Shield final in four years. Man of the Match: Stephen Gilchrist (Berthas FC)

Macosquin village 0 Hazelbank 5

Dave McClean opened the scoring within five minutes, side footing in from Sheppard’s cross, the move started back from a good spell of Macosquin pressure, Marty McCrory clearing from defence to Sheppard who broke free from his marker and drilled in for Davy to finish well.

This sparked the home side into life, both Stewarts causing problems for the Hazelbank defence but all their hard work proved fruitless. Colin McClarty should have doubled Hazelbanks lead, with too much time to settle he some how managed to screw his shot wide from inside the six-yard box, 1-0at the break.

The second half started well for Hazelbank, Sheppard and McClarty both going close. Ciaran Wilson doubled the lead slotting home Sheppard’s cross before Colin McClarty then made it three, breaking through and onto Sheppy’s well timed ball, Colin lobbing the advancing keeper on the edge of the box.

Sheppard got his reward for all his work, when Wilson became the provider crossing well for Sheppard to slot home. Ciaran Wilson then sealed a man of match performance, cutting in from the wing and drilling home for his second and Hazelbank’s fifth. Man of the Match: Ciaran Wilson (Hazelbank)

Dunaghy Old Boys 2 Mountview 5

Conditions were good for this match played in Dunaghy.

On paper this match could have gone either way after last week’s results, Dunaghy Old Boys having a convincing win over Taverners and Mountview were defeated by Somerset.

Mountview knew that to keep in the race for top spot they had to get back to winning ways this week.

Dunaghy Old Boys took the lead on 15 minutes, when Mountview failed to deal with a high ball into the box, Murray squaring the ball across goal for Cairns to score from five yards, leaving Simpson in the Mountview goal no chance.

Mountview equalised two minutes later when Caldwell headed his first goal from a Smyth corner.

Mountview continued to press Dunaghy Old Boys, but Dunaghy’s defence held their high line well, catching Mountview offside a number of occasions.

Mountview took the lead just before half time when Smyth's corner wasn't cleared by the Dunaghy Old Boy’s defence and the ball eventually fell for Tosh who drilled his shot past all the defenders and into the net from 20 yards out.

Mountview stretched their lead five minutes into the second half when Reid beat the last defender and slotted the ball past Doherty in the Dunaghy Old Boys goal.

Wilmont then had a good chance for Dunaghy Old Boys, but he dragged his shot wide from just inside the 18 yard line.

Mountview made it 4 - 1 half way through the second half, Caldwell heading the ball down into the bottom corner from Smyth's cross. With this goal advantage and some tired legs Mountview took the opportunity to make use of all their subs. Five minutes from the end Dunaghy Old Boys got one back. Keers flicking the ball onto Wilmont who had time to set himself and strike the ball with his left foot from just outside the box, his shot finding the corner of the net.

With Dunaghy Old Boys pushing men forward they left themselves exposed at the back and Caldwell was put through down the right channel, he crossed the ball into Harte, who broke from inside his own half, and he steered the ball past Doherty to finish off the scoring against his old club. Man of the Match: Davy Caldwell (Mountview)

Riverside Athletic 3 Finn McCools 0

The hosts began the game missing several of last weeks starting line up, and as the game progressed it looked like those players were being missed as nervous defending kept the score level.

Simon McLean, restored to his more familiar position as striker, calmed the jitters on seventeen minutes when he slid home a ball from strike partner Leighton, and on the half hour the same player turned and shot home after controlling Smylie's ball from the left.

The second goal gave the hosts the confidence and freedom to attack in numbers, and only good goalkeeping from the impressive McQuiston in the Finn's goal, saw the interval reached without further goals.

With the wind behind them, the second half saw Finn's have a real go, as they started to get more players into an advanced position, although the home teams impressive back four ensured any shot at keeper Archibald was from distance. It was very much game over fifteen minutes from time as McGoldrick rose highest to head home Blair's corner kick. Man of the match: Chris Blair (Riverside Athletic)

Brook Street 1 West Bann Athletic 5

West Bann Athletic secured their second consecutive win beating Brook Street 5-1 on a somewhat bumpy Ballysally pitch.

Athletic dominated the first half playing some neat football into the bargain.

Jody Woods scored his first goal in West Bann Athletic colours putting Athletic into the lead with 19 minutes on the clock, when he helped a Martin Pancott looping header into the back of the net.

This goal seemed to settle Athletic and they were unlucky not to go 2-0 up moments later when a great move involving several players ended with Karl Doherty putting Pancott through on goal, Pancott coolly chipped the oncoming keeper only to see his goal bound attempt cruelly hit a bump on the pitch and hit the post.

Athletic continued to press looking for there second and were rewarded when on 28 minutes Jody Woods finished off another great move, doubling his season goal tally into the bargain.

Brook Street try as they may rarely troubled Athletic and James Tosh in the Athletic goals had only to deal with a few shots from distance during the first half.

Athletic came out second half and seemed to take the foot off the pedal, however, Brook Street failed to take advantage of this and just like in the first half rarely threatened a well marshaled and organised Athletic rearguard. Athletic always looked like a team who could score and it was they who did score the all important next goal to make it 3-0 courtesy of Pancott with 70 minutes played, when a fine shot from 25 yards found the top right corner giving the keeper no chance of saving.

Some would have thought game over but Brook Street had other ideas and to there credit hit straight back in the 72 minute with Peter McAllister scoring with the aid of a wicked deflection leaving Tosh in the Athletic goal stranded and denying him and Athletic successive clean sheets.

Athletic at this point decided to freshen things up and the resulting substitutions proved effective when with 82 minutes gone the returning Tommy McColgan made it 4-1 when he won the ball in his own 18 yard box to start the move which he then finished chipping the keeper from 20 yards out after a neat one two with Lee Biggart presented the chance which was took well by the Athletic full back.

Athletic completed the scoring in the 90 minute when another player on the comeback trail after injury, Jonny Mitchell made no mistake when he was picked out at the back post by Conor McCorriston’s inch perfect right wing cross to make it West Bann Athletic 5 Brook Street 1 at the final whistle. Man of the Match: Paul Fleming (West Bann Athletic)

Coleraine Olympic 0 Ballyrashane Coronation FC 2

Ballyrashane went into the game with confidence and from the kick off, they fought hard and dominated strongly.

Olympic battled hard but failed to take their chances. BCFC had their fair chances of scoring but could not find the net. The best chance coming from a Chris Stirling strike. Olympic picked their game up but BCFC held strong at the back with the Barnes brothers linking up well with Deeny and Doey and dealing with every thing.

Come the 30 minute mark David Doherty replaced Stirling in the middle and put alot of pressure on Olympic but BCFC still could not find the net. Come half time it was all-square.

BCFC pushed harder in the second half to find that first goal and with Young, Deeny and Doherty linking up well then Cheuk and Watt took control feeding the ball to Freeman to score a fantastic strike from the edge of the box to make it 0-1.

Olympic then pushed hard with Fleming and Vauls but John and Hawk Barnes stood strong and defended well together.

Midway through the second half Mark Collins made a fantastic run beating his man and crossing in from the left, it caused a goalmouth battle in which Glenn Young got the last laugh with making the score line 0-2 BCFC.

A well deserved victory and three points to the Ballyrashane men on the day. Man of the Match: Ben Watt (Ballyrashane Coronation)

The Villagers 0 FC Macosquin 3

No match report received.

Fixtures for Saturday 20 March

Balnamore F.C v Villagers F.C Fulton Park

Bertha's F.C v Riverside Athletic Castlerock

Brook Street v Somerset Crescent 3

F.C Macosquin v Finn McCool's Ballysally 2

Hazelbank v Hillview F.C Rugby Avenue 3

Macosquin Village v Mountview F.C Rugby Avenue 2

Taverners F.C v Ballyrashane Coronation F.C Riada 2

West Bann Athletic v Coleraine Olympic Rugby Avenue 1

Hutchinson Tiles League Table

POS Team P W D L F A GDPTS

1 Balnamore

F.C22 14 3 5 81 31 50 45

2 Hazelbank20 13 4 3 68 30 38 43

3 Bertha's F.C 19 13 3 3 74 30 44 42

4 Hillview F.C21 13 2 6 76 49 27 41

5 Mntview F.C 18 13 1 4 54 24 30 40

6 Somerset 19 12 3 4 79 38 41 39

7 Riverside

Athletic18 12 3 3 63 25 38 39

8 Dunaghy

Old Boy's20 11 5 4 75 41 34 38

9 Taverners F.C 21 11 1 9 73 61 12 34

10 Macosquin

Village22 11 1 10 77 70 7 31

11Villagers F.C 17 8 1 8 56 32 24 25

12 West

Bann Athletic19 7 2 10 43 46 -3 23

13 Finn

McCool's20 4 3 13 25 66 -41 15

14 F.C

Macosquin21 3 2 16 39 85 -46 11

15 Coleraine

Olympic21 2 1 18 19 130 -111 7

16 Brook Street22 2 2 18 33 97 -64 5

17 Ballyrashane

Coronation F.C 20 2 1 17 16 96 -80 1