Three-horse promotion race

Nortel 5

AFTER Grand National Day, it really has turned into a three-horse race between Nortel, Kilmore Rec and Rosario Youth Club for the two promotion places, as the chase to get back in to the Premier Division enters the final straight.

Long term pacesetters Nortel still look the better bets to be first past the post, and really will have the whip hand if they can see off Kilmore in next Saturday’s big head to head at the Factory Grounds.

Jamsie Kirk’s side might have expected a rougher ride on Saturday in their “away” match against Factory Ground stablemates UUJ, who had the better chances in the scoreless draw in Nortel’s “home” match just before Christmas.

However, handicapped by so many matches called off just after the turn of the year, UUJ failed to get back in their stride and, having fallen behind the pace, are now very much also-rans.

While both sides jockeyed for position in the opening exchanges, Nortel looked that bit sharper up front, and they almost nosed ahead on eight minutes when some horseplay in the Students’ defence allowed Gary Bell to run practically half the length of the field, culminating with a shot high over the bar.

On 29 minutes, Mark Wilkinson, a real thoroughbred, showed a clean pair of heels to defender Michael Dobbin down the left flank, but his cross was just nicked away from Darren McKay by left back Paul Darby. Keeper Eamon Browne unwisely came for the resultant corner, floated over by Davy Freyne, and could only paw the ball out to the edge of the box, where it was blasted back through a ruck of players by Andrew Doyle; his first goal for the club since his recent move from neighbours Rathfern Rangers.

With the bit between their teeth, Nortel stretched their lead just four minutes later – Wilkinson galloping on to Wayne Lorrimer’s probing pass.

By now, keeper Browne’s mobility was clearly hampered by a leg injury, otherwise he might have done better with Nortel’s third just three minutes from the break – albeit a perfectly placed free kick from Freyne right into the top left hand corner of the net.

Nortel would have been racing certs had Browne not pulled off a fine fingertip save to deprive Wilkinson in first-half stoppage time.

While UUJ were coming more into the picture, Nortel always looked just that one fence ahead and Taylor Kirk showed his enterprise, racing to the near post to nod in Freyne’s corner.

To their credit, UUJ kept plugging away and Harbinson once more had to act lively in clawing a longshot from Dan McAlea out of the top right hand corner. Instead, it was Nortel who had the last say, with man-of-the-match Wilkinson racing through to deposit the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

After Tuesday night’s home tussle against bottom side Downshire Young Men, Nortel again return to the Factory Grounds on Saturday for that crucial tussle with Steel and Sons Cup holders Kilmore Rec.

Following a Wednesday night trip to Rosario Youth Club, UUJ on Saturday travel down the Shore Road for an East Antrim derby at Barn United.

UUJ; Browne – McKeown, Dobbin, Mooney, Darby (O’Kane) – Lyons (J Magennis), K O’Neill, McAlea, S Kelly – Strong, Scollay (McNally).

Nortel; Harbinson – Kirk (McMinn), Kyle, A Doyle, Freyne – Fenner (Conlin), Faulkner (Loughran), Lorrimer, Bell – McKay, Wilkinson.

Referee; Mr Kenny Biggar, Magherafelt.

Larne Tech OB 0

Rosario YC 3

MAYBE not quite the way Larne Tech Old Boys would have liked to have signed off at Dennis Harvey Park for the season. Granted, there was nothing at stake for the Antivilleians, though you would have thought Rosario manager Colin Telford and Tech old boy Liam McKillop would have been given a rougher ride than this on their return to familiar pastures.

The Tech did have a couple of early offerings, when young Christopher Morton, playing further forward than usual, twice shot straight at the Rosario netminder.

Instead, it was the promotion chasing Ormeau Road side who made their mark, taking full advantage of a breakdown in communication between goalkeeper Brendan Quinn and defender Martin Steele.

Quinn was beaten at his near post minutes later as Rosario doubled their lead, although he did regain some brownie points just after the turnaround, with a top-drawer save in somehow keeping a McKillop header out of the top corner of the net.

At the other end, the Larne boys missed the marksmanship of Daryll Kernohan, who was away scoring four for the Tech Seconds.

The Old Boys sent Rab Hunter up front in a bid to trigger a last-ditch cavalry charge, but instead they were caught out on the counter.

The Tech bring their season to a close with a local derby next Saturday, away to Rathfern Rangers at the Diamond, Rathcoole.

Larne Tech OB; Quinn – Magee, Adams, M Steele, Hunter – Z McAllister, Crawford, Brown, D Steele – Liken (Ritchie), Morton. Subs (unused) Clearkin, Lusty.

Bangor Rangers 2

18th Newtownabbey OB 1

FOR the third week in a row there were encouraging signs for 18th Old Boys, although they couldn’t follow up on last week’s win over Bangor Swifts, losing out narrowly to Bangor Rangers in this Supplementary Cup encounter at Clandeboye Park.

Rangers took a 25th minute lead, seizing on to Steven Clarke’s misdirected header back to goalkeeper Gavin Robb.

The home side could have had the points virtually done and dusted had the Old Boys teenage netminder Gavin Robb not underlined his potential with two superb one-on-one saves, as well as pawing another fine effort round the post.

Young Gavin’s heroics took on added significance when 18th restored parity just five minutes after the changearound, with another one of the teenage Old Boys, Ryan Greer, tapping in an Andrew Robb cross at the back post.

If anything, 18th looked the more likely winners, only for Bangor to edge back in front, with their front man scoring from a diminishing angle, after having been forced wide by keeper Robb getting a good hand to the initial effort.

The Monkstown side could have still have gone home with at least a point with Clarke close with a back post header, while Andy Spence failed to hit the target when straight through on goal.

There are just three matches left now of a best0forgotten campaign for managerless 18th and next Saturday they make their last appearance of the season at Cloyne Crescent, where Newington Rangers are the visitors.

18th Newtownabbey OB: G Robb – A Robb, Clarke, Moore, Bennett – R Greer, Sloan, McCallum, Magill – Spence, S Taylor. Subs (unused) Elliott, Porter.

Barn Utd 1

Nortel 2

A SPECTACULAR scissors kick from Wayne Lorrimer just five minutes from time gave championship-chasing Nortel the three points from this midweek ding-dong with Barn United at Haslett Park.

By then, manager Jamsie Kirk would surely have settled for a point, for while Nortel played the better football, the better chances fell to a more direct Barn side, invariably looking for the long ball to feed dangerman Nicky Sharples.

Barn got off to a dream start, taking the lead after only two minutes. And what a time for Neil Lammey to score his first of the season, nodding Gary McKee’s initial header past keeper Stephen Harbinson into the corner of the net.

United had the ball in the net again on seven minutes, but referee Michael McLaughlin adjudged that Andy Kane, following in on Lammey’s initial effort, had strayed into an offside position.

While Darren McKay flashed a free kick wide and a Joe McRoberts header was comfortably gathered by Christopher Campbell, it was Barn who again went closer, with Harbinson pulling off a fine close range save to stave off Kane.

The Doagh Road side, however, were back in tandem with a well taken goal by Mark Wilkinson on 29 minutes, racing on to Andrew Doyle’s probing pass to prise open the United offside trap.

Barn could have regained their lead had Sharples not blazed Wayne Patterson’s searching pass wide of the left hand upright.

Nortel were first out of the blocks on the turnaround, with McKay desperately close to an undoubted goal of the season contender, when his first time effort, from Bell’s left wing cross, dipped just the wrong side of the crossbar.

Nortel had two penalty appeals rejected and while Wilkinson turned a Davy Freyne free kick just past the left hand upright, it was Barn who were coming closer and Christopher Monteith might have done better on 71 minutes, swiping and missing just a few yards out.

The better openings were falling Barn’s way and Harbinson had to act lively to deny McKee, but it was Nortel who grabbed all three points, with Lorrimer popping up at the far post to grab the winner, after Gareth McMinn was allowed too much space down the right flank.

There was still time for Wayne Patterson to receive two late yellow cards, both for fouls on Bell, but by then, the damage had already been done.

Barn United; Campbell – McKinty, Smyth, Wakeham – Kelly, McKee, Lammey (Brown), Patterson, Monteith – Kane, Sharples. Subs (unused) Crockett, Riddell.

Nortel; Harbinson – McMinn, Kirk, A Doyle, Freyne – McClean, McRoberts, Lorrimer, Bell – McKay, Wilkinson. Subs (all unused) Fenner, Faulkner, Kyle.

Referee; Mr Michael McLaughlin, Belfast.

Abbey Villa 2

Islandmagee 2

ISLANDMAGEE will surely now have to win every one of their remaining five matches, and still depend on other teams slipping up, if they’re going to have any hope of bringing the Premier Division championship back to Wilbourne Park. Mind you, after such a topsy-turvy season there may still be a few twists to this title race yet.

The Islanders had already lost pole position during the week, with Ards Rangers returning to the summit with a midweek draw at home to Killyleagh YC. Ards’ win over Holywood FC on Saturday took them two points ahead of the Wilbourners, with one game in hand.

However, 2-0 up against 10 men for over half the match, this was one Islandmagee should have won. There’s no dispute whatsoever about the game’s defining moment; referee Frank Bogle failing to send off Villa keeper Jon Munn after he denied a clear goalscoring opportunity in bringing Billy Waide down inside the box. To add insult to injury, Munn was still there to save the resultant penalty, taken by Stuart Hilditch.

To be fair, it was Islandmagee’s turn to benefit from a debatable refereeing decision on 35 minutes, when Kennedy was shown a red card even though the Villamen insisted that his foul on Andy Waide was outside and not inside the box. Undeterred, Hilditch hammered home the resultant penalty.

Island tightened their grip just before the break, with Simon Moffett nodding in the loose ball, after Munn had pulled off an excellent save, as Hilditch rose high to meet a Billy Waide corner.

The 10 men felt hard done by again and a photo on the Abbey Villa website suggests that they might have a case, claiming that Michael Moore’s goal line clearance came off his left hand and not his knee.

Villa gave a timely warning that there was still life in this one yet, with Foster scoring from the spot after substitute Paul Gibb brought his man down in the corner of the box.

However, the Islanders could have restored their two-goal lead when Billy Waide looked set to stroke the ball into the gaping net, until that controversial Munn challenge. And the resulting penalty miss.

With renewed hope, Abbey snatched an equaliser when Foster headed over David Harrison just three minutes from time.

Next, it’s back to Wilbourne Park for the visit of Malachians.

Islandmagee; Harrison – Craig, Tierney (Anderson), Moore, Lough – Smyth (Gibb), Moffett, Murray, B Waide – Hilditch, A Waide. Sub (unused) A Kerby.

Saintfield United 2

Rathfern Rangers 1

CERTAINLY not the result Rathfern Rangers were looking for as they tried to steer themselves away from the dogfight to avoid joining Sirocco Works in Division 1b next season.

However, they may already have enough points in the bag as second-bottom Downshire Young Men have to win two of their remaining five games just to go level with Ryan McCartney’s side.

The defeat means that Saintfield join Rathfern on 20 points, but with an inferior goal difference, and having played two games more.

Ryan admitted he was “absolutely raging” after the match, saying: “A win here could have put everything to bed. Even a draw would probably have done us.

“I knew Saintfield would be up for it, as it was their last-chance saloon as well. But looking back, I don’t really think we could have done much more; hitting the post, the bar, and having shots cleared off the line - it was just one of those days!”

Saints who went marching into the lead after only two minutes. Rathfern would have bounced right back had David McCrea’s free kick not thudded off the crossbar, with the keeper beaten. And when McCrea once more beat the keeper, a defender hovered back to hook the ball off the line.

Rangers were finally back in tandem on 35 minutes; an opportune moment for recent recruit Phil McCleery to open his account, nodding in a McCrea free kick.

Saintfield were fastest out of the blocks on the turnaround, regaining their lead in the opening minute thanks to a penalty decision given for what was hardly a deliberate handling offence by Neil Crawford, who was looking away from the ball at the time.

It sparked off a Rathfern bombardment, with McCrea was once more denied by the frame of the goal, while Colin Andrews had one cleared off the line. Just before the close, substitute Glyn McCartney scooped one over from close range, after McCrea had once more pinged one off a post.

Rathfern return to action on Thursday night when promotion-chasing Kilmore Rec are the visitors and it’s back to the Diamond again on Saturday for an East Antrim derby in what is Larne Tech Old Boys’ last match of the season.

Rathfern Rangers; N Lovell – McKay, Montgomery, D McBride, Crawford (G McCartney) – McCrea, Gardiner, McCleery – D Moore (C McBride), Andrews, Weir. Sub (unused) Kane.