Title race hots up

Hazelbank FC would now look to be favourites after six points from their last two games put them only a point behind leaders Balnamore but with four games in hand.

Berthas FC are a further two points behind Hazelbank but they also have the same number of games in hand over Balnamore. Mountview FC slipped back after three draws in a row gives them a mountain to climb in their search for the league title.

Riverside Athletic and now Dunaghy Old Boys are also outside bets as both teams sit just on the tails of the leaders.

It was a good week for Finn McCools as a draw with Balnamore and a win over The Taverners gave the Bushmills men four points. There were also wins for West Bann Athletic and The Villagers. The fixture schedule gets even more frantic this week as some teams face games on Tuesday and Thursday night aswell as next Saturday.

Keep up to date with all the action by logging onto www.htwl.leaguerepublic.com.

The league hopes to hold the end of season five-a-sides and the presentation on Saturday 22 May. Venues to be confirmed as soon.

Hazelbank FC 7 Coleraine Olympic 0

Coleraine Olympic started well and pushed Hazelbank back but failed to test Crawford. Hazelbank soon settled and a quick brace from Nigel Sheppard, the second of these he met a Ciaran Wilson Cross at the back post to volley into the top corner giving Morton no

chance in the Olympic goal.

James Diver pounced on a Cameron mistake to put Hazelbank three up and two more followed just before half time Sean Smith finished a great five man counter attack then Sheppard completed his hat trick when he cut inside and unleashed a pile driver into the top corner to leave it six nil at half time.

Hazelbank made a few changes at half time to rotate the squad for the forthcoming hectic finish to the season. With the breeze behind them Olympic were a more forceful team in the second half with Hazelbank playing on the counter attack McClarty, Farrell and Kelly all went close before McClarty got his goal when he spun and fired into the Olympic net. Man of the Match: Nigel Sheppard (Hazelbank FC)

Berthas FC 4 Brook Street 0

Both teams came into this game under strength due to injuries and suspension and as a result could only field two subs between them. It was Berthas on the front foot for most of the half but had a only a few half chances to show for their efforts in the first half.

They eventually took the lead when Laverty's excellent corner found the feet of David Patterson at the back post and he volleyed home from close range. Berthas quickly got their second from the penalty spot when McKissock felled Chris Patterson in the box after the midfielder ran onto Grahams excellent through ball.

Ace-marksman Andy Cochrane stood up and stuck the ball home.

Brook Street were battling hard but had to make do with a couple of pot shots from distance, none of which caused Berthas stand in keeper Colin Rainey any danger. Berthas made it three after 40 minutes with a near carbon copy of the first.

Another Laverty corner was volleyed in at the back post but this time by Chris Patterson who had nipped in front of Leighton to stab home. The second half was similar to the first but it was Brook Street that nearly pulled a goal back when Smith met Duffys long throw into the box but Rainey showed great reactions to get down low to his right and make the save.

The game turned scrappy with very few chances until 30 minutes into the half when Pollock brought down Cochrane in the box. The Berthas striker stepped up and drove the ball into the back of the net for his 37th goal of the season.

Berthas seen the remainder of the game out to pick up the points but credit goes to Brook Street who defied their lowly league position to put in great performance and should prove must stiffer competition for teams in the future. Man of the Match: David Hoey (Berthas FC)

West Bann Athletic 2 Mountview FC 2

West Bann Athletic took the points in this fixture earlier on in the season and they came so close to doing it again.

Martin Pancott gave his side the lead before Alan McClarty drew Mountview level midway through the second half. Conor McCorriston put the home team in front and it looked like this would be the winning goal until Billy Cooke popped up in injury time to gain Mountview a point and keep their title chances alive. Man of the Match: Peter O'Kane (West Bann Athletic)

Balnamore FC 3 Somerset FC 0

After two below par performances from Balnamore they really needed to win this match to stop their season going into freefall and boy did they step up to the plate as from the first whistle they really went for there opponents and played some lovely football that had been severely lacking in there previous two games.

Richard Blair was moved to defence and it seemed to suit him better as he was able to get on the ball and play neat passes to his team mates and this was how Balnamore opened the scoring when Blair brought the ball forward and played a defence splitting ball for Madison who then slid a first time ball into Simon Armstrong who bundled in from close range for a deserved lead.

The same player almost made it two when his bicycle kick came back off the cross bar and Nicky Tweed couldn't react quick enough to put the rebound in with the goal at his mercy.

The second half continued much in the same vein with Balnamore doing all the pressing and you felt it was only a matter of time before they added another That second goal did arrive and it was a great goal at that as Sean Hogg broke down the left and put the ball on a plate for Simon Armstrong who headed home with ease.

Somerset had to get going quickly and Barry McGonigle was trying hard to get his team going and Gary Miller always looked dangerous on the break. Balnamore wrapped the game up with their third goal when a goal mouth scramble fell to Josie Kelly and his shot went across goal and who else but Simon Armstrong was on hand to score his hat trick with a tap in from three yards. In fairness Balnamore could have added more to there tally but the Somerset goalkeeper kept the score line respectable. Man of the Match: Simon Armstrong (Balnamore)

Dunaghy Old Boys 10 Ballyrashane Coronation 4

Dunaghy made it three wins in a row with this comfortable victory over Ballyrashane.

Goals coming from hat tricks for Nathan Blair and David Murray with player manager Jason Wilmont grabbing a brace. Goalkeeper Ricki Doherty got on the score sheet from the penalty spot with an own goal also going the way of the hosts. Ben Watt, David Freeman and a double from John Doherty provided the goals for Ballyrashane. Man of the Match: David Murray and Nathan Blair (Dunaghy Old Boys)

Hillview FC 0 The Villagers 4

The Villagers picked up a good 3 points with this dominant victory over Hillview. Robert Bradley gave his side the lead before a Hamilton Gamble double pushed his team into a comfortable lead before man of the match Jamie Dunn grabbed his team's fourth to cap off a good day for The Villagers. Man of the Match: Jamie Dunn (The Villagers)

The Taverners 0 Finn McCools 1

The Taverners started the better of the two sides, playing some good football and having the better chances in the half, but they just couldn't find a way to break the deadlock.

Finn McCools came out for the second half a much more determined side and it was they that started to create the chances with alot of near misses and one on ones.

Their constant pressure was rewarded when good work through midfield found the feet of Karl Rushe who powered into the box before being slotting low and hard and into the net. Both teams had chances but Finns held on for an excellent three points. Both teams fought hard to final whistle, but it was Rushes goal that separated the teams in this very tight game. Man of the Match: Karl Rushe (Finn McCools)

Fixtures for Tuesday 20 April

Ballyrashane Coronation F.C v Somerset Ballysally 2

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

Mountview F.C v Finn McCool's Rugby Avenue 3

Riverside Athletic v Hazelbank Fulton Park

Villagers F.C v Dunaghy Old Boys Castlerock

West Bann Athletic v Hillview F.C Rugby Avenue 1

Fixtures for Thursday 22 April

Bertha's F.C v Villagers F.C Castlerock

Finn McCool's v Coleraine Olympic Bushmills

Hazelbank v F.C Macosquin Rugby Avenue 1

Hillview F.C v Balnamore F.C Crescent 3

Mountview F.C v Macosquin Village Rugby Avenue 3

Somerset v Taverners F.C Ballysally 2

Fixtures for Saturday 24 April

Ballyrashane Coronation F.C v Villagers F.C Ballysally 2

Balnamore F.C v Brook Street Fulton Park

Bertha's F.C v Dunaghy Old Boy's Castlerock

Coleraine Olympic v Hazelbank Rugby Avenue 2

Finn McCool's v Somerset Bushmills

Hillview F.C v Riverside Athletic Crescent 3

Taverners F.C v Mountview F.C Riada 2

West Bann Athletic v F.C Macosquin Rugby Avenue 1