Abbeyview are comeback kings in semi

The Antrim men battled back from two goals down at half-time to see off the challenge of their gutsy second division opponents and book a place in the final.

ARKMEDIA O'KANE CUP SEMI-FINAL

Clough Rangers 2, Abbeyview 3: This game saw Division Two strugglers Clough Rangers take on high-flying top-flight Abbeyview for a place in the Arkmedia sponsored O'Kane Cup Final and it took a magnificent second half comeback to see Abbeyview make it past a spirited Clough side.

Abbeyview took the game to Clough early on with the pace of Darren Houston causing the Clough defence problems, but they failed to have any clear cut efforts on Philip Simpson's goal.

Clough took the lead on 17 minutes when Abbeyview failed to deal with a free kick from Ricky McNeill and the ball fell to Johnny Cameron who slammed the ball home from 12 yards out. Clough were now well on top and doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Johnny Cameron skipped past two Abbeyview defenders before firing the ball low into the net to give his side a deserved 2-0 lead.

Darren Houston almost got a goal back immediately for Abbeyview when he flicked a Victor Gibson shot just past the post. Clough should have went in 3-0 up at the break when Colin Stewart rattled the crossbar from 20 yards out, and this missed chance was to prove crucial in the second half.

Abbeyview came out in the second half like a different side and attacked Clough from the start and got a goal back eight minutes in when they were awarded a penalty kick when a Clough defender handled the ball. Chris Perks stepped up and fired the ball past Philip Simpson from 12 yards.

Abbeyview were dominating play now with substitute Andy Smyth and Ryan Carson causing all sorts of problems for the Clough defence and they combined to set up Roy Robinson but he saw his effort saved by Simpson.

It was 2-2 on 65 minutes when Clough failed to deal with a long throw from Jackie Todd and the ball fell to Andy Smyth who volleyed home from 15 yards out to draw his side level.

Ryan Carson then went close for Abbeyview as they looked to win the tie in normal time and they completed the comeback with 15 minutes to go when Andy Smyth played a great ball over the top for Ryan Carson to race clear before rounding Philip Simpson in the Clough goal and firing home to make it 3-2.

Clough threw everything at Abbeyview in the dying minutes but Abbeyview held out to seal their place in the O’Kane Cup Final where they will play the winners of Carniny Rangers or Randalstown Sky Blues who meet this Saturday.

BSML DIVISION ONE

Carnlough Swifts 3, Holywell 0: The early morning effort to ensure the pitch was playable paid off as Carnlough secured a vital 3 points over fellow relegation threatened Holywell.

The home side dominated the first half and despite early efforts from Brendan McDermott, Michael Abram and Ryan Mitchell the deadlock wasn’t broken until the half hour mark when Brendan McDermott struck after good work from Conal Ward on the right.

The home defence dealt well with the lively Jeff Johnston in the Holywell attack and Holywell had a strong penalty claim turned down after Colin Laffan appeared to handle inside the box.

As the half drew to a close the Swifts doubled their lead with a superb team goal. Michael Abram went on a mazy run down the flank and played in the overlapping James Mellon whose cross was met with a stunning left foot volley from Brendan McDermott for his second of the game.

Holywell changed to a more attacking formation in the second half and started to dominate possession but failed to test Conor McNeill in the Swifts goal.

At the other end Brendan McDermott had a host of chances to add a third but Keith Wise in the Holywell goal pulled off a string of superb saves.

As Holywell continued to pour men forward, Carnlough were dangerous on the counter attack and from this Brendan McDermott sealed the points with a superb solo effort to complete his hat trick on 65 minutes and ease the Seasiders' relegation worries.

BSML DIVISION TWO

Connor FC 5, FC Penarol 0: Penarol produced an excellent performance to hold Connor to one nil at half-time but when they had their centre back sent off early in the second half Connor took control and in the end ran out easy winners to go joint top of Division Two along with Broadway Celtic.

In a very even first half it was Connor who made the break though on 25 minutes when Mervyn Crawford ran onto a long ball from Alan Norton and unleashed a shot which was blocked only for it to fall to him again and this time he fired home.

Ten minutes into the second half Darren Cambell was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and Penarol’s centre back was sent off for the infringement.

Penarol cleared the resulting free kick but two minutes later Connor doubled their score when Mark Marriott headed home a Jamie White cross.

This opened the floodgates and Connor scored their third 5 minutes later when Gary Sands hit a free kick into the penalty area for Alister McIroy to head towards goal only for the ball to hit Mark Marriott on the face and finish up in the net.

Marriott completed his hat trick 15 minutes from time when he collected the ball on the edge of the penalty and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Connor saved their best goal to the last when Mervyn Crawford played a one two with Marriott to create and opening for him to lay the ball into the path of Darren Campbell who slotted home Connor’s fifth and sent them a step closer to promotion to the First Division.

Other result: St Comgalls 1, Seven Towers 0

BSML DIVISION THREE

Dunloy Athletic 1, Atletico Antrim 0: Dunloy had to battle all the way to see a spirited Antrim side through a Liam Kearns goal in the first half and this win leaves them top of Division Three only requiring one point to ensure promotion to Division Two in their first season.

The winning goal came in the 22nd minutes when Kearns went on a solo run beating three Antrim defenders before firing home what turned out to be the winner.

LEAGUE MEETING

The next League Meeting will be next Monday, April 12, in Ballymena Sport & Social Club 9pm start. All teams should be in attendance.

FIXTURES

Wednesday, April 7 (6.30pm) - BSML Division Two: Blackstone Rovers v Clough Rangers (Wakehurst 4); Riverdale v FC Penarol (Wakehurst 2).

BSML Division Three: Inver Athletic v Demesne Star.

Thursday, April 8 (6.30pm) - BSML Division One: All Saints OB v Glenarm Rovers (Waveney 2); Harryville Homers v Carniny Rangers (Wakehurst 2); Randalstown Sky Blues v Templepatrick.

Saturday, April 10 (10.15am) - Arkmedia O’Kane Cup semi-final: Randalstown Sky Blues v Carniny Rangers (Ballykeel).

Rainey Cup, round two: Broadway Celtic v Clough Rangers (Showgrounds 4); Riverdale v Carnlough Swifts (Wakehurst 2); Lisnafillan Swifts v Harryville Homers (Galgorm); North End v Inver Athletic (Dunfane); Atletico Antrim v Abbeyview; All Saints OB v Dunloy Athletic (Waveney 2); Michelin v Shore Wanderers; Ahoghill Thistle v Holywell; Randalstown v Westend Athletic.

BSML Division One: Glenarm Rovers v Templepatrick; FC Antrim v Ballykeel (Forum).

BSML Division Two: Blackstone Rovers v Braid United (Wakehurst 6); St Comgalls v Connor FC; FC Penarol v Waveney Swifts.

BSML Division Three: Wakehurst Athletic v Cullybackey Olympic (Wakehurst 1); Woodside v Steadfast (Wakehurst 4).

Monday, April 12 (6.45pm) - BSML Division Two: Braid United v Clough Rangers (Broughshane); Seven Towers v Michelin (Showgrounds 4); FC Inter Stars v Ahoghill Thistle (Waveney 1); St Comgalls v FC Penarol.

Sammy Moore Trophy, quarter-final, second legs: Westend Athletic [1] v Atletico Antrim [1] (Wakehurst 2); Wakehurst Athletic [1] v Woodside [2] (Wakehurst 1).

BSML Division Three: Lisnafillan Swifts v Inver Athletic (Galgorm); Demesne Star v Steadfast (Dunfane).

Tuesday, April 13 (6.45pm) - BSML Division One: Ahoghill Rovers v Templepatrick; Carniny Rangers v Ballykeel (Wakehurst 1); FC Antrim v Abbeyview (Forum); Randalstown Sky Blues v FC Moylena; Glenarm Rovers v Harryville Homers; North End v Carnlough Swifts (Dunfane).