Amateurs set for early end to Provincial League fixture list

Anthony McCartney’s side has benefited from playing their home games on the 3G surface at Ballymena Showgrounds, which has been playable throughout the winter months when other pitches wouldn’t have been, meaning that they will finish ahead of schedule.

Carniny’s final assignment will, however, be played on grass and it could scarcely be a tougher on, as they travel to Newtowne, who are currently in pole position in the Michelin Athletic Club-sponsored championship.

Carniny will be anxious to try to take something from the game as they sit just two points above bottom position in the race to avoid the unwanted ‘wooden spoon’ tag, with the teams below them having games in hand, with midweek fixtures due to begin the following week.

FIXTURES

Matches involving locally-based sides this Saturday, April 6, are:

Intermediate League: Raceview v Brantwood; Ballynure Old Boys v Clough Rangers Athletic; Newtowne v Carniny Amateurs.

Junior Division One: Antrim Rovers v Killymoon Rangers Res.

Junior Division Two: 1st Mossley YM v Chimney Corner Res; Wakehurst Strollers v Moyola Park Olympic.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

Results: Desertmartin 0, Newtowne 3; Brantwood 3, Magherafelt Sky Blues 1; Dunloy 3, Ballynure Old Boys 4.

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Magherafelt Sky Blues Reserves 2, Antrim Rovers 4: After a bright start to the game Tommy Bonnes shot Antrim ahead on the 29th minute and this lead remained until Vitalie Spitiu converted a penalty for the Sky Blues on the 40th minute.

Half-time was almost on the blow when Aidan McGuckin scored a second goal for the Sky Blues on the 45th minute.

Antrim got back on level terms after Jamie Stewart scored on the 49th minute then went in front after Darryl McNeil scored on the 62nd minute.

Sky Blues had no time to catch their breath when Darryl Brammeld scored a fourth for Antrim on the 65th minute from which the Sky Blues never recovered.

Other results: Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 4, Cookstown Olympic 0; Ballymoney United Reserves 0, Tobermore United Reserves 6; Mallusk Athletic 2, Desertmartin Swifts 2; Glebe Rangers Reserves 4, Killymoon Rangers Reserves 5.

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

Woodlands 1, Carniny Amateurs II 3: This was a big win for Carniny but a bit of a damper for Woodlands and a result that saw them lose out at the top of the league table to near neighbours Castle Star.

Carniny were on the attack early and good combination play between Jordan Graham and Adam Whitehurst saw the latter score on the 7th minute giving Carniny a lead which they held at half-time.

Woodlands got back on level terms after Jonny Parkes head in on the 57th minute and this saw the teams still level as time began to run down.

With the game then in the last five minutes Jordan Graham scored for Carniny on the 85th minute and Dean Wright secured the win after scoring on the 90th minute.

Other results: Castle Star 3, 1st Mossley YM 0; Ballynure Old Boys ‘B’ 7, Moyola Park Olympic 4; Chimney Corner Reserves 1, York Road Loughside ‘A’ 8.

JUNIOR DIVISION THREE

Results: Ballysillan Swifts 0, Rathcoole FC 4; FC Whiteabbey 1, York Road Loughside ‘B’ 3; Sport & Leisure Swifts Reserves 5, 1st Carrickfergus OB 2.