Carniny three steps from heaven?

CARNINY Rangers are potentially just three steps away from an amazing Junior Cup and Junior Shield double.

Robert Young's side's amazing season continued on Saturday as they won 5-1 at Stranmillis to reach the quarter-final of the Coca-Cola Junior Cup. They are already in the last eight of the County Antrim Junior Shield.

COCA-COLA JUNIOR CUP

Stranmillis 1, Carniny Rangers 5: The first half of this game was nip and tuck but Carniny gradually took control and opened the scoring on the half hour mark. Ryan Balmer cut in from the left and sent in an inch perfect cross which Chris Dowie headed home from eight yards.

Last week Carniny came back from two down at half time to win with a storming second half performance and they did the same again, hitting the Amateur League side with four goals in the second period.

The first of these came on 10 minutes when Roger Jones split the home defence to put Ryan Balmer free and he race clear to slot the ball home.

Five minutes later it was 3-0 when Jones played a short corner to Balmer who found the net with a powerful left foot shot from 20 yards.

Carniny were running riot now and hit their fourth goal when Jones collected the ball from Jason Robinson on the out ball line and spotting the home keeper off his goal line chipped the ball over him and into the net.

Robert Wright came on as sub for Carniny and made an immediate impact when he played a beautiful through ball to Chris Dowie who chipped the ball over the advancing home keeper.

Carniny conceded a late goal but they had completed the business and now await the quarter final draw on Wednesday.

ARKMEDIA O'KANE CUP

Seven Towers 3, Carnlough Swifts 3 (Seven Towers win 4-3 on pens): This was the fifth attempt to play this outstanding third round match and it was worth waiting with second division Seven Towers winning on penalty kick against first division Carnlough.

Both teams went close to scoring in the opening minutes but it was Towers who got in front when Alan Telford picked out Philip Lynn down the right. The pacy winger drove into the box and had his shot blocked by the Carnlough keeper Connor McNeill but Simon Murray was waiting to tap in the rebound.

The lead only lasted a few minutes when Carnlough won a freekick 30 yards from goal, Michael Abram curled his shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

Towers got back in front on 30 minutes when Ryan Brady played a short corner to Neil Marrs who sent in a cross which was headed home by Simon Murray to make it 2-1.

Carnlough started the second half strongly and got a penalty on 50 minutes when a Towers defender chopped down James Mellon. Swifts keeper Connor McNeill took the spot kick but it came off the post only for Ohran Scullion to follow up and score.

Towers regained the lead for the third time when Ryan Brady picked out Simon Murray in the box and slotted home to complete his hat trick.

This goal looked to have won the tie but Carnlough came back again and snatched an equaliser when good play in midfield from Brendan McDermott made space for a shot from the edge of the box which was spilled by Stephen Marrs and he followed up to make it 3.3 and take the tie into extra time

There was no more goals in extra time so the tie went to penalty kicks. Towers won 4 - 3 in the shoot out with Stephen Marrs the Towers keeper the hero saving two penalties and leaving Colin McCrory the opportunity to score the wining penalty. .

BSML DIVISION ONE

FC Moylena 2, North End 3: North End secured a valuable three points which consolidates their position in Division One against strong Moylena side.

North End got the goal their early play warranted when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out for a foul on Chris McGaughey and Colm McCambridge curled the ball home to make it 1-0.

This stung Moylena into life and they raced into 2-1 lead within 12 minutes of going behind with goals from Stuart McCrea and Nathan Wilson, but they couldn't hold out until the break as North End drew level when a Ryan Quinn cross deceived Steven Turner in the Moylena goal and snuck in at the back post.

The second half was end to end but it was North End who got the fifth goal of the game on 57 minutes when Mark McGaughey was fouled in the Moylena box and a penalty was awarded to North End. Dean Dunlop stepped up and fired home from the spot.

All Saints OB 5, Ahoghill Rovers 2: Saints got the breakthrough on the half hour mark when Aidan O'Kane swung over an inch perfect cross which was headed home by Connor Crilly.

Five minutes before the break it was 2-0 to Saints when a long throw in from Paul McCann was controlled and hammered home by Stephen Tully from six yards out.

Rovers to their credit kept plugging away and gave themselves hope for the second half when Johnny McKeown wriggled his way past three Saints men before slotting the ball into the corner of the net.

Saints came out in determined mood taking the game to Rovers and their pressure paid off on 55 minutes when Aidan O'Kane split the Rovers defence for Connor Crilly to race clear and knock the ball past Mark Ferguson in the Rovers goal.

Saints made it 4-1 eight minutes later when Stephen Tully rose highest to head home an inch perfect Aidan O'Kane corner kick.

Ten minutes from time Saints made it 5-1 when a long throw from Paul McCann was only half cleared to Eoin Hudson who volleyed the ball home from 18 yards out.

Rovers got a consolation goal right on the final whistle when Matt Purse beat Saints keeper Brian Martin with a long range effort from all of 25 yards.

Harryville Homers 3, Randalstown Sky Blues 0: Homers kept up their title challenge in a match played on very heavy conditions which didn't suit either side who both try to get the ball down and play football.

The home side took the lead on 15 minutes through route one when their keeper Richard Aitcheson played a long ball up field which was headed on by Alan Rainey for Jason Stevenson who raced clear and fired home the opener.

In the second half Homers took control with the evergreen Ian Millar and Gordan Mairs in midfield running the show and they doubled their lead on 51 minutes. Keith Wylie made a great run down the left and his cross was only half cleared to Jason Stevenson who rifled the ball into the top corner.

The third goal came 15 minutes from time when Barry McDowell collected the ball on the edge of his box and made a run down the right and sent in a low shot which David Reid could only parry out to Ian Millar who found the net with his less-favoured right foot.

BSML DIVISION TWO

Connor ran riot hitting bottom side Riverdale for ten and are strong challengers for the second division title.

At the top Broadway Celtic continue to lead and they consolidated this lead with a 4-3 win at Larne over St.Comgalls.

Ahoghill Thistle are hitting form at the best time and kept their Play Off hopes with a convincing 6-2 win over Braid United while Shore Wanderers beat relegation candidates FC Penarol 4-2.

BSML Division Three

Only two games in Division Three with Dunloy Athletic beating Randalstown 3-2 to keep up their chase of League Leaders Westend athletic. In the other game Cullybackey Olympic look hot favourites to qualify for the Play offs with a convincing 4-1 win over Cloughmills Thistle.

SAMMY MOORE TROPHY

First round, second leg result: Steadfast 1 Woodside 3 (Woodside win 5-3 on aggregate).

LEAGUE MEETING

The next Ballymena Saturday Morning League meeting is on Monday 15th February with an 8pm start at Ballymena United Sports and Social Club.

FIXTURES

Saturday, February 13 - Paddy Power Junior Shield, round five (1.30pm): Moat Park Rangers v Abbeyview.

BSML Division One (10.15am): Ballykeel v FC Moylena; Glenarm Rovers v Ahoghill Rovers (Sandy Bay); Holywell v Harryville Homers; North End v Carniny Rangers (Dunfane); Randalstown Sky Blues v FC Antrim; Templepatrick v Carnlough Swifts (Forum).

George McAuley Cup, round one: Ahoghill Thistle v Seven Towers; Clough Rangers v Blackstone Rovers; Michelin v Connor FC; FC Inter Stars v FC Penarol (Waveney 1).

BSML Division Two: Waveney Swifts v Braid United (Waveney 2); Riverdale v St Comgalls (Wakehurst 2); Shore Wanderers v Broadway Celtic.

Sammy Moore Trophy, first round, second leg: Demesne Star (0] v Atletico Antrim (2] (Showgrounds 4); Wakehurst Athletic (3] v Inver Athletic (2] (Wakehurst 1).

BSML Division Three: Cullybackey Olympic v Randalstown (Tober Park); Dunloy Athletic v Cloughmills Thistle; Steadfast v Westend Athletic (Galgorm); Woodside v Lisnafillan Swifts (Wakehurst).