Eight SML sides make progress in Junior Shield

The pick of the performances came from Connor, who came from two goals down to beat last season’s Junior SHield finalists Portaferry Rovers 3-2.

CO ANTRIM JUNIOR SHIELD

Connor 3, Portaferry Rovers II 2: The visitors opened the scoring on 20 minutes with an unstoppable shot from 30 yards which gave Connor keeper Bobby Mitchell no chance.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 for the visitors when they found the net with a free kick which went in off the post.

Connor finally settled and pulled back a goal after Mervyn Crawford and Darren Trainor combined for the latter to head the ball home. The second half saw Connor continuing to dominate and their pressure paid off 7 minutes into the second half when Jamie White rose above the Rovers defence to head home Mervyn Crawfords corner kick.

Connor continued to control the game but it was not until 3 minutes from time when they got the winner. David McWhirter split the visitors defence with a great through ball which sent Darren Trainor through and he slotted the ball home.

Clough Rangers 4, Woodlands 2: Clough suffered an early setback when goalkeeper John Cunningham made a poor clearance from a pass back and was lobbed from 25 yards. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 when a cross from the right split the Clough defence and the Woodlands striker nipped in to score from six yards out.

Clough reduced the deficit 10 minutes into the second half when Colin Byers curled a free kick into the top corner.

Clough were all square when Chris McDonald fired home through a group of players after a neat layoff from Jordon Leighton. The same duo were involved in the third goal, this time a one two saw McDonald run clear and he calmly rounded the keeper before dispatching the ball into the net.

And McDonald was on hand to finish off a fine team move which left him with the chance to fire into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Ballykeel 6, 22nd OB ‘A’ 1: Chris Djorjani forced the keeper to pull off a good early save but Dean Graham pounced on to the loose ball and headed Ballykeel into an early lead.

Ballykeel kept the pressure up and again Djorjani broke through to slip the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0. Ballykeels football was very easy on the eye and again man of the match Djorjani picked the ball up at the edge of box and shot into the bottom corner to send the home side three up at half time.

Another outstanding Ballykeel move saw Stevie McKay pick the ball up 25 yards and unleashed an inch perfect shot into the top corner to make it 4-0. New signing Graham Adams came on and found himself at the end of a perfect team move and took his first chance perfectly firing into the bottom corner to make it 5-0. 22nd OBs pulled one back with a well worked free kick but Ballykeel had the final say when Kyle Balmer found himself one on one with the keeper and confidently curled it past the keeper to make it 6-1.

Ahoghill Thistle 5, Drumbo FC 1: Thistle opened the scoring when Alan Moore sent in a corner kick and George Courtney drove the ball home from 3yards. Drumbo got the leveller soon after when slack defending let then in to fire home with a shot from 16yards in to the roof of the net.

The second half started with Thistle playing with the rain and keeper Stewart McDonald went route one when he launched a long ball up field and it bounced to David Tennant who ran through and then toe poked the ball home.

Jason Stewart then slipped David Tennant through on goal and he coolly chipped the keeper from 12 yards to make it 3-1. The fourth came straight after through Marc Young when Gary Tennant passed the ball in to Marc’s feet and he turned his marker and fired into the top corner from 18yards.

Number 5 came soon after when David Tennant crossed to Marc Young who was on hand at the front post to fire home .

Islandmagee II 1, All Saints OB 3: The Islanders punished some sloppy defending after only four minutes.

Saints rallied and on 12 minutes drew level when Gavin Burnside was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Burnside picked himself up and fired home from the spot to make it 1-1.

Saints went in front when Ryan Wilkinson raced clear and unselfishly squared the ball to Burnside who slotted the ball past the home keeper.

The third goal did come on 63 minutes when Gerard Spurgeon rose highest at the back post to head home a Burnside corner.

Bangor Swifts II 1, FC Moylena 2 (aet): In horrendous conditions, Bangor Swifts took the lead after a break away.

Moylena levelled the tie from a corner kick which was headed in by Stuart McCrea.

In extra time, Moylena were awarded a penalty when the Swifts keeper brought down Stuart McCrea. Paul Milliken stepped up and blasted the ball into the net.

The other two winners in the Shield were Carniny Rangers who hammered Newington Rangers II 9-0 and North End Shamrocks who beat Sport & Leisure Res 4-3 away from home.

OTHER RESULTS

Co Antrim Shield 2nd Round: Colin Bhoys II 2, FC Antrim 1; Greenwell Star 6, St Comgalls 0; Colin Valley Res. 5, Shore Wanderers 4 (AET); Ballysillan YM 2, Michelin 1.

Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Randalstown Sky Blues 5, Ahoghill Rovers 1; FC Penarol 2, Abbeyview 1.

Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Braid United 1, Riverdale 3; Cushendall 3, Randalstown 3; Holywell 1, Seven Towers 5.

Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Atletico Antrim 4, Steadfast 0; FC Bayern Money 1, Wakehurst Star 3; Templepatrick 3, Woodside 2.

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 2 (10.15am) - Co Antrim Post O’Kane Cup Quarter Final: Connor FC v Randalstown Sky Blues.

Ballymena Mortgages Division One: Harryville Homers v Clough Rangers (Wakehurst 2); Carniny Rangers v Carnlough Swifts (Wakehurst 1); All Saints OB v Abbeyview (Showgrounds 5); Ahoghill Thistle v Shore Wanderers; Michelin v Ballykeel; FC Moylena v FC Penarol (Forum).

Ballymena Mortgages Division Two: Raceview v Randalstown (Broughshane); Cloughmills Thistle v Braid United; North End Shamrocks v Cushendall (Dunfane); Waveney Swifts v FC Antrim (Waveney 2); St Comgalls v Holywell; Seven Towers v Riverdale (Showgrounds 4).

Sammy Moore Cup, first round, first leg: Woodside v Steadfast (Wakehurst 3); Galgorm Blues v Atletico Antrim (Galgorm); Cullybackey Olympic v Templepatrick (Tober Park);

Ballymena Mortgages Division Three: Newpark Olympic v Lisnafillan Swifts (Forum).