SML round-up: Southside produce another knockout display

The Ballymena Saturday Morning League Division Three newcomers followed up their Junior Cup win the previous week with a superb 2-0 win at Ballymacash Rangers II in the Shield.

In total, seven BSML sides made progress in the prestigious competition.

TOALS COUNTY ANTRIM SHIELD

Ballymacash Rangers II 0 Southside Rangers 2: A brace from substitute Corey McDowell was enough to see Southside make it into the next round of the Shield emulating their success from last week in the Cup.

On 20 minutes Southside were dealt a blow when front man Ryan Corrigan had to come off with an injury, but his replacement Corey McDowell was soon in the thick of the action as he fired his side in front on the half hour mark.

Sam McNiece dropped off the front, turned and slipped the ball behind the home defence for Corey McDowell to latch onto and fire low past the home keeper.

Keeper Steven Turner was the hero for Southside at the start of the second half as he dealt with a series of corners and made some good saves to keep his side in front.

With 10 minutes to go Southside doubled their lead when Dylan Graham released Corey McDowell and he calmly slotted home his second of the game.

The game was then delayed for several minutes when a home player fell awkwardly, and this caused a lot of added time, but Southside dug in and defended doggedly with Mark Crawford again outstanding in seeing the game out sending Southside into the next round.

Abbeyview 3, Sparta Belfast 0: Abbeyview got off to a flyer after Jordan Lynn was hauled down inside the box after just two minutes and Lynn picked himself up to convert from the spot.

Abbeyview came out strong in the second half dominating play and were rewarded when after strong play in midfield Johnny hunter put Alan Cochrane in to finish 2-0.

Abbeyview were awarded a second penalty when Chris Lynn was brought down but he failed to convert from 12 yards.

The third goal came when Davy McWilliams squared the ball to Johnny Hunter who brilliantly lobbed the visiting keeper to send Abbeyview comfortably into the next round.

Ahoghill Thistle 3, Carnlough Swifts 2: In this all BSML tie the game swung in the direction of Swifts on the half hour mark when Thistle had a man sent off for an altercation in the middle of the park.

Three minutes before the break Swifts took the lead. Michael Abram split the home defence and for Brendan McDermott who this time made no mistake to give his side a half time lead.

Ten man Thistle went on the front foot early in the second half and drew level after seven minutes. Paul Aiken went on a mazy run from the right taking him inside the box and he poked the ball past Jonathan Fyfe.

On the hour mark Thistle took the lead when another mazy run from Paul Aiken caused havoc and he slipped the ball to Ryan Sands to fire home.

This should have killed the fight in Swifts but they gathered themselves and fought back to draw level when good work from Sean Ward set up strike partner Brendan McDermott to fire home his second and set up a grandstand last 20 minutes.

With six minutes to go the crucial fifth goal came and it came for Thistle. George Courtney swung over a corner from the right and Matt Boyd rose above the Swifts defence to head home. ‘

Elsewhere in the Shield four more BSML sides progressed, with Clough Rangers winning their all BSML tie against Wakehurst Star comprehensively 7-0. In the other BSML tie Cloughmills defeated Woodside by the odd goal in three to make it into the Second Round. Raceview also progressed coming from 3-2 down at half time to win 7-3 against Mallusk Athletic and Carniny Rangers kept up their great run of form as late with a 3-1 away win against Vision Athletic.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

FC Moylena 0, All Saints OB 4: Saints got off to the perfect start after two minutes when Barry Hamill swung a free kick over from the right and it deceived everyone and ended up in the corner of the net.

On the stroke of half time Saints doubled their lead when a patient build up ended with Mark McAllister crossing for Philip Lynn to head into the top corner and send his side in 2-0 up at the break.

The goal just before half time inspired Saints for the second half as they dominated from start to finish and should have added to their lead early in the half with Barry Hamill going close with another free kick which clipped the bar.

With two minutes to go Saints killed the game when Barry Hamill clipped a ball forward for Liam Cassley to race clear and score.

Then right on full time Liam Cassley won the ball back on the by-line and squared for Philip Lynn to score his second and keep up Saints 100% start to the league.

OTHER RESULTS

Toals Co Antrim Junior Shield Round 1A:

Clough Rangers 7 Wakehurst Star 0; Vision Athletic 1 Carniny Rangers 3; Carnmoney FC 2 Newpark Olympic 1; New Santos 4 Ballykeel 1; Raceview 7 Mallusk Athletic 3; Tollymore United 1 Atletico Antrim 0; Woodside 1 Cloughmills FC 2; Wellington Rec II 3 Cullybackey Olympic 0; Dunmurry Rec II 2 Carniny Amateurs 1; FC Penarol 1 Castlewellan Town 3; Shamrock FC 10 Randalstown FC 1.

firmus energy Division One: Connor FC 1 Glenravel 2; Harryville Homers 3 Riverdale 0

firmus energy Division Two: Cushendall 3 Holywell 2; Michelin 6 Galgorm Blues 0; Sporting Ballymoney 0 Seven Towers 1; Waveney Swifts 2 Ahoghill Rovers 4.

firmus energy Division Three: Rubys Rovers 2 Braid United 0; Steadfast 0 Northend & District 3.

FIXTURES

Saturday, October 3 - Toals Co Antrim Junior Shield Round 1B (1.30pm): 22nd Old Boys FC B v FC Moylena; Strangford FC v Glenravel; Ballysillan Swifts v Harryville Homers; Galgorm Blues v 1st Carrick OB (Galgorm); 4th Newtownabbey OB B v Waveney Swifts; Sandy Row FC v Riverdale; Connor FC v Kashmir Bilbao (Connor); Sporting Ballymoney v 43rd Dundonald FC; Ballynagross FC v Braid United; Ahoghill Rovers v Steadfast (Ahoghill); Templepatrick v Holywell (Forum); St Comgalls v Downshire YM II

County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup 3rd Round (10.15am): Carniny Rangers v Michelin (Wakehurst 1); Ballykeel v Randalstown (Ballykeel); Woodside v All Saints OB (Wakehurst 1).

firmus energy Division One: Abbeyview v Clough Rangers (Forum); Newpark Olympic v Ahoghill Thistle (Forum).

firmus energy Division Two: Carnlough Swifts v FC Penarol; Seven Towers v Cloughmills (Showgrounds 4).

firmus energy Division Three: Carniny Amateurs v Southside Rangers (Showgrounds 7); Northend & District v Atletico Antrim (Dunfane); Wakehurst Star v Ruby’s Rovers (Showgrounds 5).