SML round-up: Abbeyview provide early-season dent to Carniny’s title aspirations

Robert Young’s side, who were the league kingpins prior to the current era of Harryville Homers dominance suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Abbeyview which already leaves them playing catch-up on early pacesetters Homers and Ahoghill Thistle.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Abbeyview 2, Carniny Rangers 1: Carniny struck early when a well worked corner saw Frazer Young’s cross find Dean Dunlop at the near post and his neat flick found the net to put his side ahead after four minutes.

Abbeyview weren’t there just to make up the numbers and after Roy Robinson latched on to a through ball in the 12th minute he was left in a duel with new Carniny keeper Sean Ward after Alan Norton pulled up injured in the chase. Roy Robinson retained his composure to net the equaliser.

The home side had a great chance to go ahead ten minutes later when awarded a penalty kick but Sean Ward made an excellent diving save low to his right to keep out Roy Robinson’s spot kick.

With a draw looking inevitable Carniny had one last effort with an injury time corner but Abbeyview cleared the ball and broke quickly. Johnny Hunter punished some slack defending as he netted the winner to claim the points for the home team.

Glenravel 3, All Saints OB 4: Saints weathered the early pressure and got themselves in front on 10 minutes.

Ryan Wilkinson broke into the box and was fouled. Stephen Sexton stepped up and fired the spot kick past Jonathan Reid.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Alan Telford curled a magnificent free kick into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Straight from the kick off Saints broke and Stephen Sexton slipped in Ciaran McGarry drove in and fired into the roof of the net.

It was Glenravel who got the next goal on the half hour mark. Conan Dunne and Ryan Brady combined in midfield for the latter to slip in Emmet Kerr to fire home.

Just after the hour mark Glenravel where reduced to ten men and then five minutes later Saints had a man ordered off as well.

Saints made it 4-1 with 12 minutes to go when Barry Hamill found the top corner with a cross come shot.

Late on Glenravel reduced the deficit to 4-2 when Deccy Higgins slotted home and then in the dying minute Caolan McCambridge made it 4-3. Ballykeel 1, Ahoghill Thistle 6: Ballykeel started in style and almost scored after 55 seconds, when Lee Mark hit the post but their good start was rewarded when they went in front when Mark fired home from 12 yards.

Thistle came in to the game and levelled through Matt Boyd, when he volleyed home a George Courtney cross.

Thistle then made it 2-1 when Matt Boyd split the home defence for Ryan Sands to score.

Two minutes into the second have it was 3-1 when Ryan Sands scored his second from a George Courtney cross.

Then 4-1 came soon after Matt Boyd fired home from eight yards out. The game was all thistle now and Jason Stewart raced through on to a through ball by David Drummond, before rounding the keeper to make it 5-1.

Paul Aiken arounded off the scoring when he finished well after being played in by Matt Boyd.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION THREE

Southside Rangers 0, Atletico Antrim 3: The Antrim side kept another clean sheet in their 3-0 win against new comers Southside.

The first goal came on the half hour mark when a quickly taken short corner was then whipped in by Nathan Irvine to find Andy Mulholland unmarked at the back post to head home.

It took 10 minutes in to the second half for Atletico to get their second through a penalty.

It was created by Andy Campbell who picked the ball up on the half way and ran at the full back but after a lunging tackle, he was brought down in the box. David Thompson stepped up to coolly put the ball high into the corner of the net leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

The game was sealed when Chris Wilgaus came on and made an impact from a sweeping Andy Cambpell cross and scored with a good strike from 6 yards out to make it two wins from two for his side.

OTHER RESULTS

County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup, round two: Ahoghill Rovers 2, Sporting Ballymoney 1.

firmus energy Division One: Abbeyview 3, FC Antrim 0; Clough Rangers 1, Raceview 0; Connor 2, Harryville Homers 8; Riverdale 2, Glenravel 2; Newpark Olympic 1, FC Moylena 1; Ahoghill Thistle 1, Clough Rangers 0; Connor 5, Riverdale 5; Harryville Homers 8, FC Antrim 0.

firmus energy Division Two: Carnlough Swifts 4, Michelin 3; FC Penarol 3, Waveney Swifts 3; Galgorm Blues 1, Cloughmills 3; Randalstown 6, Cushendall 0; Seven Towers 1, Ahoghill Rovers 3; Cushendall 1, Sporting Ballymoney 5; FC Penarol 2, Galgorm Blues 0; Holywell 1, Ahoghill Rovers 6; Michelin 0, Seven Towers 1; Waveney Swifts 3, Carnlough Swifts 5; Woodside 2, Randalstown 5.

firmus energy Division Three: Cullybackey Olympic 1, Wakehurst Star 0; Northend & District 1, Ruby’s Rovers 7; St Comgalls 5, Braid United 3; Templepatrick 1, Braid United 3; Ruby’s Rovers 7 Cullybackey Olympic 1; Steadfast 0, St Comgalls 2; Wakehurst Star 1, Carniny Amateurs 3.

FIXTURES

Tuesday, August 25 (6.45pm) - Division One: Ahoghill Thistle v Harryville Homers (Ahoghill); All Saints OB v Ballykeel (Showgrounds 5); Clough Rangers v Carniny Rangers (Clough); FC Antrim v Raceview (Forum 5); FC Moylena v Connor (Forum 4); Newpark Olympic v Glenravel; Riverdale v Abbeyview (Wakehurst 2).

Wednesday, August 26 (6.45pm) - Division Two: Ahoghill Rovers v Cloughmills (Ahoghill); Cushendall v Michelin (Sandy Bay); Galgorm Blues v Waveney Swifts (Galgorm); Seven Towers v Holywell (Showgrounds 4); Woodside v Carnlough Swifts (Wakehurst 6/Ballykeel).

Division Three: Atletico Antrim v Wakehurst Star (Forum 6); Braid United v Southside Rangers (Broughshane); Carniny Amateurs v St Comgalls (Showgrounds 5); Northend & District v Steadfast (Dunfane 1); Cullybackey Olympic v Templepatrick (Tober Park).

Thursday, August 27 (6.45pm) - Division One: Ballykeel v Harryville Homers (Ballykeel); Carniny Rangers v FC Moylena (Wakehurst 1); Connor v Abbeyview (Connor); FC Antrim v Riverdale (Forum 5); Newpark Olympic v Clough Rangers; Raceview v Ahoghill Thistle (Broughshane).

Saturday, August 29 (10.15am) - Division One: Harryville Homers v Glenravel (Wakehurst 2).