Steel dream ends for Raceview

Jason Cairns' under-strength side fell to a 5-3 home defeat by Lower Maze in the opening round, ending any chance of a fairytale run to the competition's traditional Christmas Day final.

The Broughshane side can, however, console themselves in the knowledge that they have made a 100 per cent start to the defence of their Michelin Athletic Club-sponsored league title, the latest success a narrow 1-0 win over neighbours Clough Rangers Athletic in midweek.

That was Clough's second defeat in two games and it's no better for the returning Portglenone, who prop up the table after three games.

Those two sides meet in a local 'derby' in Cullybackey this Wednesday night.

FIXTURES

Matches involving locally-based sides this week are:

Wednesday, August 18 – Intermediate League (7pm): Ballycastle United v Raceview; Clough Rangers Athletic v Portglenone.

Saturday, August 21 – Intermediate League (2pm): Clough Rangers Athletic v Cookstown Olympic; Portglenone v Rasharkin United; FC Ballynure v Raceview.

Junior Division One: Carniny Amateurs v Killymoon Rangers Res; Chimney Corner Res v Moyola Park Olympic.

Junior Division Two: Raceview Athletic v FC Ballynure Res.

Junior Division Three: Wakehurst Strollers v Grange Rangers II; Antrim Rovers v 14th Newtownabbey.

STEEL AND SONS CUP

Raceview 3, Lower Maze 5: This was a bad day at the office for Raceview who, with a few regulars missing, went in four nil down at half-time.

Raceview struck a revival in the second half scoring three goals through Ricky Forsythe and own goal and Bobby Hanna to reduce the deficit to a single goal.

After this Raceview went all-out for the equaliser but the visitors held firm and with time running out caught Raceview with a fifth and decisive goal.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

Ballynure Old Boys 5, Portglenone 0: Ballynure were soon on attack and took the lead after new signing Ricky Thompson scored on the 15th minute then followed this up with his second goal on the 42nd minute.

Portglenone tried hard to get back into the game but a brace of goals scored by Mark Campbell on the 62nd and 71st minutes saw Ballynure in a very strong position. Time was then running down when Alan Dew scored a fifth for Ballynure.

Other results: Cookstown Olympic 5, Dunloy 2; Rasharkin United 3, Desertmartin 2.

Midweek results: Ballynure Old Boys 1, Brantwood 7; Cookstown Olympic 4, Portglenone 1; Raceview 1, Clough Rangers Athletic 0; FC Ballynure 0, Kilbride Swifts 3; Desertmartin 1, Dunloy 2.

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Chimney Corner Reserves 6, Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 4: Corner were in front after Matthew McClurg scored on the 8th minute but then saw the Comrades hit back with goals scored by Phil Logue and Ricky McAuley on the 12th and 17th minutes.

Matthew McClurg completed his hat-trick with goals scored on the 22nd and 27th minutes and with Nicky Ryles scoring on the 42nd minute the Comrades had it all to do.

Comrades pulled another goal back through Kevin Lynch on the 61st minute but two more goals scored by Matthew McClurg and Jimmy Nutter on the 74th and 79th minutes before the Ross Early got a fourth for the Comrades on the 85th minute to complete the scoring.

Other result: Ballymoney United Reserves 2, Killymoon Rangers Reserves 2.

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

Result: Carnlough Swifts 4, FC Ballynure Reserves 2.