WEEKEND REPORTS W/E 03/02/24

BALLYMENA and PROVINCIAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

MATCH REPORTS

Week-ending Saturday 3rd February 2024

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It was good to get all the scheduled games except two played on Saturday with none being affected by severe weather.

Hopefully, this trend and we are now in February and a large number of Domestic Cup games to be played.

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INTERMEDIATE

LEAGUE

GROUP B

St JAMES SWIFTS 1 - 3 WAKEHURST

After a steady start by both teams Wakehurst went in front when Jason Paul scored on the 19th minute. Things got better for Wakehurst when Andrew Laughlin scored on the 34th minute putting them two nil in front at half-time. The Swifts got back in the game when Ciaran Hyland scored on the 47th minute. After this Wakehurst closed at the back and hit the Swifts with a third goal scored by Connor Doherty on the 71st minute to take all three points.

Referee Ms Arleen Campbell

RATHCOOLE 0 - 1 DUNLOY

Both teams played it very tight during the first half-hour. Things changed on the 36th minute when Kyle Robinson scored putting Dunloy in front this score remaining at half-time. Rathcoole tried hard to get back level in the second half, but Dunloy held out to win by the single goal.

Referee Mr Finton Coyle

NEWBUILDINGS UNITED 2 - 0 BRANTWOOD

The home side took an early lead in the game when Matthew Pierce scored on the 9th minute. Half-time came and the single goal divided the teams. The score remained until Jack McClelland scored a second goal for Newbuildings on the 63rd minute securing the win.

Referee Mr Kyle Barr

CRAWFORD CUP

GROUP One

CHIMNEY CORNER 1 - 5 BELFAST CELTIC

The first goal in the game was scored by Shane McKernan on the 43rd minute putting Celtic ahead. The Corner hit back withy Leon Carsley scoring on the 45th minute. Celtic went in front again after Shane McKernan scored his second goal on the 52nd minute then completed his hat-trick on the 68th minute. Ronan Hamill scored number four for Celtic on the 79th minute before Shane McKernan scored his fourth goal on the 81st minute.

Referee Mr Terry Foley.

BALLYMONEY UNITED 3 - 1 MAIDEN CITY

The City took an early lead after Gary McFadden scored on the 10th minute then Jake Francis equalised for the Toon on the 26th minute. City had a man sent off on the 47th minute and this cost them in the final minutes of the game when Gerald Gillan and Chandler Douglas scored for the Toon on the 85th and 87th minutes.

Referee Mr Marty Woods

GROUP Three

DESERTMARTIN 0 - 2 DONEGAL CELTIC

This was a close game and at half-time it was a goal scored by Shay Burns on the 40thm8inute that saw Celtic in front. The Martins went all-out for the equaliser in the second half, but Celtic played it tight getting a second goal when James Mullan scored on the 78th minute to secure the win.

Referee Mr Marty Crawford

COOKSTOWN YOUTH 8 0 NEWTOWNE

This was certainly a good day for the Youth but was anything but a good day for Newtowne. Curtis Hassan started off the goal scoring with hat-trick on the 25th, 37th and 38th minutes. Steven Artrell added number four on the 69thminuite followed by Jonathan McKenna 73rd, Mark Megarry 77th and 85 and Steven Arrell 91st minutes.

Referee Mr Gary Thompson

GROUP Four

STRABANE AHLETIC 4 - 0 WELLINGTON REC

Strabane went in front after Pater Kirk scored on the 13th minute followed by Warner Mullen scoring on the 18th minute. Things then settled down followed by Conal Crawford scoring a third for the Strabane on the 52nd minute. The Rec had man sent off on the 81st minute followed by their manager on the 86th minute. Time was almost up when Simon McGlynn scored number four for Strabane on the 91st minute.

Referee Mr Damien Maguire

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JUNIOR DIVISIONS

ONE

GREENCASTLE ROVERS 6 - 0 GREENISLAND DEV

Two goals scored by Paul McAdorey on the 13th and 18th minutes saw the Rovers in control. Christopher Graham made it three nil on the 27th minute followed by Daniel McLarnon scoring on the 62nd minute. Paul McAdorey then scored two more goals on the 69th and 95th minutes bringing his tally to four in the game.

Referee Mr Lewis Allison

INSPIRED COMMUNITY 1 - 2 DESERTMARTIN SWIFTS

After a quiet start by both teams Malam Sanha scored for Inspired on the 43rd minute putting his team in front at half-time. An own goal conceded by Inspired on the 50th minute saw the teams back level. The clinching goal in the game was scored by Issac Nelson on the 76th minute giving the win to the Swifts.

Referee Mr Colin Arrell

St JAMES SWIFTS Res 3 3 RATHCOOLE RESERVES

The swifts went in front after Martin McDonald scored on the 10th minute then Ian Hunter scored for Rathcoole on the 12th minute which saw the teams, level at half-time though the Swifts had a man sent off on the 21st minute. Rathcoole went in front after Ian Hunter scored on the 50th minute and completed his hat-trick om the 62nd minute. The Swifts got a goal back when Martin McDonald scored a penalty on the 65th minute. Rathcoole had man sent off on the 80th minute and Mohammad Alhuamn scored the equaliser for Swifts on the 82nd minute.

Referee Mr Paul Moore

3rd BALLYCLARE OB 0 - 1 COOKSTOWN OLYMPIC

Goalscoring chances were at a premium in this game which resulted in only one goal being scored by Aiden Doyle on the 35th minute which saw Olympic take all three points. The Old boys had man sent off on the 86th minute.

Referee Mr Paul Lecky

MALONEYS P P KILLYMOON RANGERS

Maloneys have folded as a Club.

SOFIA FARMER P P BELFAST ATHETIC

Sofia Farmer did not fulfil Fixture.

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TWO

BALLYCLARE NORTH END 2 - 5 GREENCASTLE ROVERS II

This was certainly a high scoring game which saw Tomas Neeson scored on the 4th and 21st minutes putting the Rovers ahead. Niall Southam and Michael Smyth added two more goals on the 35th and 51st minutes. Steven Howe replied for North End with a brace of goals core on the 52nd and 86th minutes and the final goal scored by Caolan McMullan for the Rovers on the 90th minute.

Referee Mr Rodney Campbell

LOUGHSIDE 3 - 1 GRANGE RANGERS

Grange went in front after Darren Hamilton scored on the 8th minute and held this lead until Leigh McCullough scored for Loughside on the 37th minute. Loughside went in front after Christopher Torrens scored on the 64th minute and sealed the win when Mark McAuley scored on the 86th minute.

Referee Mr Stephen Grant

RED STAR 2 - 2 HIGHTOWN ATHLETIC

The first goal in the game was scored by Gavin Knipe on the 35thminute putting the Athletic in front. Half-time saw this goal still separating the teams until Ryan Lewis scored for the Star on the 73rd minute. The Athletic went back in front after Nathan Johnston scored on the 81st minute then with time running down fast Lloyd Watters cored the equaliser for the Star on the 88th minute.

Referee Mr Brian Leitch

NORTH BALLYMENA RGS 5 - 8 AHOGHILL THISTLE DEV

This was certainly a high scoring game with goals scored by:

Darren Cummins 28th, 33rd, 41st 82nd and Colin Lewis 73rd minutes for North Ballymena

Dane Archer 29th, 43rd, 47th, 56th, Lewis McDonald 58th, Evan Johnston 54th, 95th, Jason Johnston 40th minutes for Ahoghill Thistle.

Referee Mr Mark O’Neil

DONEGAL CELTIC RES 1 - 3 BALLYNURE OB ‘B’

The Old Boys went in front after Matthew Montgomery scored on the 27th minute then Darren Gallagher equalised for Celtic on the 38th minute. The Old Boys took the lead for a second time after Thomas Robinson scored on the 58th minute and sealed the win when Kyle Abernethy scored on the 80th minute.

Referee Mr Paul Aston

BELFAST CELTIC RES 0 - 4 WELLINGTON REC II

The Rec went in front after Matthew Liddle scored on the 24th minute and followed this with a second goal scored by Elliott Bagshaw on the 30th minute. Richard Wilson made it three nil on the 46th minute. Time was running down when Celtic had two players sent off on the 79th minute then a minute later Jonathan Norrell scored number four for the Rec.

Referee Mr Alan McWhirter

NEWINGTON RANGERS 3 - 0 NORTH BELFAST UNITED

North Belfast United forfeit game 3-0 as Suspended by the IFA

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