A round up of amateur soccer matches in Down
The icy, wintery weather led to a number of matches being cancelled across the weekend soccer fixtures where many pitches were deemed to be unplayable, but several matches did go ahead writes Jim Masson.
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League.
Premier League.
Killough took on Celtic Bhoys Academy at Millfield and put on a Christmas show for the spectators who braved the cold to watch the 7-0 win for Killough. The home side were always looking to be in control in this clash and had a comfortable run executing steady pressure on Celtic who found it difficult to challenge a determined home side led by captain Gareth George who opened up the scoring in the 21st minute and scored again in the 54th leading from the front.
Division 1.
Dundrum Utd just managed to get the better of Ballynagross 11s in this match that ended 4-3. Four goals from Dundrum’s Chris Hogg kept the sea-siders in the game, two of them penalties testifying toi the competitive nature of the match. Scoring for Ballynagross were Oran Cunningham and Daniel Taggart (2). Hogg had scored in the 74th minute but Taggart came back with a goal on 86 minutes creating a last-minute opportunity to at least draw with Dundrum but the whistle beat them in the end in this closely contested match.
Cloughey overpowered Killough 11s with a 6-1 win in a strong performance with goals from a penalty by Corey Smyth, followed by goals from Brian McMaster (2), Oisin McGrattan, Corey Smyth, and Eoin Hughes. Colin McIlhone opened the scoring in the 12th minute and that must have been a call for the Cloughey team to rally. Killough never got going as the match progressed as teh Clough defenders fought off any attacks strongly.
Division 2.
Strangford 11s enjoyed a 4 – 0 win over Kilmore Rec Rovers with 2 goals in the first half and two in the second never looking under pressure.
NAFL Cochrane Corey Cup Round 3.
Celtic Bhoys 11 1 Ballysillan Swifts: Celtic turned on the heat on a freezing cold day at Ballhornan 3G pitch showing they were up for the challenge in this cup match. In full form Jay Gibney opened the scoring in the 10th minute and a steady stream of goals flowed from Jordan McCoubrey who had a hat-trick, Eamon Gargan (2), Peter Turley (2), Conaill Kerr, Shaun Megahey, Peter Casey, and Niall Morrison. Celtic haven’t been beaten this season yet and are going very well, with a full, fit motivated squad. Thery are hoping to go the distance in the Cochrane Corey Cup.
NAFL Premier Division 1A.
Comber Rec have come back onto solid ground after winning the Border Cup over Christmas. The club enjoyed a huge celebration. The Saturday local derby match against Ards Rangers was called off minutes before the whist at 2pm as the referee indicated there were two corners of the pitch where the surface was frozen and unsafe. And defender Lex Walker missed nothing as he was away on a ski-ing holiday.
The clash between Abbey Villa and Drumaness Mills was fairly one sided as the visitors scooped up four goals with a clean sheet. Adam Kearney opened the scoring with an early 14th minute goal and another in the 40th minute putting Drumaness in the driving seat. Aidan Watson and Peter Brannigan polished off Villa in the 45th and 47th minutes with the home side held comfortably by a strong Drumaness side.
NAFL Division 1A.
Kilmore Rec put Shankhill Utd to the sword on 3-0 at Robert Adams Park with 3 second half goals in a fairly competitive match. Jack Larkin in the 70th and Anton McGratton in the 80th. Check out Cyril McKinney’s report on:
Dunmurry YM entertained Ballynahinch Olympic at home in a 4-2 win. Olympic are languishing at the bottom of the league while Dunmurry are second top behind Kilmore Rec. But despite the gap in teh league table, Olympic put uo a spirited fight with goals from Ryan Walsh in the 2nd minute shaking the home side and a late goal from Nathan Jones in the 89th. But despite the spirited performance from Olympic, Dunmurry netted four goals to win the match securing the points.
Hollywood FC clung on to a win against Sirocco Works at 5-4 in a 9 goal thriller. Goals from Joshua Craig (2), the second from a penalty, John James (2), and Conor Burns nailed the winner in the 87th minute to deny Sirocco any points.
NAFL Division 1B.
Newcastle took on Portaferry Rovers at Bear Park and enjoyed a 3-0 win at the base of a snow-covered Slieve Donard. This was a bottom of the table clash as Newcastle are now holding third position on 11 points with Portaferry training second bottom on 7 points to the Malachians on 2 points.
Visitors Greenisland hammered Malachians 0-14 on their home pitch at the Shore Road Playing Fields. Scorers were William Bingham (4), Cameron Macauley (3), William Moore (3) Jordan Sinclair (2), Michael Roscoe, and Adam Carlin. This game was a mis-match as Greenisland are third top of the table on 32 points whilst Malachians are struggling on bottom position with just 2 points in the bag to date this season staring into the jaws of relegation unless they find some magic for 2025.
NAFL Division 1C.
Castlewellan Town beat Orangefield OB’s 2-0 with goals from Connor Marron in the 16th and Ryan Morgan in the 77th. The OB’s struggled against a strong home side but had a few opportunities they did not cash in on.
NAFL Division 2A.
Bangor YM v Taughmonagh YM ended up as a 3-0 win for the home side with goals from Sam Howell getting the advantage on 42 minutes before half-time, and with second half goals from Chris Crooks (58 minutes) and sub Owen Donaldson on 71 minutes to close the game down.
NAFL Division 2C.
Home side Clonard faced a determined Groomsport who notched up a 0-7 goal win with an an opener goals from Jack Ennis on 24 minutes followed by a quick flurry of goals from Travis Carson, Robbie Reid (2) and Greg McIntyre (2) with Chris McCormick putting the icing on the cake in the 85th minute.
NAFL: Walter Moore Cup.
Home side Bloomfield FC 11s took on Dromara Village 11s and lost 2-5 to the visitors. Scoring for Dromara were Steven Neill, Niall Fleming, Matthew McCandless, Lee Patterson and Ben Russell in the 41st minutes. Zak Megaw scored for the homeside and James O’Kane added to it in the 90th minute pulling a goal back for Bloomfield but the game was in the bag for Dromara with their stronger performance.
And Bangor Swifts 11s played Bangor Amateurs in a local derby and it settled with a 3-0 win for the Swifts with goals in the 23rd, 60th and 80th minutes.
