Larne were kept on the defensive and Newry should have been ahead by more than a single goal at the interval. The Town kept up an almost incessant attack but just failed to press home well won advantages due to the lively goalkeeping of Graham McConnell and defenders Alan Craig and Jackie Johnston. John McKinstry positioned himself well so that his body blocked a certain Paul Evans goal in ten minutes from a John Kenny cross. Newry however were not to be denied and it was a deceptive centre from Kenny which found Evans at the far post. He coolly nodded the ball into an empty net in 29 minutes. Two minutes later Larne moved forward and Peter Lowry fired a first time 25 yard shot which keeper Paul Straney fielded with ease. Dessie Gorman dashing goalwards hotly pursued by John McKinstry found his parting shot blocked by the centre half extending his foot in front of him in the nick of time. Newry increased their lead in 48 minutes during a melee in the Larne box. John McDonnell lobbed a bouncing ball to the head of Neil Watson and he nodded it into the roof of the net. Dessie Gorman, in yet another Newry attack, burst through to pick his spot in the back of the net in 50 minutes. A lovely move between Gorman and Andy Myler ended in McConnell bringing off a splendid save from Watson. Larne's passing was inept, going astray where it mattered most and never seriously troubling Straney in the Newry goal.
Team: McConnell, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley,
Looney, Leckey, McQuillan, McMahon, Lowry subs: Smith, Caulfield,
Fullerton
Referee: David Malcolm (Bangor)
Other Results
Ballyclare Comrades 0-1 Dungannon Swifts Carrick Rangers 1-2 Distillery Limavady United 0-3 Bangor
Larne 1-1 Ballyclare Comrades: 08 Nov 1997
Francis Harrison who rejoined the home side from Limavady on Thursday almost put Larne ahead on 30 seconds with a crisp drive which was blocked by Mateer in the Ballyclare goal. Ballyclare were denied by a great save from McConnell after eight minutes. Rainey's shot was pushed onto the bar by the keeper but O'Connor, following up, failed to get in ahead of Looney. Larne opened the scoring after 13 minutes. With the Comrades defence stretched, Looney squared the ball for Lowry. He touched it onto McQuillan who blasted it high into the net. Picking was allowed a free run on goal 10 minutes before the break but he wasted the chance shooting straight at McConnell. The visitors looked more lively after the break. Galbraith created an opening for himself after 56 minutes but with only the keeper to beat he shot wide. Seven minutes later McCrae's corner from the right found O'Connor, he got in a free header but he sent it over the top. Caddell, a second half substitute for the home side sent in a deep cross which McQuillan touched on to Looney whose shot was deflected for a corner. With the game running into time added on a slip by O'Hagan allowed Galbraith to send the ball through to McCrae on the left side of the area and from 12 yards out he drove the ball low into the net for the equaliser.
Team: McConnell, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Mellon, Leckey,
Looney, McQuillan, Harrison, Lowry subs: Fullerton, Caddell,
McDermott
Referee: Peter Thompson (Bangor)
Other Results
Bangor 3-2 Carrick Rangers Distillery 2-2 Newry Town Limavady United 1-2 Dungannon Swifts
Dungannon Swifts 4-2 Larne : 15 Nov 1997
Swifts continued their recent fine form, having recorded to successful away wins, with a convincing first half performance. Swifts took the lead after 27 minutes when a Johnny Montgomery free kick was cleverly back-headed into the bottom corner by Sammy Smith for a goal against his first club. Swifts pressure continued and they came close through Jeremy Robinson and Bates before extending their lead in the 35th minute. Graeme Mellon brought down Kevin Bates and the resultant spot kick was drilled in by Johnny Montgomery. Two minutes from the interval the Swifts scored a controversial third. Conor Devine released Smith on the right and his low centre was turned into his own net by substitute Neil Fullerton. Larne hit back eight minutes into the second half when Swifts gave the ball away and Philip Leckey sent Shane McQuillan clear to slide the ball past Gavin Cushley. Swifts sealed victory four minutes from time when Gary Duke powered in a header.
Team: Miskelly, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, J.McKinstry, Mellon,
Looney, Leckey, McQuillan, Harrison, Lowry subs: McCormick,
Fullerton, McDermott
Referee: Alan Snoddy (Carryduff)
Other Results
Ballyclare Comrades 0-3 Distillery Carrick Rangers 3-1 Limavady United Newry Town 0-0 Bangor League table
Larne 3 - 2 Distillery: 22 Nov 1997
Distillery were denied a penalty after four minutes when an Anderson cross appeared to be handled by McKinstry. The Whites took the lead however, 11 minutes later when Kelly sprinted down the right, crossed low for Armour, and he stooped to head wide of Miskelly into the corner. Harrison should have levelled the scores after 23 minutes when he was left with only Rice to beat. His shot beat the keeper but ran just wide of the post. Larne did however level 11 minutes before half-time when leading scorer Shane McQuillan showed great control before turning on the penalty spot to rifle the ball into the net. The lead was short lived when Armour got in a close range header two minutes later to put the Whites ahead. Four minutes before half-time Larne were back on level terms. Harrison's pass found McQuillan wide on the right, his low cross found Lowry whose shot went through a ruck of players past Rice. Two minutes into the second half Larne pressure paid off when a McQuillan effort was pushed out to Harrison whose clever chip gave Rice no chance. The Whites were reduced to 10 men after 57 minutes when Coulter, a second half replacement for McCavanagh was red-carded following a clash with McQuillan. Larne almost extended their lead 20 minutes from time when a great run from Looney took him through the heart of the visitors defence but his shot was just over the top. With six minutes left on the clock teenager Caddell broke clear but Rice blocked the shot.
Team: Miskelly, Craig, Johnston, Fullerton, McKinstry, McDermott,
Looney, McCormick, McQuillan, Harrison, Lowry subs: Caddell, Solomon,
Elder
Referee: David Chambers (Belfast)
Other Results
Ballyclare Comrades 0-1 Bangor Dungannon Swifts 2-1 Carrick Rangers Newry Town 4-1 Limavady United
Bangor 2 - 0 Larne: 29 Nov 1997
Prediction 2-3, win for the Inver Reds.
Promotion seeking Bangor got off to a dream start against unpredictable Larne. The seasiders' midfielder Michael Surgeon hit a superb goal after just 90 seconds when he pulled down an awkwardly bouncing ball and turned to hammer it home from 10 yards past former Bangor keeper Paul Miskelly. Bangor went two-up on five minutes when skilfull full-back Anthony Mitchell hit a long ball up the left flank to Ricky McEvoy whose waist high cross was slammed past the helpless Miskelly by striker Darren Erskine. The home team could have gone more goals up but Ricky McEvoy twice, and Michael McKeown were just wide of the target. Bangor seemed content with their lead but gallant Larne worked hard to fight their way back into the game with striker Shane McQuillan showing some neat touches in a tough duel with central defender Ali McCombe. McQuillan and Peter Lowry brought a good double save from Bangor keeper Niall Currie on 64 minutes. Both teams brought on subs on 66 minutes, but neither Sean Caddell for Larne nor Stuart MacPherson for Bangor had much impact on a game that was gradually dying on it's feet.
Team: Miskelly, McDermott, Johnston, Fullerton, McKinstry, McCormick, Looney, Leckey, McQuillan, Harrison, Lowry subs: Caddell, Wright, Elder
Other Results
Carrick Rangers 1-4 Newry Town Distillery 2-2 Dungannon Swifts Limavady United 1-2 Ballyclare ComradesTable at the end of November
P W D L F A PTS 1. Newry Town ....................... 9 6 2 1 20 7 20 2. Bangor ........................... 9 6 2 1 18 8 20 3. Dungannon Swifts ................. 9 4 4 1 17 13 16 4. Ballyclare Comrades .............. 9 4 1 4 9 12 13 5. Distillery ....................... 9 3 3 3 16 15 12 6. Larne ............................ 9 3 1 5 11 19 10 7. Limavady United .................. 9 2 0 7 13 21 6 8. Carrick Rangers .................. 9 1 1 7 8 17 4
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