Distillery 0-2 Larne: 04 Sep 1997
Team:
Referee:
Larne 1- 2 Bangor: 11 Sep 1997
Only 50 seconds had elapsed when Bangor took the lead at Inver Park. Erskine's cross from the left was only cleared as far as Surgeon who calmly hammered it in from 10 yards. Larne levelled the game in the 10th minute. Mooney's attempted clearance was blocked by Lowry, he got to the bye-line and crossed for McMahon whose attempt was blocked but McQuillan made no mistake from the rebound. Bangor went close to adding a second on the half hour. McPherson's cross was knocked on by McEvoy into the path of Surgeon who crisp drive was just over. The same trio were again involved for Bangor's second 11 minutes before the break. McEvoy's through-ball was neatly touched on by Surgeon into the path of McPherson whose clinical finish gave McConnell no chance. With four minutes remaining in the first half, a cross from Lowry on the left was headed goalward by McMahon, but as Fox struggled to get across the goal the ball went the wrong side of the upright. A fine one-handed save from Fox denied Larne an equaliser one minute after the restart. The keeper foiling McMahon who had run on to a pass from Looney. Bangor then took control with McEvoy and Surgeon directing affairs from midfield. Both created chances for Erskine but on both occasions the big striker headed over the bar. Another fine save from Fox kept Bangor ahead in the 74th minute. This time the big keeper had to pedal back to make the save after Gilmore's shot had tacked a wicked deflection off McEvoy. Larne came strongly in the dying minutes with O'Hagan's free-kick being tipped over the top and Lowry's low shot being saved by Fox.
Team: McConnell, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley,
Looney, Gilmore, McQuillan, McMahon, Lowry subs: Leckey, Smith,
Caulfield
Referee:Michael Ross (Carrickfergus)
Limavady 5-1 Larne: 18 Oct 1997
Limavady recovered from a first half upset to hammer Larne in a six goal thriller that saw Barry Cunning in sparkling form. The game was only minutes old when Limavady United suffered a serious blow in the loss of their goalkeeper John Dillon when he was taken to hospital with a mouth injury. The home-side had taken the lead in the 13th minute when Barry Cunning finished off a four-man move to take the initiative. The move started with Love to Ferris on to Curran and finally to Cunning who slotted home the opener. The ball went free deep on the right and as Dillon was still on the ground Larry McMahon shot. There was no back up and the ball went into the net. Limavady had a few chances but on the half hour Larne had the edge. However that disappeared and the play moved from end to end. Cunning kept battling on and featured in a couple of other good efforts. Then in the 66th minute Barry Curran parted to Cunning who went through to score. Four minutes later the danger man was in action again and to secure his hat-trick, but not content with that he scored a further goal in the 82nd minute. TL White, who came on to replace a tired Francis Harrison, got his name on the score sheet when he hammered home a rebound shot after Cunning's effort struck the cross bar.
Team: Mills, Fullerton, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley,
M.Looney, Smith, McQuillan, McMahon, Lowry subs: Leckey, Gilmore,
Caulfield
Referee: John McClenaghan (Waringstown)
Other Results
Bangor 3-0 Distillery Carrick Rangers 0-1 Ballyclare Comrades Newry Town 2-1 Dungannon Swifts
There was little to choose between the East Antrim rivals in the first period with neither side able to create a meaningful chance. It was 26 minutes before either keeper was troubled. A fine run from McKinstry set up Gilmore whose shot was turned away for a corner. Two minutes before the break Gilmore and Smith combined to open the Carrick defence, the ball to Looney but his mis-kick allowed the Carrick keeper an easy save. Five minutes after the restart Carrick had a chance to go in front. Johnston's corner found Lockhart but his weak header was easily saved by McConnell. Larne opened the scoring on the hour. An Armstrong handball led to O'Hagan's free kick. His effort was blocked by the Carrick defence and Leckey was on hand to slot in the rebound. Five minutes later Lockhart again found himself well placed to pick up a Taggart through ball but again he was denied by a fine save from McConnell. Sixteen minutes from time Carrick again pushed forward this time Pankhurst saw his header cleared off the line by Johnston. With three minutes remaining teenager Owens broke clear of the Larne defence but his shot lacked any power. At the other end a cracking volley from Mellon looked goalbound until Muldoon stuck out a leg to divert it for a corner
Team: McConnell, Mellon, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley,
Looney, Gilmore, Smith, Caulfield, Leckey subs: Fullerton, Solomon,
McDermott
Referee: David Chambers (Belfast)
Other Results
Ballyclare Comrades 0-2 Newry Town Distillery 3-0 Limavady United Dungannon Swifts 3-3 Bangor
Table at the end of October P W D L F A PTS 1. Newry Town 4 3 0 1 7 3 9 2. Ballyclare Comrades 4 3 0 1 6 5 9 3. Bangor 4 2 1 1 9 6 7 4. Limavady United 4 2 0 2 9 7 6 5. Larne 4 2 0 2 5 7 6 6. Distillery 4 1 1 2 5 7 4 7. Dungannon Swifts 4 0 3 1 6 7 3 8. Carrick Rangers 4 0 1 3 0 5 1
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