Larne 0 - 0 Carrick: 16 Aug 1997
Carrick Rangers dominated against their neighbours Larne but failed to get the breakthrough they deserved. Five minutes into the game Lockhart's cross gave Martin a free header which flew just past the upright. Armstrong was guilty of another bad miss 10 minutes later. The ball bounced over the Larne defence but the big defender failed to find the target. McConnell came to Larne's rescue in the 25th minute. A mix up between Hill and McConkey left Lockhart in the clear. His shot was blocked by the Larne keeper, the loose ball fell to McCartan who somehow blasted over the top from just six yards. Four minutes into the second half a Smyth free kick presented Larne with a rare goal scoring chance, however, McQuillan's close range header failed to trouble the Carrick keeper. Patterson worked a quick one-two with McCartan 17 minutes from time with the latters 25 yard effort sailing just over the top. Five minutes later Larne's new signing Jason Gilmore was left unmarked eight yards from goal and really should have found the target from O'Hagan's free kick but sent his effort wide. Larne defender Alan Craig decided to go it alone nine minutes from time cutting through the centre of the Carrick defence before unleashing a great drive which Smyth could only parry before his defence cleared the danger.
Team: McConnell, Craig, O'Hagan, McConkey, Hill, Mellon, Looney,
Smyth, McQuillan, Mackey, Lowry subs: Johnston, Baxter, Gilmore
Referee: David Malcolm (Glengormley)
Team: McConnell, Craig, O'Hagan, McConkey, Hill, Mellon, Gilmore, Smyth, McMahon, Lowry, Leckey subs: Johnston, McKinstry, McDermott
A three-goal blitz in an amazing opening 13 minutes paved the way for a comprehensive Comrades victory to consolidate their position at the top of the Ulster Cup table. Former Larne striker Crawford McCrae began the rout after only three minutes with a diving header from a Mark Picking cross which glided into the bottom corner. Lee Galbraith, who had an early opportunity whipped off his toe, increased Comrades lead in the 11th minute with a carbon copy of the first, McCrae on this occasion the provider. Two minutes later Larne were rocked yet again when Keith Dallas added a third, playing a delightful 1-2 with McCrae before slipping the ball past the advancing Graeme McConnell. Larne recovered from their woeful start to give the home defence a number of anxious moments. But any hopes they had of a comeback evaporated six minutes into the second half when Picking smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Team: McConnell, Craig, O'Hagan, McConkey, Mellon, Hill, Johnston, Gilmore, Smith, McMahon, Lowry subs: McKinstry, Looney, McDermott
Darren Erskine was criticised in mid-week for failing to perform on his debut for Bangor against Distillery. But the striker, on loan from Linfield, responded in perfect fashion by scoring his sides goals in the first period. It took Erskine just eight minutes to register the first, a lovely diving header following a precision cross from Stuart MacPherson. Bangor then had three chances to increase their lead, MacPherson, Anton Brennan and Niall Lenehan all failing to convert. But on 30 minutes, Jackie Coulter's long ball was neatly dispatched by Erskine, who took full advantage of Larne's lacklustre defence. The visitors had Peter Lowry booked for a high tackle on Lenehan four minutes later and from the resulting free kick Bangor almost made it 3-0, but Alastair McCombe's header shaved the bottom of the post. Again Larne, although never really troubling Bangor, could have pulled one back after 36 minutes but Lowry's header from Alan Craig's cross went inches wide. Probably the best chance of the half fell to Brennan at the other end one minute later, but with just the keeper to beat the Bangor number seven lobbed the ball into the stand. Erskine continued to impress and turned provider for Bangor's third goal which arrived after 56 minutes. Appalling marking by the Larne defence allowed MacPherson to spectactularly head home Erskine's right flank cross. Brennan, who had been without his shooting boots all afternoon, missed a great chance from the edge of the box on 81 minutes, while the impressive MacPherson was twice denied by the excellent reflexes of Larne's busiest player of the day - their keeper, Graham McConnell. Bangor even had time to add a fourth. Brennan's accurate right-sided delivery headed home with consummate ease by Michael McKeown right on the whistle.
Team: Graham McConnell, Craig, Johnston, McConkey, McKinstry, Hill, Mellon, Gilmore, Smith, McMahon, Lowry subs: McDermott, Charnley, Gareth McConnell
The home-side were presented with a chance to open the scoring after just two minutes. Gilmore found himself free on the edge of the box, he spotted Dillon off his line but his attempted chip sailed over the bar. Limavady's well organised defence never looked under any real pressure early on but they were caught napping after 20 minutes when a quick free kick from McMahon was just wide of the target. The visitors took the lead after 22 minutes. Curran picked up a loose ball on the right, he ran into the area then squared the ball to Cunning who had no trouble finding the net from eight yards. Looney did well to create a yard of space before drilling in a low shot 12 minutes before the break. Dillon failed to hold the ball but recovered quickly to deny Gilmore. Limavady extended their lead two minutes after the restart. A neat build-up saw Harrison thread the ball through to Cunning who thumped it home. The lively Curran almost made it three on the hour when he rounded Craig only to be denied by a fine save from McConnell. There were loud claims for a free-kick from the Larne players when a hefty challenge from Dillon floored substitute McQuillan on the edge of the box but the referee surprisingly waved play on. The woodwork saved Larne's blushes twice. White saw his effort come back off the bar, then Moran's looping shot hit the upright with McConnell beaten.
Team: McConnell, Craig, Johnston, Hill, McKinstry, O'Hagan, Looney, Gilmore, Smyth, McMahon, Lowry subs: McQuillan, Mellon, McConkey
It was honours even at the Showgrounds today as Newry and Larne fought out a 1-1 draw. The home side had to fight back for their point after Larne took the lead through Martin Looney after only five minutes. Looney, moving up the centre, fastened onto a forward ball and hit it all of 35 yards into the roof of the Newry net. Michael Crowe moving upfield, sent out to Paul Evans on the left and his smashing drive flew narrowly over the Larne bar. John McKinstry was booked in the 25th minute for a foul on Marcus Woods. Woods was lying at the six yard line but failed to connect with a lovely Evans centre. Newry exerted pressure after the restart and throughout the remainder of the game were in dominant mood but could not get the ball past McConnell. Terry Taylor's power header off a Paul Evans corner was beaten down by goalkeeper McConnell but Eamon Sheridan was on hand to slam home in 46 minutes. McConnell was soon in action again making a splendid one-handed save from Sheridan who had connected neatly with an Evans cross. Kevin O'Hagan was booked for a tackle on Kenny in 70 minutes. A diving McConnell was fortunate to see a tremendous Taylor drive go inches outside the post. The Larne keeper did well to fist clear an Evans corner but recovered to stop a hard-hit Taylor shot.
Team: Graeme McConnell, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley, Looney, Gilmore, McQuillan, McMahon, Caulfield subs: Baxter, Smith, Gary McConnell
P W D L F A PTS
1. Ballyclare Comrades ............... 7 6 1 0 16 4 19
2. Distillery ........................ 7 4 1 2 13 8 13
3. Bangor ............................ 7 3 2 2 11 8 11
4. Newry Town ........................ 7 3 2 2 10 8 11
5. Carrick Rangers ................... 7 2 3 2 8 9 9
6. Larne ............................. 7 1 3 3 7 16 6
7. Limavady United ................... 7 1 2 4 6 13 5
8. Dungannon Swifts .................. 7 1 0 6 10 15 3
Main
Page. Gossip & News.
Scores & Fixtures Table.