South Antrim 2-2 Bangor (W.Phillips, A.Glass)
The torrential rain leveled the playing field a bit, with individual skill playing far less of a part than good basics, South should still have been confident to win nevertheless but had to settle for a draw in a gritty game where neither team played good hockey. Ward Phillips put South up from a short corner just before the half. Bangor came out of the blocks and just minutes into the 2nd half they had their equaliser when an interception ricocheted nicely into the path of a Bangor forward who slotted it away. Bangor went ahead on the break after a mistrapped short corner at the other end broke down and they ran the length of the pitch and scored on the 3rd rebound. Adam Glass tied the game with a powerful drag flick shortly after but the game ended in a draw. South were poor in all truth but did have chances to win the game. They will have to be better facing Queens at home next week.
South Antrim 2nds 0-2 Instonians 2nds
South 2nds end their unbeaten run of 2 games with a loss to Inst 2nds. Despite this, they still hold on to 2nd place in the group, so you know, silver lining.
South Antrim 3rds 3-3 Cookstown 4ths (C.McCandless, A.Glass Jnr, G.Glass)
South were behind 3 times in this game but leveled each time through Adam 'Glue' Glass, a rocket from George Glass and a solo effort from Callum McCandless.
South Antrim 4ths 2-3 Antrim 2nds (N.Donald x2)
The proved to be a fruitless trip to Ballymena Showgrounds as the boys came home with nothing despite a brace from Nathan Donald.
South Antrim 5ths WIN Cookstown 5ths
Another win without lifting a stick. Cookstown pulled out last thing Friday night due to not enough players. Can the 5ths go all the way to the final like this?
South Antrim Ladies POSTPONED Donaghadee Ladies
Match abandoned after a short period due to a head injury to Steph Neill. After a short stay in hospital she was cleared to go home on the expressed directions to rest up and stay away from screens, a 17 year old girl without TV, laptop or a phone? Unthinkable.
South Antrim Ladies 2nds 2-0 Donaghadee Ladies 2nds (E.Aiken, L.McConnell)
Laura McConnell netted her fourth goal in as many games as she already looks to be the odds on favourite to win her 3rd (I think) consecutive top goal scorers trophy. Erin Aiken netted a sublime reverse hit in the first half to give South the lead.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 0-4 Cookstown Ladies 2nds
Always a difficult place to go and the young 3rds got a lesson here. Onwards and upwards for the girls!
MIDWEEK ROUND UP
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 7-0 Ards 5ths (L.McConnell x2, L.Fitzpatrick x2, R.Sullivan, J.Morrow, E.Aiken)
The Ladies 3rds played their final game for the season on home turf tonight against Ards 5ths. The girls recorded an emphatic 6 or 7 nil win which sees them finish 7th in Junior 7. Of course, as they already knew, they are relegated to Junior 8 next year. The ladies can't remember who scored...
I've eventually been informed the scorers were Laura McConnell with a double, Lucy Fitzpatrick, also with a double, Rachel Sullivan, Erin Aiken and Jen Morrow.
South Antrim 3rds FORFEIT WIN Portrush 2nds
Portrush failed to get a team together to travel down so conceded the points. The guys only need a draw from their remaining game against Mossley 4ths to secure the league title.
South Antrim 4ths 0-3 Portadown 3rds
I think I jinxed it, the 4ths lose at home to Portadown 3rds. Sorry guys..
South Antrim 5ths 3-5 NCIS 3rds (J.Cochrane, B.Faulkner, I.McElhinney)
Jamie Cochrane, on a brief visit home, netted for South within 40 seconds of the whistle. Things didn't stay so rosy as NICS raced to a 5-1 lead before Ian McElhinney got a goal and Ben Faulkner tapped in a John Deane drag.
South Antrim Ladies 0-1 Parkview Ladies
An agonizing loss for the ladies in a match they dominated, with Parkview scoring on one of only a few forays into South's circle. This breaks to an end a season of ups and downs for the girls. Two semi finals and 3rd in the league, so close.
WEEKEND ROUND UP:
South Antrim 2nds 0-7 Lisnagarvey 2nds
Garvey 2s continue to walk away with the league with a comprehensive 7-0 win over South 2nds, where's the fun in that?
South Antrim 3rds 1-1 Campbellians 2nds (S.Hood)
The 3rds could only manage to get one of the five points they need to seal the Junior 4 title. Two games left to get the remaining four. Stephen Hood scored for South.
South Antrim 4ths 2-4 Belfast Harlequins (A.Hamilton Jnr, I.McElinney)
The 4ths didn't do the 5ths any favours as they lost to a lower ranked Quins side. Quins end their season with 13 points, the same as our 5ths, but we have 6 games yet to play and are safe from relegation. Junior and Ian Mac got South's goals.
South Antrim Ladies 0-6 Kilkeel Ladies
The Kilkeel ladies, from up a division, used their home advantage to blast their way past our Ladies 1sts in the semi-final of the Intermediate Plate. The Ladies have another semi-final next week to redeem themselves, that one is against Parkview in the Senior 4 Cup.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 1-6 North Down Ladies 5ths (L.McConnell)
The 3rds' wonderful cup run comes to abrupt end as North Down hit 6 past the young 3rds. Laura McConnell scored South's goal.
WEEKEND ROUND UP
South Antrim 3-4 Belfast Harlequins (A.Glass, L.Marshall, N.Gamble)
Another close game with no reward. The lads pushed Quins to the very end and can be proud of their performance given that their recent relegation would have been playing on their minds. Nathan Gamble gave the hosts the lead 2 minutes into the 2nd half with a tap in after a cross from Adam Glass. Quins then raced to a 3-1 lead 10 minutes later with 2 drag flicks and a neat finish from Luke McClelland. South pulled one back through an Adam Glass reverse before Quins scored a well worked goal to give a tap in at the back post. Lee Marshall got South's 3rd with 10 to go after a short corner variation. It brings an end to the 1sts' season, a disappointing year but the foundations are there now to be prepared for a hopeful immediate return to the Prem in 2 years.
South Antrim 4ths 0-2 Lisnagarvey 6ths
The dismal run goes on against Garvey. This lets Garvey climb above South 4ths in Junior 5. The 4ths better win next weekend or else Gaz isn't going to be any fun at the Dinner!
South Antrim 5ths 2-1 Portadown 3rds (I.McElhinney, N.Donald)
With the recent result between these two teams being 8-3 and 5-1 in the Ports favour, no one was expecting anything. However, the 5ths really shone and left Edenvilla with a 2-1 win. Nathan pounced on a rebound at a short corner and eventually scored after 3 tries. Ian McElhinney doubled the RABA's score with a rasping first time shot after being played in by Nathan Donald. Portadown scored on the break after a mistake at a short corner, they went down the other end and netted to make a nervy last few minutes.
South Antrim Ladies 4-0 Lurgan Ladies 3rds (A.Trimble, C.Seeds, R.Sullivan, S.Neill)
The Ladies 1sts go on to the semi finals of the Minor Plate after a resounding win over Lurgan 3rds. Abby Trimble put the girls one up with a slapped shot high into the net. Rachel Sullivan, who was superb all game, scored a mighty reverse after a short corner routine seemed to be all lost. Not to be out done, Charis Seeds netted her own reverse stick shot to give the ladies a 3-0 lead going into the half time break. Steph Neill bundled the ball over the line in the second as South coasted home. Special mention to Vicky Donaldson who was fantastic at left back/left mid/left wing, she was everywhere.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 1-5 Ulster Elks Ladies 4ths (L.McConnell)
A result classed as 'too big a loss' by one player. The Ladies 3rds were brushed aside as the Moose from North Belfast stampeded to an easy win in the wintry conditions. Laura McConnell briefly put South ahead early on before the weather deteriorated.
WEEKEND ROUND UP:
South Antrim 2nds 3-2 Mossley 2nds (D.Hutchinson x2, J.Brown)
The 2s got the vital 3 points they needed from Mossley with a narrow 3-2 win. James Brown with a net ripping drag flick and a double from the Dazzler, one a tap in after Nathan Gamble had done all the hard work. His second was a classic Dazzler windmill reverse. Ian Glass put in a mega performance to keep the Moss at bay.
South Antrim 3rds 2-4 Portrush 2nds (G.Glass, J.Deane)
The 3rds promotion train was delayed today with an away loss to a strong Portrush side. A goal apiece from George Glass and that guy in the blue shorts and black t-shirt (John Deane). Annadale won today, the 4ths need 5 points from their remaining 3 games to secure 1sts place.
South Antrim 4ths 3-7 Ballymena 1sts (A.Hamilton Jnr, S.Glenn, B.Faulkner)
In a ten goal thriller, Ballymena swept aside Gaz's army. Consolation goals came by way of Junior, Sharpshooter and Faulk-Eye. To those unfamiliar with the 4ths banter, that's Alan Hamilton Jnr, Stuart Glenn and Ben Faulkner.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 2-1 Mossley Ladies 4ths (R.Sullivan, D.Heasley)
The 3rds continued their catch up of league game with a 2-1 win over Mossley in Junior 7 tonight. Both Rachel Sullivan and Danielle Healsey's goals were from short corners. these 3 points lift them to within 2 points of Mossley and hopefully soon off bottom position.
South Antrim 2nds 0-4 Lisnagarvey 3rds
Another loss to the star studded Garvey 3rds. The boys had a few chances but couldn't put any way, Garvey on the other hand, had were far more clinical in the circle. This results lifts this Garvey team level on points with South in Junior 1.
South Antrim 3rds 3-2 Annadale 4ths (S.Hood, I.McElhinney, J.Deane)
What a game. This top of the top clash had everything, goals, big tackles and fights. Dale took the lead from a straight hit at a short before Stephen Hood nutmegged the keeper after a neat spin in the circle. Dale went ahead again when a forward scored with a strong strike. Dale held the lead for an eternity before Ian McElhinney netted a superb equaliser with his poachers instincts. John Deane was then the man of the moment when he deflected a crashed ball in high into the net. I believe South are ahead, possibly, and now in top spot in Junior 4 with 2 games in hand.
South Antrim 4ths - NICS 3rds (A.Hamilton Jnr x2, S.Hood)
It proved to be 3rd time lucky for the 4ths against Service. They scraped a 3-2 victory. Junior got his customary brace of goals and Stephen Hood got the other. These goals put Junior 8 goals clear at the top of the scorers chart.
South Antrim Ladies 0-0 Ballynahinch Ladies
A scrappy game with little flow, and little in the way of chances. South's chances mostly fell to Steph Neill, who hit the post and drew good saves from the keeper. It lefts the ladies into 3rds place in Senior 4 over PSNI though, so woop.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 0-1 Holywood 2nds
A disappointing day as the 3rds fell to a 1-0 loss the Holywood 2nds in the last few minutes. Goalkeeper Courtney Mills was player of the game.
South Antrim 2-3 Belfast Harlequins (C.Henry, A.Glass)
The lads final league game ended in defeat in heart breaking circumstances. South went a goal up early in the second half with a trademark short corner (incidentally, bringing his tally to 13, which is his shirt number, oh no wait...) before Quins equalized with a short corner of their own on the second attempt. Quins then went ahead with a drag flick at another short corner before South really went on the front foot. Ward Phillips saw 2 chances saved well by the keeper, turning on onto the post and the other clawed out after a pull back from Chris Henry. It was Chris Henry again who pounced on a rebound at a short corner and slammed it into a defenders body on the line to earn a stroke. Adam Glass duly converted. With just two minutes to go, South probably got a bit naive, pressing for the 3 points that would go along way to helping save their season, they were hit on the counter right at the death, simply playing it around Ian Glass in nets, to win the game. A super game of hockey.
South Antrim 3rds 6-1 North Down 4ths (N.Wilson x2, G.Glass x3, A.Glass Jnr)
It was the win the 3rds needed to keep their title hopes alive. George Glass netted a duo of flicks, and finished his hat trick with a volley. Adam Glass got in on the action with a neat reverse over the keep. Now, the story of the game was Neil Wilson, he scored twice, the second a drag flick and immediately subbed himself after, hobbling round the touchline with Gaz Allister as a crutch claiming a pulled hamstring. Minutes later he ran back on just fine, missed a drag flick, then subbed himself again. Shame on you Neil!
South Antrim 4ths 3-0 Antrim 3rds (P.Davis, A.Hamilton Jnr x2)
Peter Davis made the trip up to Antrim after a stellar call up for the 3rds earlier in the day, and he even scored. Some sort of drag flick from open play I'm told. Not bad for a player who started the season on the 5ths. And what's a game of hockey without a few goals from Junior, deflecting one high into the net and beating the keeper one on one for his second.
South Antrim Ladies 1-0 Malone Ladies (S.Neill)
The Ladies 1sts took on Malone at home and gained 3 points with a 1-0 win. Steph Neill picked up a rebound to put the ladies ahead, great forward's instincts. Lots of great play from the ladies throughout today with Rachel Sullivan picking up player of the match. This puts the Ladies tied on 3rd place with PSNI, held off only by goal difference.
South Antrim Ladies 2nds 2-1 Owls 2nds (L.McConnell, E.Aiken)
The Ladies 3rds were away to Owls and Laura McConnell got the girls off to a flying start when she connected with a cross with a neat deflection to give the ladies into the lead. Owls managed to pull one back in the second half but the ladies were not finished. From a penalty corner, Erin Aiken put the ladies back into the lead with a well taken strike. Well done Courtney Mills, player of the match, who prevented the Owls girls from lobbing the ball into the net in the closing stages.
South Antrim 1-5 Instonians (C.Henry)
It wasn't the league changing upset they were hoping for, but South put on a good performance at Shawsbridge. They limited Inst chances to just a handful, but they didn't need to be told twice when they came along, netting 5 of about 7 shots. South's goal came from Ward Phillips in the left corner playing the ball in to John Semple on the edge who rolled his man and played a reverse cross to the flick spot for Chris Henry to dive for, sublime. They nearly scored again when Henry stole the ball off the last man and played in Paul Maguire, but the keeper was out very early and smothered the ball at the edge of the D.
South Antrim 3rds 4-1 Kilkeel 3rds (G.Glass x2, A.Glass Jnr, S.Hood)
Stephen Hood opened the scoring when his bulled his way through 4 defenders before powering home a shot from a tight angle, #winning. George Glass netted just before interval to give South a 2 goal cushion. In the second half Adam Glass got on the end of a cross to score a deft deflection before George Glass struck again to make it 4. Sadly, they couldn't hold on to the clean sheet as Kilkeel scored at the death to reduce the deficit.
South Antrim 4ths 1-7 Portadown 3rds (S.Glenn)
The only thing positive about this was a tidy finish from Stu 'Sharpshooter' Glenn. Other than that it was all Portadown, as they netted 7 times.
South Antrim Ladies 2nds 0-0 Ards Ladies 5ths
The ladies seconds end their season with a draw away to Ards 5ths. They will have to wait and see how other results go find out where they finish. Emma Kitchenham was awarded player of the match.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 0-4 Portadown 3rds
The girls held the league leaders at 0-0 until the second half when experience won out and they succumbed to a 4-0 loss. An improvement over last time though, encouraging.
MIDWEEK ROUND UP
South Antrim 3-5 Raphoe (J.Brown, C.Henry, A.Glass)
South couldn't captilise on a weakened Raphoe team tonight as their league position worsens. It wasn't all bad as, at times the guys played good hockey. Raphoe went one up early on as a deflected cross fell kindly to a Raphoe forward who volleyed home from the edge of the area. South then missed a flick after the initial drag hit a foot on the line. They didn't have to wait long as Chris Henry hit is 11th of the season into the top corner. Raphoe went ahead again as a reverse from the edge wriggled through Hutchinson's pads. Adam Glass netted South's second penalty stroke to tie it up again. Raphoe took the lead yet again as a drag flick beat the keeper on his right side. This time James Brown tied the game with a superb drag flick in the side netting. South, at this point were on top and felt that they could push on, but things changed quickly as a long ball through the middle left Ward Phillips with two players to mark in the circle, they simply passed it round him and Hutchinson in nets for an easy finish to take the lead again. Raphoe were awarded a flick of their own as a stick tackle was deemed to impede a scoring opportunity, the Raphoe player made no mistake and put the Donegal men 5-3 up. Despite numerous attacks, stout defending kept South at bay and some cards popped out as frustration grew. Disappointing stuff.
