WEEKEND ROUND UP
Sorry for the delay!
South Antrim 2-2 Mossley (P.Maguire, L.Marshall)
South should have had this game wrapped up by half time. The home side dominated possession and had all the scoring opportunites. Eventually they broke the deadlock when James Brown’s powerful drag flick rebounded into the path of Ernest Maguire, who made no mistake in finding the net. On the stroke of half time, Mossley won a short and converted after a slip back to the injector. The second half was a more even affair, as Mossley got bolder. Against the run of play, Mossley got a second with a tap after the umpire unfortunately missed a foot in the build up and South switched off. Determined to regain the 3 points, they deserved, South stepped it up, and were award a flick after Chris Henry was scythed down by 2 Mossley defender when running through on goal. Lee Marshall cooly converted. South perhaps should have had all 3 points as Chris Henry was played in one on one but was flummoxed but the keeper’s unorthodox style. All in all, a disappointing draw for South and a well earned point for Mossley.
South Antrim 2nds 1-1 Cookstown 2nds (C.Varghese)
A superb display from the seconds as they got a draw against a top Cookstown team. Even more encouraging is that they should have easily won the game. Neil Wilson, usually so clinical, had 3 short corner hits blocked and missed an open net after rounding the keeper as he blazed his reverse over the bar. Cyril Varghese netted for South in bizarre style, after he dispossessed a defender from the hit out and slotted home into an empty net as the keeper was still returning from getting the ball. Cookstown equalized with a short corner drag flick that Ian admits he really should have saved. The game pittered out in the closing stages, and unfortunately the ever dependable Phil Spaughton picked up an injury and had to hobble off.
South Antrim 3rds V Mossley 4ths (POSTPONED)
No sale this week, just a frozen pitch, Mossley weren’t up for a game of ice hockey #zerobanter.
South Antrim 4ths NO GAME
A dismal display from the Baclony Banter Brigade as they failed to brave the cold and sat indoors to watch the games. They was good rendition of ‘Man-Bun’ during the 2s game against Cookstown.
South Antrim 5ths 2-0 Mossley 5ths (N.Donald, I.MacElhinney)
Nathan Donald slammed home a reverse. Adam Pyper used his speed to dart past his marker and tee up Ian McElhinney for the second, his swivel and shot was as good as anybodies’ in the club. Donald and Pyper could have added more, but lacked McElhinney’s composure. Trevor Wallace prevented a Mossley comeback by clearing off the line at short corner.
South Antrim Ladies 1-1 Parkview (St.Neill)
An improved scoreline from the last time these two sides met. A share of the points this time about and the league table stays as it was, with South sitting midtable in 4th, still 2 points off Parkview in 2nd. Stephanie Neill got South’s goal.
South Antrim Ladies 2nds 0-4 Portadown Ladies 3rds
An extremely physical performance from the Portadown Ladies put the girls on the back foot for most of the game. The Ports players bullied their way past the South defender’s and the young Southies had no answer. The visitors racked up four goals in a day to forget for South against the league leaders.
South Antrim Ladies 3rds 1-2 Banbridge Ladies 4ths (L.McDonnell)
The girls went a goal down early on but showed character beyond (most of) their years to keep fighting against a well drilled Banbridge team who sit comfortably in the top half of the table. Rachel Sullivan nearly leveled as she was dribbled into free space in the circle but smashed her shot inches wide of the back post. A neat interchange between Danielle Heasley and Laura McConnell find an equaliser, with the latter scoring a neat finish. Unfortunately, against the spirit of Christmas, Banbridge scored late on the steal all the points for themselves.