Celtic are cleared out by Pirie strike in Junior Cup

Cleary Celtic 0 All Saints OB 1

EUAN Pirie came off the bench to strike the decisive goal 18 minutes from time to see Saints past top Carnbane League side Cleary Celtic in a titanic battle.

Cleary off the back of a shock defeat in the Mid Uster Sheild last week started bright in the game as they looked to capitalise on Saints long journey, but the prolific Caolan Gray fired just wide after he turned his man on the edge of the box.

Saints began to grow into the game with the busy Ciaran Campbell picking up a lot of ball in dangerous areas and he had Saints first shot which was deflected wide of the Cleary goal. This gave Saints belief in the game as they started to press the home side higher up the pitch winning the ball back on several occasions and forcing a series of corners, but the Cleary defence dealt with these well.

The best chance of the first half came for the home side when Captain Shay McAllister got behind the Saints midfield and slid in Jack O’Doherty but his shot was saved well by Thomas Hasson.

As the half wore on Saints began to get a stranglehold of the game, but the home side limited them to long range efforts with Ciaran Campbell, Conan Dunne and Cormac Lemon all having efforts either pushed away or blocked for corner kicks as the half finished with Saints on top but unable to make the breakthrough.

Five minutes into the second half the home side had the ball in the net when right full back Fergal Lavery got to the byline for the first time in the game and dug out a cross which Caolan Gray bundled over the line from close range, but the referee adjudged the front man had pushed his marker to get the ball with the goal ruled out.

This let off woke Saints up in the second half as they took control of the game but again, they were finding the Cleary defence a tough nut to crack with set pieces and long range efforts the only real threat.

Connell Lemon who was tireless all day for Saints had their best chance at the start of the second half when the ball fell nice to him 18 yards out, but he could not keep his volley down.

Cleary almost hit Saints with a goal against the run of play when Shay McAllister shot low got down well to keep the captain’s effort out. On the heavy pitch substitutes were going to be important in this game and Saints introduced three just after the hour mark and they all had an impact in the game.

James Barrigan and Shaun McGoran gave them fresh legs and got a hold of the game again while Euan Pirie would prove to be the match winner, but he proved a new threat for the Cleary defence with his direct running.

The all important breakthrough came on 72 minutes when a half cleared free kick was knocked back into the box by Ryan McCartney, Connell Lemon rose above his man and nodded the ball down to Miles Devine who looked destined to score, but a last ditch tackle put the ball on a plate for Euan Pirie and he smashed into the roof of the net to give Saints a precious lead in the game.

Saints were in buoyant mood now as they looked to add a second goal, Connell Lemon stinging the palms of the home keeper and then Saints spurned a glorious chance when the ball broke to debutant Michael O’Mullan inside the box after Euan Pirie lost out in a tussle with the Cleary keeper but the midfielders shot was cleared off the line and then Miles Devine also saw his rebound cleared as the second goal proved elusive for Saints.

Euan Pirie almost sealed the game for Saints but the home keeper dived well to save at his feet, while in injury time Cleary threw everything at Saints but a fantastic defensive display with Niall Swann and Rhys O’Mullan imperious saw Saints secure the clean sheet and a fantastic away victory.

Cregagh Wanderers 2 Clough Rangers 5

Clough Rangers travelled to East Belfast to take on Cregagh Wanderers in a bid to secure their place in the last 32 of the Junior Cup, making a blistering start as they raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Matthew Lorimer opened the scoring after latching on to a superb through ball from Adam Mooney. Lorimer showed great composure to cut inside his marker before firing a low finish past Cregagh goalkeeper Kacper Kuba.

The second goal was undoubtedly the pick of the afternoon. Lorimer switched play brilliantly with a superb crossfield pass to Jordan Campbell, who delivered an inch-perfect cross to the back post. Adam Mooney timed his run perfectly and slid in to guide the ball past Kuba with a controlled finish.

Mooney then grabbed his second and Clough's third, collecting a clearance from Jordan Campbell before using his pace to race clear of the Cregagh defence and calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner.

However, Clough were guilty of taking their foot off the gas and allowed the hosts back into the contest on the half-hour mark. Gavin Crawford flicked the ball into the path of prolific striker Darren Selby, who made no mistake in reducing the deficit.

Cregagh were now growing in confidence and further punished Clough just before the interval when Crawford was left unmarked to head home from a corner, bringing the hosts back to within a goal.

With momentum firmly shifting in Cregagh's favour, the next goal was always going to be crucial, and it was Clough who found it. Jordan Campbell's corner was met at the back post by Sam Bennett, who headed the ball back across goal for Ryan Fleming to fire emphatically into the roof of the net.

That goal restored Clough's two-goal cushion, and Jordan Campbell made sure of the victory in the closing stages. A neat exchange of passes between Adam Watterson and Sam Bennett ended with Watterson finding Campbell on the left. Campbell cut inside, beat his defender and drilled a superb finish into the bottom-left corner to put the result beyond doubt.

FC Moylena 4 Ballykeel 3

Luka Bates hit a superb late winner as FC Moylena clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory over Ballykeel at the Forum on Saturday.

It's a second straight big Division Two win for Moylena after overcoming derby rivals Abbeyview 3-1 seven days earlier and it saw Jack Walshe and Dara Matthews registering their first goals for the club.

The Antrim hosts were not at their best but showed fighting spirit by coming back from 3-2 down to take all three points.

Ballykeel struck first on 23 minutes, with the ball falling for Taylor Adger to slam into the back of the net from close range.

Moylena struggled from open play but they moved in front thanks to two goals from corners.

Jorden McHugh levelled from a yard out after 35 minutes and it was soon followed by striker Walshe rifling home after a goalmouth scramble.

Ballykeel pressed for a leveller at the start of the second half and it arrived when Barry McDowell slotted in at the nearpost from a corner.

Moylena keeper Jamie Magowan kept it at 2-2 with a brilliant penalty save after 63 minutes.

However, Ballykeel were not to denied a third goal and they took the lead 12 minutes later when Adam Black headed home from a free-kick.

Moylena didn't let their heads drop and found the equaliser in the 82nd minutes as Jamie Jackson found Matthews at the backpost and the substitute smashed the ball past keeper Stephen Watson.

The momentum was now with Moylena and the winner came in style three minutes later - midfielder Bates cut inside before arrowing a 25-yard screamer into the top corner.

Moylena saw out the remainder of the game, a task made easier when Ballykeel's Gary Greene was red-carded after an off-the-ball incident.

Kinecx Energy BSML Division Three

Waveney Swifts 0 Toome FC 3

League leaders Toome FC continued their impressive form with a convincing 3-0 victory away to Waveney Swifts at Waveney Playing Fields in Round 14 of the BSML.

The Magpies wasted little time making their mark on the game. Michael Clarke delivered a dangerous front-post corner which found Paddy Feeney, whose clever, flicked header found the net at the near post to give Toome an early advantage.

Feeney was at it again shortly afterwards. Pearse McAuley Snr produced an inch-perfect long ball over the Waveney defence, allowing Feeney to showcase his excellent first touch before composing himself, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home with his left foot. With just 27 minutes played, Toome had established a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Toome continued to apply pressure for the remainder of the first half, creating further opportunities, while Waveney battled hard to prevent the deficit from increasing.

The second half saw the league leaders continue to dictate proceedings, with Cassidy, McAuley Snr and Feeney all going close to adding to the scoreline.

The third goal eventually arrived when Clarke broke down the right flank before delivering an audacious ball towards the back post. Captain Conor McLarnon was perfectly positioned to meet it, guiding a looping header across goal and into the top corner to put Toome firmly in control at 3-0.

Substitutes Tomas McCann, Jack McAllister and Pearse McAuley Jnr were introduced and quickly found their rhythm, linking up superbly to create further opportunities. However, Waveney remained resilient and prevented any further damage.

The final whistle confirmed a deserved 3-0 victory for Toome FC, another important result as they continue their push at the top of the league.

There was also plenty of credit due to the Toome backline, who once again delivered a solid defensive performance to secure their fourth consecutive clean sheet – a testament to the organisation and determination throughout the team.