Five star Glebe and Berthas all set for final

Ian Bellingham’s men will face Berthas FC, who saw off Dunaghy Old Boys in the other semi final.

In the league, Portrush Old Boys beat Finn McCools with the league now in their hands. In the other game, Fc Windyhall put five unanswered goals past Coleraine Olympic.

Glebe Rangers Old Boys 5 West Bann Athletic 2

West Bann and Glebe Rangers Old Boys met in Castlerock on Saturday morning in one of the cup semi-finals and it was a typically hard-fought encounter between the teams.

There was a welcome addition for the Old Boys with Alan McBride returning to the starting eleven and the veteran stopper proved a stalwart in defence especially during a difficult opening spell for his side.

In fact the big man also managed to get on the score-sheet and provide an assist in an extremely productive display.

West Bann started off brightly and went ahead with a fine finish from Nevin’s free-kick.

Having weathered the storm Glebe struck back with 3 goals in a ten minute spell. Les Nicholl, who appears to reserve some of his best performances for the sea-side, equalised with a close range finish before making it two after good work by Greer.

Scotty Fraser, denied earlier by a fine save from Jones, made it three with a neat finish after a fine four man move and half-time arrived with the Old Boys 3-1 up.

The second half was a war of attrition with all neither side able to force a breakthrough until West Bann were awarded a dubious penalty after McCurdy was harshly adjudged to have offended just inside the box. Lee Nevin made no mistake and West Bann now had the bit between their teeth as they pushed forward.

Nevin’s free-kick screamed just over but the Bannsiders were unable to breach the Glebe rear-guard again and the Old Boys restored their two goal advantage with a penalty of their own, awarded after Elder was adjudged to have been impeded.

McBride stepped up to send Jones the wrong way form the spot. McBride then turned provider after his scooped pass found Fraser who slotted home to complete the scoring and send the Old Boys into the final. Man of the Match: Billy McCurdy (Glebe Rangers Old Boys)

Berthas FC 5

Dunaghy Old Boys 0

On paper this game was tough one to call with both teams having a victory apiece in their league meetings this season.

It was a fairly even first 30 minutes with neither team having any clear cut chances.

It took something special to break the deadlock and it came from Berthas player Andy MacAulay, who picked up the ball some 45 yards out from goal to fire a bullet of a strike into the bottom corner of Blair’s net.

Berthas doubled their advantage not long after the start of the second half when Willie Stewart headed home McLaughlin’s corner. Stewart further increased his team’s lead when White found him free in the box, he controlled before squeezing the ball under Blair.

Dunaghy pushed more men forward but found the Berthas defence in good form, anything that did beat them, Elder was on hand in the Berthas goal to keep out the danger.

Berthas fourth came when Pollock found Biggart in the corner, he in turn found Minihan in the box and the big man finished first time into the net.

Dunaghy looked deflated but Robinson stung the hands of Elder with a low strike.

With time running out, Stewart grabbed his hat-trick when he ran onto Pollock’s through ball to poke past Blair.

Berthas saw out the rest of the game and now go on to face Glebe Rangers Old Boys in the final. Man of the Match: Willie Stewart (Berthas FC)

Portrush Old Boys 3

Finn McCools 0

All the action in this game happened in the first half with Portrush Old Boys all but securing victory by half time.

DD McClelland gave his team the lead before Darryl Wills doubled this teams advantage. Portrush kept up the pressure and moved further ahead a Finns player scored in the wrong net.

The second half was fairly even with Portrush seeing it out for the three points. Man of the Match: Ali Newton (Portrush Old Boys)

Coleraine Olympic 0

FC Windyhall 5

Windyhall hit Coleraine Olympic for five at the Crescent on Saturday morning. John Sweeney on his first game back from injury scored a hat trick.

His first came on 26 minutes followed 10 minutes later by his second. His third came from the penalty spot four minutes before the break.

Windyhall put the game to bed inside the first 12 minutes of the second half. Neil Ferguson getting his second in as many weeks before Rab Sweeney finished the scoring. Man of the Match: Harry Clifton (FC Windyhall)

FIXTURES

Wednesday 16 April (6:45pm)

Dunaghy Old Boy’s v Portrush Old Boys F.C (Dunaghy)

Saturday 19 April

Bertha’s F.C v Villagers F.C (Castlerock)

Glebe Rangers Old Boys v West Bann Athletic (Riada 2)

Hazelbank v Coleraine Olympic (Rugby Avenue 2)

Portrush Old Boys F.C v Balnamore (Rugby Avenue 3)