Teams continue their good start to the Hutchinson Tiles League season

The league now has one more round of Mid-week fixtures before a break at the weekend before back to the regular, 11am Saturday morning spot from 7th September onwards. Keep up to date with all the league news at the new look www.htwl.leaguerepublic.com.

Brook Street 2 FC Crusaders 6

Brook street were looking for their first win of the season and definitely came out of the starting block firing on all cylinders.

After ten minutes they found themselves with a well deserved two goal lead after two fine finishes from Joel McDonald.  

Although FC were trying to get back into the game the outstanding Ryan Duffy was breaking down play in midfield and frustrating the FC forward line.

It took a sending off and a penalty to turn the game when a moment of madness left Brook Street with ten men and a long way to go to hang on to their two goal advantage.

Unfortunately it was always going to be difficult with ten players against eleven and FC started to find they had a lot more time on the ball and the chances started to come thick and fast.

Liam McGuiness banged in a great hatrick to continue his fine form this season, followed by two magnificent efforts from Tommy Cambell and Noel Downs until McCambridge finished the scoring with number six.  

Brook street battled till the end and still had a few good chances but with a player short the result was never in doubt.

Man of the Match: Liam McGuinness (FC Crusaders)

FC Windyhall 1 Dunaghy Old Boys 4

Both teams started off well the home team getting off a few good shots. There wasn’t much between them in the first half until the 43rd minute when DJ McMullan shot past the Dunaghy keeper to make it 1-0 to the home side.

The second half started off much the same until 65 minutes in to the game Paul Robinson side footed past the home keeper to make the score line level.

Five minutes later Mark Blair’s shot deflected to Robinson and he tapped in to make it 2 1.

Windyhall had a few good shots hitting the post and making the Dunaghy keeper make two good saves.  

Ian Blair then headed the ball into the top corner to make it 3-1 on 70 minutes.

Ricky Blair sealed the game from eight yards in the last minute sealing Dunaghy Old Boys a 4-1 victory.

Man of the Match: Rick McNabb (Dunaghy Old Boys)

The Villagers 5 Ballyrashane FC 2

The Villagers started this match in determined fashion following a disappointing performance and result in midweek.

Early on Ryan Shirlow ran on to Best’s huge kick out and controlled before finishing brilliantly for 1-0.

The Villagers were controlling the game at this point and were knocking on the door and Ryan Pollock soon made it 2-0 with a superb free-kick into the top corner.

2-0

Two became three soon afterwards when Rab Friel, with great movement, received the ball and slotted past the keeper. It was 4-0 when MacFarlane scored from 20 yards out firing into the top corner.

Friel was unlucky to hit the bar and Shirlow again came close as the first half ended.

In the second half Ballyrashane came out and upped their game, although the Villagers were very much in control.

With chances at both ends the first goal of the half went to the Villagers when MacFarlane scored to make it 5-0.

Rab Friel again hit the bar from 25 yards and Lee Wilson was unlucky for the home side.

In the closing minutes a mistake from MacFarlane let in Richard Cooper who finished well.

Cooper doubled his tally a few minutes later with a cute finish after good Ballyrashane play to make it 5-2, and that’s how this match finished.

The Villagers took the points and will be happy with first half display, but will seek to improve their second half performance and Ballyrashane can take a good second half display and two good goals from Cooper into their next match.

Man of the Match: Colin McFarlane (The Villagers)

Finn McCools 1 Balnamore FC 4

Balnamore overcame a determined Finn McCools side in Mosside in what is always a decent fixture between the two sides.

Balnamore found their feet first and pressed the home side from the start. Finns were dealt a blow after ten minutes when keeper David McKendry was forced off through injury, Steven Parke replaced the big stopper between the sticks.

Almost immediately Finns took the lead with their first attack against the run of play, Jonny Parke nipping in to score after a defensive error by the visitors.

Balnamore came back strong, efforts by Corr, Tweed and Armstrong going narrowly wide.

Philip Hanna equalised for Balnamore on twenty five minutes with an excellent strike from out side the area.

Balnamore built on this and caused problems for Finns as the half ended.

The second half was more of the same from Balnamore, getting the ball down and playing football.

Brian McLaughlin was fouled inside the box, referee McConaghie pointed straight to the spot, Simon Armstrong stepped up and fired past Parke from the resulting penalty to give Balnamore a deserved lead.

Nicky Tweed made it three for the visiting side, curling a delightful free kick into the corner of the net giving keeper no chance.

Finns sent Ali Dobbin up front trying to rescue something, but the hammer blow came when Brian McLaughlin’s corner kick flew past all in the six yard area and into the net for goal number four.

A solid performance by Balnamore and well deserved three points.

Man of the Match: Nicky Tweed (Balnamore)

THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES

Tuesday 27 August

6:40PM Bertha’s FC v FC Windyhall Castlerock

Wednesday 28 August

6:40PM Ballyrashane v Brook Street Rugby Avenue 4

Balnamore v Glebe Rangers Old Boys Fulton Park

Dunaghy Old Boy’s v Finn McCool’s Dunaghy

FC Crusaders v Hazelbank Rugby Avenue 2

Portrush Old Boys FC v Villagers FC Rugby Avenue 3

West Bann Athletic v Taverners Rugby Avenue 1