Strollers remain in chase for league promotion

Andy Erwin’s side kept in touch with leaders Krag Albion at the top of Junior Division Two by beating Remo FC at the Showgrounds. Jamie Spiers and Kyle Jackson scored for the Ballymena side in a win which takes them to within two points of the summit of the table. Of the two Antrim-based teams, Chimney Corner lost at home in the intermediate division to leaders Ballynure Old Boys, while Antrim Rovers’ Irish Junior Cup dream ended at the hands of Cleary Celtic. The league also had two representatives in the fifth round of the Irish Cup - the Province’s Blue Riband knockout competition - on Saturday but both Brantwood and Newtowne came unstuck at the hands of NIFL Champoionship opposition in the form of Bangor and Armagh City respectively. INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE Chimney Corner 0, Ballynure Old Boys 2: This was a big test for the young Corner team against the league leaders and at the end of the game they came out of it with a lot of credit. Both teams played it tight at the back for the first half-hour then a penalty converted by Marc Leckey on the 32nd minute saw Ballynure lead at half-time. The second half saw the Corner have to chase the game but Ballynure held firm at the back. Time was then running out when on the 91st minute Ricky Higgins sealed the win for Ballynure when he headed home. Other results: Ballysillan Swifts 0, Dunloy 3; Killymoon Rangers 2, Desertmartin 2. Irish Cup, round five: Bangor 4, Brantwood 0; Armagh City 3, Newtowne 0. JUNIOR DIVISION ONE Results: Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 4, Cookstown Olympic 0; FC Whiteabbey 4, Mallusk Athletic 0. JUNIOR DIVISION TWO Wakehurst Strollers 2, Remo FC 1: Wakehurst went in front after Jamie Spiers scored on the 7th minute then Remo pressed for the equaliser which they got on the 18th minute. Half-time saw the teams still on level terms then after both teams had a couple of good chances to score Kyle Jackson scored the all important third goal in the game on the 70th minute which gave Wakehurst all three points. Other results: Ballynure Old Boys ‘B’ 1, Sport & Leisure Swifts Reserves 6; Brabtwood Reserves 8, Moyola Park Olympic 0. JUNIOR DIVISION THREE Carnlough Swifts 4, Mountainview 5: Goals were the order of the day in this high scoring game and the winner being scored on the 85th minute. Carnlough took a two goal lead with goals scored by Dylan McLaughlin and Declan McDermott on the 12th and 22nd minutes. Mountainview then hit back with goals scored by Gareth Peoples, William Massey and Jon Madden on the 34th, 40th and 63rd minutes to take the lead. Niall Hamill equalised for Carnlough on the 66th minute then Gary Madden put Mountainview back in front on the 69th minute. Niall Hamill equalised for Carnlough again on the 77th minute then with time running down Gary Madden scored what proved to be the winner in a topsy-turvy encounter on the 85th minute. Other results: Rathcoole Fc Reserves 6, Remo FC Reserves 0. CANADA TROPHY Round two result: Ballysillan Swifts Reserves 0, Krag Albion 6. IRISH JUNIOR CUP Antrim Rovers 1, Cleary Celtic 2: Antrim lost out by the odd goal in a very tight game and with a little luck could possibly have taken the game to extra time. Cleary went in front on the 36th minute then doubled their lead on the 58th minute though the Rovers had a couple of good chances to score before that. Time was running out when Rovers got a vital goal scored by Darryl Brammeld on the 86th minute then time ran out on them. FIXTURES Matches involving locally-based sides this Saturday, January 17, are: Intermediate League: Rathcoole FC v Chimney Corner. Crawford Cup, round three: Castle Star v Antrim Rovers. Junior Division Two: Clough Rangers Athletic v Brantwood Reserves.