Goal-filled start to new season

The 2010/20111 Hutchinson Tiles League season kicked into action on Saturday with the nine games producing a whooping 45 goals. Champions Hazelbank took a comfortable victory away to Coleraine Olympic while runners up Berthas also took the points in a tough match at home to Dunaghy Old Boys. New boys Glebe Rangers started off life in the HTWL with a good victory at Balnamore while Riverside Athletic and Hillview took the spoils in their games against The Taverners and Somerset respectively. The Villagers hit Finn McCools for four without reply while Mountview and Ballyrashane battled to a draw at The Crescent. The League doesn’t often see 0-0 draws but there was one recorded one Saturday with FC Macosquin and Brook Street both failing to hit the back of the net. The highest scoring game of the day was at the University with Macosquin Village winning a ding-dong of a game 6-4 against West Bann Athletic. This week the League has fixtures taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday before returning to their regular 11am slot on a Saturday morning thereafter. See below for fixtures. The League committee and managers would like to pass on their condolences to Somerset striker Gary Millar, last years Golden Boot winner, after the death of his mother, who passed away a few weeks ago. ALL TEAMS must submit the following information at the next delegates meeting on Monday 6 September. Managers name, address and contact telephone number - Assistant manager/coach - contact telephone number. It is now a condition for ALL leagues that use Coleraine Council pitches to supply this information. Coleraine Olympic 2 Hazelbank FC 6 A slow and frustrating first half for Hazelbank, going in at half time only one goal to the good. A spirited Olympic giving a good display both defensively and in attack, the post coming to Hazelbank’s rescue with 10 minutes gone while a good shout for a penalty was also turned away. James Diver finally broke their resistance on 22 minutes, tapping in at the far post from Sheppard’s cross, 1-0 at the break. The second half started well for Hazelbank with Marty McCrory getting his usual goal a season, turning in from the left and curling into the top corner. Sheppard extended the lead four minutes later before Colin McClarty opened his account on 65 minutes heading in from a corner. He scored again on 69 minutes converting a penalty after Jason king was brought down. James Diver scored his second with a well-drilled shot from at least 20yards to make it six. Olympic to their credit never gave it up, and scored twice late on. Vauls got the first latching on to a mistake by M. Crawford at the back and curling past S. Crawford in nets while a mix up with Kyle and Diver allowed them to get a second with Hanna drilling home from a tight angle. All too late to make a fight back. Man of the Match: Davy McClean (Hazelbank) Berthas FC 5 Dunaghy Old Boys 2 Both teams started this game with new faces on board and it was Dunaghy who came out of the traps quicker, racing into a two goal lead after only 10 minutes. Hickinson got his team’s first when he slotted home from close range after Ian Blair’s long throw came back off the post and landed at the winger’s feet. Their second came moments later when McCrory’s poor clearance landed at the feet of Nathan Blair and he lobbed the ball back over the keeper’s head and into the net. The home team were shell-shocked and nearly went further behind but Arnie Blair dragged his shot wide. Berthas changed formation and started to dominate the game with McAllister and Cochrane both shooting wide. Cochrane got his team back into it when he ran onto Watton’s pass to slot home. He nearly got his team level but Docherty pulled off a fine save to keep out the striker’s header. Berthas continued on the front foot and got on level terms when Cochrane collected Watton’s pass before bending a belter of a strike over Docherty’s head and into the top corner. It was all Berthas in the second half and they took the lead not long in when Davy Campbell smashed home from six yards on the volley from MacAulay’s centre. Docherty was keeping his team in this one as he pulled off more fine saves from Watton, Cochrane and Caldwell. Berthas got their fourth when Patterson’s long throw caused confusion, the ball eventually bouncing at the feet of Cochrane who lashed home with his left foot for a fine hat trick. Dunaghy had a few sniffs at goal but the excellent McCrudden and Campbell were proving hard to get past. Berthas continued to play nice stuff and McClarty came close to extending his team’s lead before the returning Chris Morrow did when he ran onto Caldwell’s through ball to coolly slide it into the net. Man of the Match: Andy Cochrane (Berthas FC) Mountview FC 1 Ballyrashane FC 1 Both teams were eagerly awaiting the start of the new season and were looking to improve on last year’s results. Ballyrashane kicked the match off and had the better of the chances in the first 15 minutes. On 20 minutes a long throw from the Ballyrashane left back caused trouble in the Mountview defence and Paul ‘The Cat’ Simpson in the Mountview goal showed superb reflexes to keep the ball from crossing the line. On 35 minutes Smyth crossed for Archibald at the back post, who headed the ball over the line, but the referee disallowed the goal for climbing. In the second half Mountview had most of the play in the Ballyrashane end. Harte opened the scoring after coming off the bench, capitalising on a mistake by Doherty in the Ballyrashane goal. This lead was short lived as Ballyrashane equalised not a minute later. Mountview didn't clear the ball and Doey's shot from 20 yards went in off the crossbar. The remainder of the match was played end to end, but neither team could find a winner. Man of the Match: Davy Tosh (Mountview) FC Macosquin 0 Brook Street 0 First game of the season for both teams at Rugby Avenue and it proved to be a very tight game with both teams cancelling each other out in the early stages. There was very little to separate both sides in the first halt with Declan McGahon coming the closest for Macosquin with a long-range effort just before half time. The introduction of Ryan Duffy at half time gave a bit more creativity in midfield for Brook Street and they were very unlucky not to go ahead as they rattled the crossbar a few times as they started to lay onslaught to the Macosquin back four. A few tactical changes to midfield for Macosquin changed the game and they finished the stronger with Liam McGuinness hitting the post near the end of the game. The last few minutes saw FC Macosquin lay siege to the Brook Street goal but Jackie McVicker was in excellent form and even though his shirt does not hang as loose as it did 20 years ago he rolled back the years to deliver a defensive master class. On the whole a point for each team was a fair result. Man of the Match: Jackie McVicker (Brook Street) Hillview FC 5 Somerset FC 3 Hillview started brightly and took the lead early on. McClelland’s shot was spilled and fell to Gaile who reacted quickest to tap home. Hillview continued to dominate the first half, striking the bar on three occasions. McClelland hitting the cross bar from a free kick and Black hitting either post when clean through on goal. However it was Somerset who were the next to strike. Knight found himself behind the Hillview back line and slid the ball past McVey as he came out to clear. The second half was a closer affair with both teams pushing for the win. Hillview regained their lead from the penalty spot after a foul on Black. Hutchinson putting the keeper the wrong way with resulting spot kick. Somerset struck back from a corner. Cosgrove was off the pitch receiving treatment when the corner was taken and Frazer found himself unmarked at the back post to score. Some excellent football down the right flank gave Hillview the lead again. Close and McClelland combined well and found Black 10 yards out who made it 3-2. However, this lead was short lived. It was Somerset’s turn to play some good football. After breaking down the left, the ball was pulled back to the penalty spot and found Drake who smashed it in off the right post. Hillview took the lead for a fourth time when Close’s pass split the Somerset defence open and McClelland chipped the advancing keeper to pick up a well-deserved goal. The win was secured with seven minutes to go. Fellis’s free kick picked out Close at the back post to head home to make it Hillview 5 – Somerset 3. Man of the Match: David McClelland (Hillview) Balnamore FC 0 Glebe Rangers Old Boys 2 Despite having a number of players out injured, Glebe went on the offensive from the kick-off with a number of chances being missed in the opening 15 minutes. The breakthrough eventually came when ace marksman Sticky Steele slotted home after a McCracken through ball. Balnamore came into the game as the half wore on, however half-time arrived with the Glebe still on top. The second half was a more even affair although Glebe continued to have the better opportunities. The score-line remained the same until Colin McBride opened his account for the season when heading home a Wilmont free-kick. Thereafter Glebe were content to contain Balnamore who pressed hard until the final whistle with Blair coming close with a 25 yard pile-driver which struck the woodwork. Man of the Match: Ian Bellingham (Glebe Old Boys) The Taverners 1 Riverside Athletic 3 Despite creating the most chances the visitors fell behind to a Chris McIllmoyle strike midway through the first half. Chances came and went for Athletic before Simon McLean leveled matters ten minutes before the break. The entry of Lee Carton into the fray fifteen minutes after the restart paid instant dividends when he teed up stand in striker Ricky Hanna to calm a nervy Athletic, and the same combination saw them move into a comfortable position which allowed them to see out the remainder of the game and take a welcome three points. Man of the Match: Ricky Hanna (Riverside Athletic) Finn McCools 0 The Villagers 4 The home team were quicker out of the blocks in this one and should have taken the lead on a few occasions but poor finishing meant both teams went in scoreless at the break. The Villagers were a changed team after the break and took the lead after 56 minutes when McFarlane scored. Stan Shirlow who was making this debut for the Villagers got his teams second when he rounded the home team keeper to score. Finns pushed to get back in the game and again created chances but again they just couldn’t find the killer finish. They were made to pay for this 10 minutes from the end with McFarlane got his second, converting from Ivan Brown Kerr’s cross. With time running out The Villagers put the game to bed when super sub Ricky Pollock scored a fine solo effort to round off a good team performance, especially in the second half. Man of the Match: Colin McFarlane (The Villagers) Macosquin Village 6 West Bann Athletic 4 There was a real hum dinger of a game at the University with the ball hitting the back of the net 10 times. Lee Biggart opened the scoring for West Bann after only three minutes with a fine solo effort. Macosquin drew level eight minutes later when Darren Stewart fired home after exchanging passes with young Ryan Moffat. The youngster then put his team in the lead after good link up play with Chris Wade. West Bann hit back moments later when Olphert scored before they took the lead for a second time with Pancott finding the back of the net. Stewart put the scores level at the break when he ran onto Gavin Johnston’s pass to shoot home. It was more of the same in the second half and it was West Bann who got their noses in front for a third time when McCorriston capitalised on a mistake at the back to score. Stewart then got his hat trick when he tapped home after Marshall’s shot had hit the post. The striker was on fire and he got his fourth from the penalty spot to put his team in front. West Bann were looking leggy and it was John Doherty who finished the scoring for Macosquin and the match when he converted with a real peach of a volley from 30 yards out which gave Tosh no chance. Man of the Match: Darren Stewart (Macosquin Village) Fixtures Tuesday 24 Aug 6.45PM Ballyrashane v Bertha's F.C Crescent 3 Hazelbank v Macosquin Village Rugby Avenue 2 Villagers F.C v Coleraine Olympic Castlerock Wednesday 25 Aug 6:45 PM Brook Street v Finn McCool's Crescent 3 Dunaghy Old Boy's v Hillview F.C Dunaghy Glebe Rangers Old Boys v F.C Macosquin Riada 2 Riverside Athletic v Balnamore F.C Fulton Park Somerset v Taverners F.C Rugby Avenue 1 West Bann Athletic v Mountview F.C University Friday 27 Aug 6:45 PM Finn McCool's v Glebe Rangers Old Boys Bushmills Taverners F.C v Dunaghy Old Boy's Riada 2 Saturday 28 Aug 11:00 AM Balnamore F.C v Somerset Fulton Park Bertha's F.C v Mountview F.C Castlerock Coleraine Olympic v Brook Street Rugby Avenue 1 F.C Macosquin v Riverside Athletic Rugby Avenue 2 Hazelbank v West Bann Athletic Rugby Avenue 3 Hillview F.C v Ballyrashane Crescent 3 Macosquin Village v Villagers F.C Ballysally 2