SML round-up: Five-star display from Spence as Carniny open season in style

Johnny Spence wasted no time in making his mark on the opening week of the new firmus energy Saturday Morning League season.
Jonny Spence (right) is congratulated after scoring by Carniny Rangers team mates Leslie McCaughern and Stephen Green. INBT33-221ACJonny Spence (right) is congratulated after scoring by Carniny Rangers team mates Leslie McCaughern and Stephen Green. INBT33-221AC
Jonny Spence (right) is congratulated after scoring by Carniny Rangers team mates Leslie McCaughern and Stephen Green. INBT33-221AC

The Carniny Rangers frontman plundered five goals as Robrt Young’s side hammered Moylena 6-1 in the opening round of Division One games.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Carniny Rangers 6 FC Moylena 1: Dean Dunlop netted Carniny’s first on nine minutes after showing good composure to score from ten yards.

Jonny Spence (right) is congratulated after scoring by Carniny Rangers team mates Leslie McCaughern and Stephen Green. INBT33-221ACJonny Spence (right) is congratulated after scoring by Carniny Rangers team mates Leslie McCaughern and Stephen Green. INBT33-221AC
Jonny Spence (right) is congratulated after scoring by Carniny Rangers team mates Leslie McCaughern and Stephen Green. INBT33-221AC

A minute later, Carniny scored again when Frazer Young’s pass found Jonny Spence in space in the box and his cool finish set him up for a productive evening.

His second and arguably best of the night came on 13 minutes when he picked up a pass from Leslie McCaughern just inside the Moylena half and outpaced four defenders before slotting past keeper Stevie Turner.

Six minutes later, Jordan Kenny, one of Carniny’s top performers on the night, saw his shot blocked before falling to Spence again who rifled the ball in from eight yards for his hat trick.

Moylena managed to curb the flow of goals up until the half and surprised Carniny in the opening minute of the second half as Ross McNabb provided the cross for Jeff McNichol who put his shot wide of keeper James Gracey.

Stuart McCrea and his Moylena defence managed to hold out until 76 minutes when Frazer Young’s sublime first time ball over the Moylena back line left Spence in space where he fired home his fourth of the game.

His fifth and his side’s sixth came soon after when he harried Stuart McCrea into a loose pass which he seized on before he rounded Stevie Turner.

Clough Rangers 8, FC Penarol 1: Clough took the lead in bizarre fashion 20 minutes in when goalkeeper Colin McCaughren deceived John Cunningham in the Penarol goal with a free kick from his own half.

It was 2-0 on the half hour when Richard Gregg won a tackle deep in the Penarol half which fell to Ricky Dunlop 12 yards from goals and he toe poked into the corner for his first competitive goal for Clough.

Penarol got themselves back into the game early in the second half when Kenny Wright’s snap-shot was only parried by Colin McCaughren and Barry Mawhinney was on hand to tap into the empty net.

Five minutes later Clough restored their two goal advantage when Dean Magill delivered an inch perfect cross from the left for Ricky Dunlop to head home at the back post.

Dean Magill was involved in the fourth when his cross was laid to edge of the box by Richard Gregg for Chris Montgomery who curled into the top right hand corner with a delightful finish.

Arguably the goal of the game soon followed when Adam Whitehurst drove at the Penarol back four and played an exquisite reverse pass for Ricky Dunlop who rounded the keeper to complete his hat trick.

Adam Whitehurst got the goal his efforts deserved when controlled Adrian McDonald’s pass before sidestepping a defender and firing into the corner of the net for six. Clough introduced subs Kyle McRoberts, Chris McDonald and David Huston in the last 20 minutes and they helped continue the flow of attacks which saw Ricky Dunlop score his fourth and Adam Whitehurst his second to complete a comprehensive win.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION TWO

Braid United 0, Ahoghill Rovers 3: Relegated Rovers, under new management, made the breakthrough on 22 minutes when Ryan Morrow split the defence for Philip Cromie to race through and he was fouled as he was about to shoot and a penalty was awarded. Johnny McKeown coolly sent Braid keeper James Gaston the wrong way to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later Rovers doubled their lead. Philip Dickey burst into the penalty area rounded Gaston before unselfishly rolling the ball across goals for McKeown to fire into the empty net.

On 32 minutes Ahoghill made it 3-0 when Johnny McKeown completed his hat trick. Philip Dickey was again the provider as he worked hard to create an opening before playing in McKeown who slid the ball home from the edge of the penalty area.

OTHER RESULTS

firmus energy Division One: Ahoghill Thistle 2, Abbeyview 1; All Saints OB 1, Connor FC 1; Michelin 0, Raceview 1.

firmus energy BSML Division Two: St Comgalls 2, Carnlough Swifts; Seven Towers 1 Cullybackey Olympic 2; Riverdale 5, Newpark Olympic 1; Cloughmills 1, Glenravel FC 3; Waveney Swifts 0, Galgorm Blues 2; Holywell 4, Lisnafillan Swifts 1.

firmus energy Division Three: Templepatrick 2, Rectory Rovers 2; Atletico Antrim 0, Randalstown 5; Woodside 2, Cushendall 0; Steadfast 2, Wakehurst Star 3

FIXTURES

Tuesday, August 12 (7pm) - firmus energy Division One: Abbeyview v Carniny Rangers (Forum); FC Moylena v Harryville Homers (Forum); FC Penarol v Ahoghill Thistle (Showgrounds 5); Connor FC v Clough Rangers (Connor); Raceview v All Saints OB (Broughshane); FC Antrim v Michelin (Forum).

Wednesday, August 13 (7pm) - firmus energy Division Two: Ahoghill Rovers v St Comgalls; Cullybackey Olympic v Braid United (Tober Park); Newpark Olympic v Holywell (Allen Park); Glenravel FC v Riverdale (Dunfane 1); Galgorm Blues v Cloughmills (Galgorm); Lisnafillan Swifts v Waveney Swifts (Dunloy); Seven Towers v Carnlough Swifts (Showgrounds 4).

firmus energy Division Three: Rectory Rovers v Atletico Antrim (Waveney 2); Randalstown v Templepatrick; Sporting Ballymoney v Steadfast; Woodside v Wakehurst Star (Wakehurst 6).

Saturday, August 16 (10.15am) - County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup, round one: Harryville Homers v Raceview (Wakehurst 2); Ahoghill Thistle v All Saints OB.

County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup, round two: Ballykeel v Clough Rangers (Clough); Lisnafillan Swifts v Templepatrick (Dunloy); FC Antrim v Woodside (Forum); St Comgalls v Glenravel; Carniny Rangers v Cushendall (Wakehurst 6); Atletico Antrim v Seven Towers (Forum); Waveney Swifts v Newpark Olympic (Waveney 2); Cullybackey Olympic v Galgorm Blues (Tober Park); Abbeyview v Ahoghill Rovers (Forum); Connor FC v Carnlough Swifts (Connor); Randalstown v Sporting Ballymoney; Cloughmills v Braid United; Holywell v Michelin (Forum).

firmus energy Division One: FC Penarol v FC Moylena (Showgrounds 5).

firmus energy Division Three: Steadfast v Rectory Rovers (Galgorm).