Kilroot Rec will finish bottom for third year

It was the Carrick boys’ seventh successive defeat.

The team’s problem has been in getting their best players all out on the one day – and another major deficiency was conceding ‘soft goals’, and the malaise continued in Saturday’s ‘six pointer’ away to second bottom Iveagh United, who were gifted an 18thball into his own net.

Another defensive mistake granted United a second, which was scrubbed out thanks to a Rob Armstrong header. Iveagh duly responded, only for Rec to follow suit with Tony O’Donnell heading in just before half time.

Iveagh managed to put some distance between the sides on 78 minutes, but a missed penalty five minutes later gave Kilroot fresh hope. However, with Maxwell nodding one just wide and Jim Thompson denied by the keeper, it was just not to be.

Final score: Iveagh United 4, Kilroot Rec 2

Eighteenth Newtownabbey Old Boys didn’t make things easy for BangorAmateurs, despite finishing the match with nine men.

Gary Sloan was first to go after 18 minutes, after voicing his disapproval at the referee. Twelve minutes later the Amateurs were in front with a shot that careered in off the post, before springing the 18th offside trap just before half time.

The Monkstown side, however, pegged one back ten minutes after the turnaround, with Rab Butler lofting one over the keeper.

However, their task was made all the more difficult when Gary Kelly was shown the red card. Bangor scored from the resultant free kick which took a deflection on its way past keeper Andy Green.

Final score: Bangor Amateurs 3, 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys 1