Championship

THE GOALS ARE FLOWING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

18 Jan 2025
football
© Paul Harvey

If it's goals you're after then a Playr-Fit Championship ground was the place to be this weekend after the six games played produced no fewer than an average of four goals each.

The action got underway on Friday evening as leaders Bangor went down by the odd goal in three away to Newry City.

Ryan McNickle bagged both home goals, the first coming after just six minutes after he powered forward to beat the keeper with a classy finish.

And he poked home the second on 25 minutes after getting on the end of a superb run and pass from Jamie Doran.

The visitors pulled one back nine minutes into the second half with a stunning effort from the edge of the box curled into the top corner.

That result allowed second place Limavady United the opportunity to close the gap at the top to six points with a four goal thumping of Dundela on Saturday afternoon.

Visiting defender Jake White headed a Stephen Lowry free-kick into his own net after just two minutes, with John Butcher doubling the Roesiders’ advantage around the half-hour mark with a curling effort from the edge of the box.

Michael McCrudden added a third from the spot early in the second half after Lewis Tosh had been brought down before Ian Parkhill wrapped the scoring up five minutes from time with a fantastic 20-yard finish.

HW Welders also hit four goals without reply as they stormed past Ballinamallard United at the Blanchflower Stadium.

Salou Jallow kicked the scoring off inside the opening ten minutes after connecting with a precise Oran O’Kane cross at the back post.

Jordan McMullan added a second midway through the first half with Tiarnan O’Connor making it 3-0 a few minutes later from an acute angle.

McMullan then doubled his tally just before the hour from close range to complete the scoring.

And the goals were definitely flowing as Ards defeated Armagh City at Clandeboye Park.

Lee Newell got things underway with just four minutes on the clock after being played through by Connor Maxwell to go one on one with the keeper and slot the ball into the bottom left.

City levelled soon after through Igor Rutkowski’s follow up after Marc Matthews had pushed an initial effort onto the crossbar.

Eamon Scannell restored Ards’ lead after a quarter-of-an-hour with a rocket of a finish from Newell’s right-sided delivery but just moments after that Rutkowski hit Armagh’s second after making the most of some poor defending.

And still the scoring continued with another goal on 20 minutes, Scannell’s second of the day, after he gave the City keeper no chance.

Ethan Simpson added Ards’ fourth at the back post later in the first half from a Maxwell set piece but, perhaps unsurprisingly, the second half failed to produce any goals as Ards ran out winners.

Annagh United helped themselves to three goals as they got the better of bottom of the table Newington at Inver Park.

Kris Calvert edged the visitors in front just before the half-hour mark with a right-footed volley from the edge of the area.

Ryan Swan added a second not long from the break after pouncing on a poor backpass to round the keeper and roll the ball home.

Lee Upton then made it 3-0 late in the game with a thundering volley from a Conall Young corner.

Meanwhile, at Dixon Park, Ballyclare Comrades and Institute battled to a 2-2 draw.

Brandon Diau opened the scoring for ‘Stute during the early exchanges after a corner had been sent over but the Comrades hit back not long after that courtesy of a superbly struck 25-yard Cillin Gilmour free-kick.

Barry Baggley’s side then seized the lead themselves on 33 minutes through Keevan Hawthorne’s back post finish after Jay Riley had knocked the ball into the box.

And that was how it stayed until the closing moments Padraig Lynch saw his effort go in off home keeper Dylan Graham.