TOALS.COM STEEL & SONS CUP
WILLOWBANK 3
ARDS RANGERS 2
ARDS Rangers were beaten for the first time in all competitions on Saturday as their Steel and Sons Cup campaign was halted at the last-16 stage by Division 1A side Willowbank.
Rangers got off to the worst possible start at Larne’s Academy of Sport, conceding a goal after just six minutes when Conal Maguire broke free from midfield and struck the ball over ‘keeper Rhys Lawson to give the west Belfast side the lead.
Things went from bad to worse in the 18th minute when a Willowbank corner was turned into his own goal by Rangers defender Gary Watson.
James Sofley had a great chance to half the deficit soon afterwards, but his effort was well saved by the home ‘keeper.
Things looked really black for the visitors when Thomas McCrory made it 3-0 five minutes later to all but confirm the Rangers’ fate. Soon afterwards, Rangers were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty when Sofley was fouled from behind in the box by Eamonn Hughes but the referee waved away any appeals.
Eventually Rangers did start to work their way into the game and they reduced the arrears 10 minutes before the break as Sofley’s header gave them a lifeline.
Rangers continued their improved form on the restart and seven minutes into the half Reece Ritchie pulled another goal back to make it 3-2. The visitors were now on top and on the hour Willowbank were reduced to 10 men when Sofley was brought down by former Newington defender Hughes as he bore down on goal.
Rangers went on the attack and created numerous chances as another late penalty appeal was waved away by the referee when Ciaran Mason seemed to handle the ball in the box. However there was no further scoring and it was Willowbank who progressed to the quarter-final and a game away to Finaghy, with all the damage having been done in the opening period.
Other results
NAFL Division 3A: Woodvale IIs 2-5 Ards Rangers II (Owen Phillips, Ben Hollinger, Ashton King, Noah Crenshaw & Adam Sloan)
DAWFL Premier Division : Ards Rangers III 2-6 Castle Juniors (Bradley McCourt 2)
DAWFL Reserve D2: Corrymeela IIs 0-8 Ards Rangers IV (Craig Murray 3, Ryan Andrews 3, Dylan Spence & Matthew Hedley)
Fixtures
Border Cup R3: Ards Rangers v Derriaghy CC, Drome Park 1.30pm
Junior Cup R2: Ards Rangers II v H&W Welders U21s, Londonderry Park 1.30pm
DAWFL Premier Division: Newtownards RBL v Ards Rangers III, Hamilton Park 2pm
DAWFL Reserve D2: Ards Rangers IV v Holywood FC IV, Londonderry Park 2pm
