COMPETITIVE football returns to the local area in just over a week’s time.
The first and second rounds of the Toals.com Steel and Sons Cup have been drawn, with ties to be played on Saturday, August 2nd and Saturday, August 16 respectively. In round one, Dundonald make the short trip to face East Belfast, Abbey Villa are on the road to Sirocco Works and Portavogie Rangers welcome Lisburn Distillery. Receiving byes to the second round are 1st Bangor, Ards Rangers, Portaferry Rovers, Saintfield United, Rosemount Rec and Comber Rec.
Portaferry will face Ballynahinch Olympic in round two, with Rosemount playing hosts to the competition holders Derriaghy CC. There’s an intriguing tie at Parkway where last year’s NAFL Premier Division winners Comber face third tier Ballyclare Comrades. Saintfield will play Holywood, Ards Rangers travel to Albert Foundry and should Abbey Villa get past Sirocco Works, they’ll play Division 1B team Greenisland away from home.
Goals flow at Breda Park
ARDS continued their preparations for the new season by putting five goals past Knockbreda on Saturday.
Zach Barr, Conor Scannell and Odhran McCart were all on target in the win.
Next up for the Red and Blues is a trip to Taylor’s Avenue to face Carrick Rangers on Saturday (2pm), before the return of the traditional pre-season fixture against Bangor on Friday, August 1.
