Clockwork

In the Lough 41 Championship yesterday wins for the top three Loughgall, Annagh United and Dundela. Ballyclare Comrades move up to fourth spot after a see-saw five goal thriller at Dixon Park. Dergview and Institute remain winless after five games and occupy the bottom two places at the foot of the table. Dundela at home to Loughgall probably the pick of next weekend’s fixtures. Full round up of yesterdays games; https://www.nifootballleague.com/news/2022/september/championship-starting-to-take-shape/

What a result for Newry City tonight 5-1 winners away at Glenavon!!

Gary Smythe sacked at H&W Welders. https://www.nifootballleague.com/news/2022/august/smyth-parts-ways-with-the-welders/

What a strike from Andrew Mitchell though!! Irish Premiership: Euro exit no excuse for defeat at Carrick - Healy https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62701463

What a result for Carrick Rangers this afternoon, 2-1 winners against Linfield at home. Just beaming!!

No change at the top of the Lough 41 Championship as leading pair Annagh United and Loughgall cancel each other out but wins for Warrenpoint Town, Dundela and Knockbreda this afternoon. Still away, so full report on today’s games once again taken direct from the NIFL web pages. https://www.nifootballleague.com/news/2022/august/no-change-at-the-top-of-the-championship/

No game today, but Meadow Park looking glorious in the August sunshine this afternoon!

Ballyclare’s unbeaten start to the season ends at Clandeboye Park in the Fiday night Championship game. Ross Hunter quick off the mark, scoring in the opening minute for Ards,. Calvin McCurry equalising for the Comrades shortly after the break only for Eamon Scannell to grab the winner five minutes before the end. Finished 2-1 Ards.

Linfield although having the highest attendances in the NIFL, their average home league gates are still below 3,000. Windsor holds 18,000. Even on a European night it’s still going to look far less than a third full.

Jeez, that was awful, how did Linfield contrive to lose that!![emoji15] Should have been out of sight. They’ve a much tougher game against Carrick to come on Sunday too![emoji6]

Ah, I see! a bit like our Rugby Union side eh?

Ulster? Does that include the three Counties that sit within the Republic, Co Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan?

That’s a shame, nice fella, but the brutal reality of high expectations in the modern game (particularly in England), keeping them up and then securing a relatively comfortable lower mid table finish (twice), just not enough. Getting pumped out of the League Cup by struggling Morecambe probably didn’t help![emoji15]

Just five years since the 2-1 Agg loss to Lux side Progres Niederkorn, and dumped out in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. Given what Rangers achieved last year in European competition and CL Qualification secured this term, it’s some turnaround for the club. Pot 1 & 2 for today’s draw must look a wee bit daunting though. eek!

One result in the Premier Intermediate last night, Bangor 5 Lisburn Distillery 0. All the goals coming in the first half. A brace apiece for Ryan Arthur & Jamie Glover, Ben Arthurs completing the rout. Will be interesting to keep tabs on the Seasiders this year, having made a couple of interesting signings, John Boyle from Newry and Tom Matthieson from Dundela (played most of last year with Ballyclare on loan though). Decent wee club, and support down at Clandeboye Park, it would be good to see them have a full tilt at a return to the Championship after what would be a seven year absence if they managed it.

Yep Matt Shevlin too hot for Carrick last night@Jacksgranda Decent game though by all accounts though, The Bannsiders off to a flyer eh!?[emoji106]

Results from tonight’s fixtures in the Championship. https://www.nifootballleague.com/championship/2022-2023/results/ Was beginning to think I’d spoken too soon about the start ‘new boys’ Newington had made after quickly falling 0-3 behind at home to Institute, but a spirited comeback to take a share of the spoils 3-3. Ballyclare continue their impressive start winning 2-0 at Dixon Park against Dundela.

Have you seen the NIFL Highlights show (usual slot Monday nights at 11.30pm on BBC1 Northern Ireland) advertised anywhere @Jacksgranda ? Had a look on the BBC Sport App, the IPlayer and the TV planner, but can’t find anything or indeed any mention of it at all?

On MOTD2 did Tuchel really just say, ‘we couldn’t get a plane, we had to get a bus up to Leeds’ as part of his post match reasoning following Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat? It is a bit of a trek from London I suppose [emoji849]

Linfield 3-1 winners away at Newry this afternoon, an Eetu Vertainen double taking all three points. Will the Saints want him back over to Perth!?[emoji846]

Away at present, so this week’s Championship round up direct from the NIFL website. Cracking win for Ballyclare and Newington holding Ballinamallard showing that they’ll be no ‘pushovers’ this season. https://www.nifootballleague.com/news/2022/august/early-leaders-win-on-the-road/

Held out well though eh? Shame Carrick couldn’t follow suit after getting their noses in front at Solitude this afternoon!

Late update but Linfield let a two goal lead slip late on in Latvia. Thursday night in the Rigas Futbola Skola 2-2 Linfield: Healy has 'mixed emotions' following dramatic draw https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62602665 Glens go top after a cracking win over Cru’s at the Oval this evening. Irish Premiership: Glentoran come from behind to beat Crusaders 3-1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62609884

Any chance we can just take this shite right out of the game . It offers absolutely nothing for youngsters growing up and playing sport (not just football), across Northern Ireland?

All that fannnying about though from Cucurella before the corner, then remains rooted to the six yard line, marking absolutely no-one, as Spurs equalise. Just pointless.