Jump to content

Failed Statelet Premier League & Other Divisions 2020/21


Jacksgranda

Recommended Posts

The IPL kicks off tonight, Motherwell fans favourite Irish League side v Ballymena at the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds. Won't be easy for the Bannsiders, but they must be favoured to edge it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54542802

Hard to see past the usual suspects for the title - Linfield, Coleraine and Crusaders, although I must be honest I haven't been paying a lot of attention to team news and transfer activity of late, so there could be a surprise package. Glentoran will be hoping to mount a challenge.

Larne will want to push on from last year's satisfactory debut.

Portadown are back in the big time, and will be hoping to emulate Larne's efforts last season, so there will be a bit of bite in Mid Ulster this season with Glenavon and Dungannon keen to show they are the top dogs.

BBC preview - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54317204

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Half time: Coleraine 0 Ballymena 1.

Pretty poor game, plenty of effort but very little football. Ballymena probably deserve it having had 2 efforts on target, Coleraine's best chance was deflected onto the Ballymena goal by a Ballymena defender.

Ballymena down to 10 men, pretty stupid cynical foul in the Coleraine half.

Don't know whether to persevere with the second half or not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

59 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said:

Half time: Coleraine 0 Ballymena 1.

 

And that's how it finished. Much improved second 45 from Coleraine, although they couldn't have been much worse and they were playing against 10 men. For the last 15 minutes they reverted to playing high balls into the land of the giants, total waste of time.

That's the sort of result that come the end of the season proves decisive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the Saturday Linfield carried on where they left off with a 5-1 demolition of Carrick Rangers at The International Windsor Park Stadium. Crusaders went to Warrenpoint and won 1-0. Also 1-0 winners were Cliftonville over Glentoran. Portadown signalled their return to the big time with a 4-2 win at Mourneview over Glenavon, and Larne saw off Dungannon Swifts 3-0 at Inver.

So Coleraine, Glentoran and Glenavon already on the back foot.

Last night Crusaders won the north Belfast derby, 1-0 against the Reds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54669339

Today Coleraine attempt to get back on track at Shamrock Park, a point might be the best they can hope for against a Portadown side with their tails up after last weeks derby win. Carrick host Larne in the east Antrim derby, Larne to win this one. Dungannon and Warrenpoint meet at Stangmore with both sides anxious to open their accounts, this could go either way. Glentoran host Glenavon with both sides suffering from derby opening day defeats, I fancy the Belfast Glens for this one.

And finally in the late kick off at the Warden Street Showgrounds, Ballymena welcome Linfield. Can't see the Braidmen getting anything out of this if they play like they did last Friday (and yes, I know they won). Linfield to win.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Red and yellow cards galore - more of that tomorrow.

Carrick 1 Larne 2

Dungannon 0 Warrenpoint 2

Portadown 0 Coleraine 3

Glentoran 1 Glenavon 1

Meanwhile, Linfield were strolling at Ballymena, 2 up, but gave away a silly penalty, so the second half might be a bit more interesting than it was looking like it was going to be, 1-2.

ETA: Final score - Ballymena United 2 Linfield 3, a last minute United goal put a better look on the score from a Ballymena viewpoint.

Edited by Jacksgranda
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Decent value at the Showgrounds in the late kick off last night, what a finish from Nasseri for Linfield’s second. Sounds like Carrick were unlucky not to take anything from a close run thing at Taylors against Larne. Will look forward to Crus at Windsor on Friday night!

Entertaining first couple of weeks. [emoji106]

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two games played and only 3 teams with full points, Linfield, Larne and Crusaders.

It was only 3-2, but Linfield won fairly comfortably against Ballymena. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54676062

Larne have made a solid start, and have beaten teams they need to beat to make the top six - or higher. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54677406  Two penalties in this game.

And Crusaders have won both their games 1-0 - Friday night's game report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54669339 (There seems to be an awful amount of "edging outs" in these reports.)

Then we have Coleraine, Warrenpoint, Ballymena, Cliftonville and Portadown with 3 points each. Coleraine saw off Portadown fairly comfortably 3-0 at Shamrock Park in a game strewn with yellow cards including 2 for Ports' boss, Matthew Tipton, who had to watch the rest of the match from the stands. There was a penalty in this game, too, for Coleraine. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54677017

Warrenpoint had a big win at Dungannon, Swifts may come to regret this loss - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54677236

Glentoran and Glenavon have a point each after their draw at The Oval, both having lost their openers. Glenavon finished with 9 men, so they'll be happy with their point. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54676059 There was a red card and a penalty in this game, too.

And bottom of the pile are Carrick Rangers and Dungannon Swifts, with no points, even after only 2 games, could be a long season for these two.

Penalties and red cards - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/54600151

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I enjoyed that, thought Crusaders were worth a point, but were caught with a sucker punch for Linfield's second and although they got a goal back fairly quickly, they couldn't get the equaliser, it finishes 2-1 to the Blues.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought it was a penalty.

Yep he definitely cut across him, but perhaps just another example of how easy players go down in the box these days?
Decent last ten minutes, Crus perhaps unlucky not to take at least something out of the game, but a well worked 2nd, great header by Quinn before Lecky returning the favour, albeit a consolation for the visitors.
Enjoyed the game overall though! [emoji106]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 games played, and only 2 teams with full points, Linfield and Larne, Crusaders losing their full points chance on Friday night. Larne saw off Ballymena in the Antrim derby at Inver Park - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54761334

Coleraine are third with six points after beating Glentoran at the Showgrounds in a match marred by a horrendous leg break for Bobby Burns for which Coleraine's James McLaughlin got his marching orders. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54777871 Match report - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54763404

Fourth on goal difference are Cliftonville and fifth on goal difference are Crusaders, Cliftonville beat Carrick at Solitude - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54763474

Sixth are Warrenpoint Town on four points, edging out their guests on Saturday, Portadown, the two sides drew 1-1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54760990, Warrenpoint finishing with 9 men.

Portadown players get a telt - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54773407

Eighth are Ballymena with 3 points, a point ahead of Glenavon who will be disappointed with their home draw with Dungannon Swifts, who are tenth on goal difference from Glentoran, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54760989, and propping everybody up on nul points are Carrick.

Highlights - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p029ydhd/nifl-premiership-highlights

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Clockwork said:

Some statement of intent from Larne tonight in their Antrim Cup Semi, their ambitions are clear this season after hammering Linfield! emoji15.png

Here you go - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54777876

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Clockwork said:


Fallon’s red card a big turning point eh? Should make for a decent final against the Glens though!emoji106.png

Larne's manager was on Radio Ulster said it changed the game but still thought his team handled Linfield well, apparently David Healy wasn't happy about the red, surprisingly...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Big game tomorrow Glentoran v Larne.
Ballymena v Crusaders, Glenavon v Coleraine and Portadown v Linfield also have potential.

Will look forward to the game this teatime at the Oval, sounds like a lively first half at Mourneview too! Would be good to see Carrick get up and running against fellow strugglers Dungannon for me![emoji106]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...