Due to some teams participating in other competitions on Saturday there was just three games in the Bluefin Sport Premier Intermediate League (PIL) on Saturday but there was also two games played on Tuesday night and we’ll be covering all five games in our usual league roundup:-
Sport and Leisure Swifts 0 Annagh United 2 (Saturday)
Annagh moved to within two points of safety thanks to this tricky away win against Sport and Leisure on Saturday, their first win in the league this year. Both goals came in the second half when first Craig Taylor struck to put United ahead and later Gareth Rees made sure of the win with a goal of his own. Defeat for Pat McAllister’s men keeps them in 8th place in the table, three points outside the top six and five clear of the relegation area.
Tobermore United 4 Armagh City 1 (Saturday)
Tobermore moved ahead of Armagh on goal difference on Saturday and into the top six with this win at Fortwilliam Park. City started the game slowly and it was Tobermore who struck first when Conor Kearns scored from the penalty spot after a City player had committed a foul inside the area. The one goal lead was quickly extended to two as Aidan McAuley added his name to the scoresheet before the whistle blew for half-time. City pulled one back when Nedas Macuilaitis scored from close range after one of his team-mates headers had been cleared off the line following a corner but any hopes of a dramatic comeback from City were diminished when Kearns helped himself to a second and Ryan Whiteside also scored to wrap up a great day for Adrian Whiteside’s team.
Queens University 2 Donegal Celtic 1 (Saturday)
Queens got the better of this derby game at The Dub on Saturday to move top of the table, at least until Dundela played on Tuesday night, but they had to work for the win after Kevin Hughes finished past former DC keeper Declan Brown to give the visitors a first half lead. Queens did go close to equalising before the break but Ronan Young’s free-kick came back off the inside of the post. In the second half Young tried his luck again from a free-kick and once again seen his effort hit the woodwork but on this occasion the ball came down off the underside of the bar and over the line to bring the sides level. Soon after DC were handed a chance to restore their lead when they were given a penalty following a Matt McManus foul but Brown saved Conor Glenholmes weak effort. Queens had taken control of the game and the pendulum swung further in their favour when DC had Karl Rossborough shown a red card with less than 20 minutes to go. Queens rattled the woodwork again from a Matt Hughes effort and Ben Mulgrew couldn’t finish the rebound but Queens did score what proved to be the winner thanks to a strike from super-sub Tony Tumelty. DC remain in 9th but are nervously looking over the shoulders at Annagh, who are now just two points behind.
Armagh City 1 Dundela 2 (Tuesday)
This game had just about everything at Holm Park on Tuesday night as City set about trying to bounce back from their defeat against Tobemore on Saturday and when Nedas Macuilaitis took advantage of a Ryan McBride slip to put them ahead it looked like they might do just that. City heled on to their lead until the half-time break and until well into the second half, there was a moment of controversy when the Duns were reduced to ten men when one of their players was adjudged to have denied a clear goal scoring opportunity but the referee chose to overturn this on the advice of his linesman keeping it 11v11. With just three minutes of normal time remaining Jordan Morrison brought the sides level but there was more drama to come when the Duns were then awarded a penalty in added time but Carl McComb seen his effort saved by keeper Daniel Devine. There was still time for one final twist when in the 94th minute McComb redeemed himself when he scored for the Duns to stun City fans and send the East Belfast men home happy. This win moved Dundela back into top spot after dropping to 2nd following Queens win on Saturday.
Moyola Park 0 Tobermore United 0 (Tuesday)
Moyola and Tobermore played out a rare goalless game in the PIL on Tuesday night at Mill Meadow, both sides went into the game knowing that three points would see them climb above Lisburn Distillery and into 3rd place in the table but ultimately neither side were able to take advantage of the game and remain as they were.
This Saturday the PIL returns with a full set of fixtures:-
Annagh United v Portstewart
Armagh City v Moyola Park
Banbridge Town v Lisburn Distillery
Donegal Celtic v Sport and Leisure Swifts
Dundela v Tobermore United
Queens Univeristy v Newington Youth Club