Rangers exit cup at first hurdle

After the previous week’s performance against Championship side Newington Rangers, the local side started the game off in the same fashion. First, Hamilton was thwarted after a mazy run, rounding the keeper, only for his goal-bound effort to be cleared off the line by a home defender.

Striker Smith was then denied twice in succession, first sending a header over the crossbar from a Hamilton cross, and then Friars on the other wing fizzing in a low cross, only for the keeper to get down and gather well with Smith ready to pounce.

The second half again saw Killyleagh gradually came into the game and created a few chances themselves as the game began to open out, although it began to look as though it would take only one goal from either side to win the game.

With 15 minutes left on the clock Ballymacash thought they had that elusive goal when sub Campbell was sent through one-on-one with the home goalkeeper with the former rounding the keeper only again to see his effort blocked on the line by the last defender, the ball trickling past the wrong side of the post for a corner kick.

The only goal with less than 10 minutes to play, when the ball broke down the home-sides left hand side, the ball crossed to the middle of the Ballymacash penalty box, where the Killyleagh striker calmly fired the ball into the corner of the net.

Despite this setback, Ballymacash continued to press their opponents in the final minutes for a deserved equaliser and thought they had it, when a last gasp ball over the top of the home defence, saw two Ballymacash players through at the back post only for both players to get in each others way.

Rangers return to league action next weekend when they host Lisanally Rangers - 2.15pm kick-off.