Clockwork

The new season in the NIFL Championship kicked off with an impressive win for new boys Newington FC who raced into a 3-0 lead within the first 20 minutes against Dergview. The north Belfast outfit, (who ground share with Cliftonville at Solitude) had Patrick Downey, Richard Gowdy, and Darren Stuart to thank in getting the Swans off to a great start, before shell-shocked Dergview managed to pull one back through Calvin McCallion. Stuart then restoring the 3 goal lead with quarter of an hour to go. Will look forward to seeing how they get on next week down in Fermanagh at Ballinamallard. The Ducks travelled to Ballyclare yesterday securing a point in a cagey 0-0 draw with the Comrades at Dixon Park. Down in Craigavon, Annagh United enjoyed a comfortable start with a 2-0 win over Knockbreda at the BMG. Goals from Conor Mullen before the break and Stephen Murray in the closing minutes sealing the the 3 points. Dundela edged passed Institute at Wilgar Park with a solitary goal from Chris Rogers on the hour mark, whilst Welders, despite enjoying much of the possession went down 0-2 at home to Ards, off to a flyer with goals from Johnny Taylor and Pat Cafolla. Finally in rounding things up, Loughgall also won 2-0 at home to Warrenpoint, relegated from the top flight last term. The Villagers who will surely push again this season, scooping all the points with goals from Jamie Rae just after half time and Ben Magee in the closing minutes. Loughgall visit Ards in the first of next week's fixtures in the Friday night game from Clandeboye Park.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChNBUrbqo_Y/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Goal of the Season contender already? Tom Lockhart for Newry City at Taylor’s Avenue this afternoon.

A real shame, but they were never going back there eh![emoji53] Would be great to see a new ‘Waterside’ on the east bank of the Foyle though![emoji106]. Could see them drawing a decent wee crowd with a permanent home over there?

A nervy tense opener with few chances other than Jay Donnelly’s effort. 0-0 about right. Don’t think Larne or the Glens will take much from that other than a scratchy point each! Awful viewing for the neutrals tbh!

Europa League qualifying: Zurich ease into play-off as Linfield drop into Europa Conference League https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62493785 Linfield comfortably beaten by FC Zurich in the EL & drop into the ECL. League opener at Inver Park tonight, great to get started again.[emoji106]

A thoroughly enjoyable couple of weeks all round, there’s been some brilliant sport to watch plus the crowds have been fantastic. Much shorter notice to plan the event, (stepping in after Durban pulled out) and with all the hassle of C19 to contend with, the organisers and competitors have put on a terrific show. Congrats to everyone involved.

Doesn’t seem like David Healy was though, unusually critical of his players approach and attitude to the game, although a fixture they could probably have done without and not one that seems to create much interest as a ‘curtain-raiser’ these days. Understand from a Crus supporting pal that there was barely over a thousand there!! Very much looking forward to to the league openers this weekend though! First up - Larne Vs Glentoran @19.45 on Friday 12th August (live from Inver Park live on (BBC Northern Ireland/iPlayer.

Crusaders take the Charity Shield at Windsor with a comfortable 2-0 win over Belfast neighbours Linfield. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62452798

£226,000 for a summer holiday also seems on a par with what most folk spend on a wee break away. It’s all good.

Feels a bit empty today with the League openers in Scotland & England, whilst we wait another fortnight for new season to get started in the NIFL. Goals from Ben Tilney & Lloyd Anderson earn Carrick a comfortable pre-season win over neighbours Ballyclare Comrades at the Taylor’s though. (2-0).

Two very good goals to unlock a frustrating afternoon for Rangers. Livi did pretty much everything they could, to secure the points on taking an early lead. Martingale had it set just how he wanted, will be disappointed not to take something from the game, after blunting Rangers for long periods without too much trouble. A scrappy watch though for the League opener.

Yep £25 per day, not sure about the HOL. Imagine a Brickie, Teacher, Postie or a Nurse perhaps, sauntering into Greggs, Subway, or Tesco’s every day for TWENTY FIVE quids worth of food and drink and just sticking it on an account at the till, for someone else to settle at the end of the month. Greedy bast*rds.

The daily unreceipted food allowance for MPs is certainly taking the piss. How many of us, get to put what amounts to a full weekly shop on the tab of our employer (in this case the Tax-Payer), no questions asked? Get this unnecessary ‘perk’ in the bin too.

Creditable performance over the two legs against a side with a much higher European profile and pedigree.

Enjoyed the opening last night, looking forward to the 7’s and the Hockey.

Sad news, combined Managing Hull City & Spurs (briefly) full time with the Northern Ireland job. Not sure that would be possible these days!

Paul O’Neil leaves Cliftonville for Larne. The young Striker seeking more game time after spending just over a year at Solitude (signed from Glentoran Jan 2021).

Ouch, not a great trip to Norway for the Blues in the return leg! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62303590

Cheers pal.

Planning to visit Nuremberg for a pal’s 50th weekend in November, they are scheduled to play SC Paderborn (tbc). A few of us wouldn’t mind going to a game, instead of just spending all day in the pub. Not sure what sort of crowds they get, but Is it advisable to try and prebook tickets (even for Bundesliga 2 games) or is it easy enough to just rock up at the ground on the day? Cheers

May well rue the couple of decent chances they created late on, to at least take something back to the Shore Road next week (especially with a man advantage for almost 2/3rds of the game. Tough ask indeed.

Just finished Freddie Flintoff’s ‘Field of Dreams’, great wee series. The big fella has some amount of patience with a certain few of those kids though, the man’s a Saint!!

Carrick Rangers New Home Top 22/23.

Impressive stuff, they’ve given themselves a great chance in Norway next Tuesday.

Toprak completes treble at Donnington Park in the WSBK https://www.motorsport.com/wsbk/news/donington-razgatlioglu-treble-bautista-rea/10339379/?filters%5Bevent%5D%5B0%5D%5Btitle%5D=Donington+Park&filters%5Bevent%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D=272964