Comrades lead the way after title favourites stutter on opening day
TITLE favourites Larne suffered something of a shock on the opening day of the Bluefin Sport Championship season when they were held to a draw by Knockbreda.
Heavily tipped to book a return to the Premiership following a decade in the second tier, the free-spending east Antrim side got off to a bright start at Breda Park, where Martin Donnelly broke the deadlock midway through the first-half.
Try as they might, Tiernan Lynch’s men were unable to add to their advantage and found themselves pegged back when Brendan Bennett earned a point for the hosts.
Larne’s main challengers to win the league are expected to be Portadown — who were themselves held to a 1-1 draw by Loughgall on Friday evening — but it’s Ballyclare Comrades who lead the way following a 4-1 thumping of PSNI courtesy of strikes from Eoin Kane, Curtis Woods, ason Johnston and Adam Wright.
Recently relegated Ballinamallard United, meanwhile, made light work of Limavady United with a 3-0 victory at Ferney Park. Jason McCartney set the Mallards on their way before Ryan Campbell and Josh McIlwaine added their names to the scoresheet.
Carrick Rangers, who also dropped down from the Premiership at the end of last season, were beaten by Harland & Wolff Welders, who banked the only goal of the game through Scott McMillan.
Newly-promoted Dundela, meanwhile, toasted their return to the Championship by seeing off Dundela in a five-goal thriller at Wilgar Park, where Jordan Hughes’ double proved decisive in earning maximum points.