Champions Kilkeel dig deep to stay in title frame

THE tough games are coming thick and fast for Ulster Premier League champions Kilkeel.

A week ago they crashed 4-1 to South Antrim but bounced back immediately on Saturday with a 3-2 comeback win over Instonians ... and next up is yet another title rival in Bangor who go to the Mourne venue this weekend.

But Kilkeel like nothing better than a challenge, and they know that if they can topple the Seasiders three days before Christmas and then repeat the win over Raphoe a week later, they’ll be sitting proudly on top of the table as the programme heads into the New Year.

Saturday’s 3-2 win over Instonians was important for them - not only to knock the Belfast side from the summit, but also to take some form of revenge for the 4-2 IHL2 defeat inflicted on them at the same venue just a fortnight earlier.

In fact it looked like Inst were going to repeat that success as they swept into a 2-1 lead with goals from William Robinson and Ross Blair.

But Kilkeel refused to cave in and turned things round to win 3-2, with Mark Henning, Eddie Agnew and Johnny Aiken all on target.

That win leaves Kilkeel and Inst level on 21 points in second place but with the Mourne side having a crucial game in hand.

It’s now Bangor who lead the way at the top after Harry Dow scored the only goal of the game against Raphoe at the Aurora Arena, and that adds more intrigue to the top of the table clash this weekend.

South Antrim needed to stage a second half comeback at Civil Service to earn a point in a 2-2 draw while Newry Olympic’s 3-2 success at Portadown means they have now climbed to sixth place, well away from the trouble zone.

North Down’s game at Mossley was a weather casualty and that means the Comber side won’t be playing again until after Christmas, as they are the odd one out in the 13-team Premier programme this weekend.

Finally, England’s bid to land a World Cup medal fizzled out alarmingly over the weekend in India.

They crashed to a 6-0 defeat in the semi-final to Belgium and then suffered a devastating 8-1 reverse against Australia in the bronze medal play-off.

That means they finish fourth for the third successive world series, and that their Ulster trio — Ian Sloan, David Ames and Mark Gleghorne — still awaiting a world medal.

Belgium were crowned champions for the first time after they beat Netherlands 3-2 on penalty runs sudden death following a goalless draw in the final.

Oddly, this was the only 0-0 scoreline during the 36-game tournament which produced 157 goals in total, just over four a game.

Craig Fulton, the Irish men’s coach until five months ago, was Belgian’s assistant coach.

World Cup finals (Bhubaneswar, India): Semi-finals: England 0 Belgium 6 (A Hendrickx 2, T Boon, S Gougnard, C Charlier, S Dockier); Australia 2 (T Howard, E Ockenden) Netherlands 2 (G Schuurman, S van Ass) Netherlands won 3-2 on penalty runs.

Bronze medal play-off: England 1 (B Middleton) Australia 8 (T Craig 3, J Haywad 2, B Govers, T Mitton, T Brand)

Gold medal play-off: Belgium 0 Nether- Heat on: Portadown’s Robbie Scott and Matt Russell of Newry battle on Saturday

lands 0 (Belgium won 3-2 on penalty runs) Ulster Premier League: Kilkeel 3 (M Henning, E Agnew, J Aiken) Instonians

2 (W Robinson, R Blair); Portadown 2 (S Johnston, R Bennett) Newry Olympic 3 (K McWilliams, N McKnight, K Fletcher); Bangor 1 (H Dow) Raphoe 0; Civil Service 2 (R Anderson, T Priestley) South Antrim 2 (M Gray, J Brown); Mossley v North Down (postponed)

Intermediate League: Ballymena 3 Saintfield 0; PSNI 1 Down 0; Parkview 2 Portrush 4