Football: Cookstown RBL keep up championship push with win in Larne

Cookstown RBL entertained FC Larne at Beechway last Saturday.

A large crowd turned up to support the RBL who are now pushing to win the Ballymena League Division Two title. After dropping points against Remo the week before this was a must win game for the RBL.

Larne were keeping their shape and the RBL were finding it tough breaking down their defence. Larne had a freekick outside the box and it was superbly hit and only for the accrobatics of Forrest in goal who reached out and parried the ball over the bar. That was the wake up call for the Cookstown team.

From then on it was one way traffic. Several times the Larne wood work was rattled before McMenemey had a shot and it was blocked. However, it fell kindly to Kelso and the big man made no mistake in putting the ball into the net to open the scoring.

Hampson and Allen were creating space on the wings and feeding in some great balls for the RBL forward line to feed off. Dean Campbell settled the nerves when he extended the lead on the stoke of half time. A delightful ball into the box and there was Campbell to hit a rocket of a shot giving the keeper no chance.

The second half was a continuation of the first with Cookstown RBL battering the Larne back line. Chance after chance were going a begging but it was the wee scouse lad Hampson who got on the score sheet.

A ball cleanly hit from 30 yards out by Hampson hit the back of the net giving the Larne keeper no time to react. RBL continued to apply pressure looking to add to their goal tally.

It was left to Campson to get on the score sheet again when he made a surging run into the box and side foot the ball into the net making the score on the day 4-0 to Cookstown RBL.

This Saturday Cookstown RBL travel to play Ballynure Old Boys B at Threemilewater in Mallusk for a 2pm kick off.