FAMILIAR VIEW FOR COLERAINE AS THEY GO TOP OF PREMIERSHIP TABLE

The Bannsiders locked horns with previously unbeaten Donemana up at the Holm on Saturday but the contest never really materialised into the shoot-out that most were expecting as the visitors won with plenty in hand.

There was something of an unexpected bonus for the victors on their journey home as well; having discovered that fellow challengers Brigade had been beaten at home by Ardmore- the Waterside men’s second defeat in just five league games so far. It was a disappointing day for the Beechgrove outfit whose much-feted batting and bowling options failed to fire against a spirited Bleachgreen side.

Credit to Gary Neely’s men however who refused to lie down and are now rewarded with a third win of the season that for now keeps them well out of harm’s way.

At the other end of the spectrum, Strabane and Drummond both look to be in trouble after they lost fifth consecutive matches against Bready and Eglinton respectively. The Red Caps, champions remember in 2014, looked a shadow of that side as they were thumped by their fellow strugglers while Drummond are also on the ropes after they were heavily beaten by the villagers.

Fox Lodge continue to dominate the race for promotion with Brian Allen’s team making it six wins on the bounce as they easily saw off Ballyspallen. Glendermott stay right on the leaders’ tail however; Alan Johnson’s side fighting back late on to just get the better of Killyclooney at the Rectory.

It’s a different story for St Johnston though- the side relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last year have still to pick up a win this season and are now rooted to the bottom of the table and facing the prospect of two successive drops. Worse still, they have actually picked up a 1 point deduction as well for failure to submit a captain’s report however they do have the potential to get out of the mire.