Athletic Club Belfast

This weekend sees the firsts back over at Fullerton as they look to get back to winning ways against Realta II. All support is welcome and greatly appreciated.

League
1st vs Realta II - 2pm ko
24.02.2024 - Fullerton Playing Fields

This weekend sees the firsts in action against league leaders Glanville, the boys will look to have a better showing and avenge a heavy defeat suffered on the first game of 2024. All support is welcome and greatly appreciated.

League
1st vs Glanville FC - 2pm ko
17.02.2024 - Fullerton Playing Fields

This weekend sees a double header as the firsts travel to Stranford Avenue to take on Albion Star, who they haven’t faced since the first game of the season back in September. Elsewhere the overs will head to Antrim Forum in a mid season friendly as they look to keep fresh for the upcoming run in to their league season. All support is appreciated.

League
1st vs Albion Star II - 2pm ko
10.02.2024 - Strangford Avenue Playing Fields

Friendly
Over 35s vs Antrim Rovers FC Over 35s - 2pm ko
11.02.2024 - Antrim Forum

This weekend sees the firsts welcome New Santos II to Mallusk as they look to continue their good start to 2024. All support is welcome and greatly appreciated.

League
1st vs New Santos FC II - 2pm ko
03.02.2024 - Mallusk Playing Fields

THIS WEEKENDS RESULTS

First Team 5-3 Suffolk Swifts II

Saturday saw AC welcome Suffolk Swifts to Mallusk as they looked to continue the great effort put in during the game the week before. The lads started off the mark quick as a corner from Eugelito Troyo found Iñigo Rodriguez Garcia free in the box to tuck home within 3 minutes. This early goal seemed to spur them on as they continue to create a number of early chances which on another day would have been slotted home. However, it was the away side who scored the second goal of the game as a wayward goal kick found a free swifts head in the midfield and his return of the kick sliced the defence and their striker slotted to equal the game. The swifts then put themselves in front shortly after to head into the break at 2-1.

AC knowing they have to avoid slipping up to continue their chase of the top two knew the second half needed to be much better and with a flurry of three goals within 5 mins after the hour mark turned the game on its head and AC were cruising at 4-2 after some great work from our Spanish speaking duo Edgar Teixeira and Guillermo Álvarez Narciandi. AC then looked to see out the game but a free header 7 minutes from time made the last couple of minutes challenging as the swifts looked to equalise. However, it was our star Spanish striker Iñigo Rodriguez Garcia who calmed the AC lads down scoring his second of the game and the sides fifth to secure the win and keep AC within touching distance of the top two.

The lads will go into this weekend looking to carry on their form and continue to put pressure on the top two and doing their jobs to make it an interesting final couple of months of the season.

Goals: Iñigo Rodriguez Garcia x2, Guillermo Álvarez Narciandi x2, Edgar Teixeira x1
Assists: Eugelito Troyo x2, Jordan Thompson x1, Eoin Devenny x1

MAN OF THE MATCH: Eugelito Troyo

Over 35s 5-0 FC Bailie II

AC Belfast Over 35’s were back in action welcoming newly formed FC Bailie II to Strangford Avenue Playing Fields for a friendly fixture. With a busy calendar over the January and early February period, it was a good opportunity for a number of fringe players to get some vital game time and stake a claim for places in the starting XI for upcoming league games.

Following a fairly even opening ten-minute spell it was the hosts who drew first blood. Tricky winger Emanuele Armaforte won possession before playing a lovely through ball to hard-working striker Thomas Jinga who, despite being well-placed to shoot, unselfishly squared to fellow frontman Aaron Crawford who made no mistake from close-range to open his goal scoring account for the campaign.

As the half progressed AC began to assert their dominance on proceedings and were rewarded with Armaforte converting on 24 minutes for his second of the season following good work from captain Sean Bowers down the right.

Despite a number of tactical and personnel changes at the break, the flow of the game continued in AC’s favour and just 5 minutes after the restart substitute Adrian Murphy headed home for his 12th goal of an impressive season, following Armaforte’s inch-perfect delivery from the wing.
The youthful visitors continued to dig in, work hard and show glimpses of quality. It was however evident that they are still gelling as a team and some naivety at the back was exposed just after the hour mark when makeshift striker Phil Leckenby was found unmarked to bundle home from close range for 4-0.

AC continued to probe and missed a glorious chance to extend the advantage when the versatile Joe Rice inexplicably stabbed wide from four yards with the goal at his mercy. Just minutes later however Rice redeemed himself when presented with another opportunity, steering home for his first goal since August.

On top of a commanding performance and clean sheet, AC were further boosted by the return from injury of full back Stephen Rice and utility player Chris Plunkett who both defied lengthy absences to slot seamlessly back into the team. Skilful winger Robbie Smith, the versatile Aaron Crawford and striker Thomas Jinga also all impressed, despite the latter flashing a late penalty just over the bar in the closing stages.

Goals: 1x Aaron Crawford, 1x Emanuele Armaforte, 1x Adrian Murphy, 1x Phil Leckenby, 1x Joe Rice

MEN OF THE MATCH: Emanuele Armaforte and Robbie Smith

As always we wish our opponents good luck for the season and Uppa AC!

This weekend sees another double header as the firsts welcome Suffolk Swifts II to Mallusk as they look to carry their impressive performance from last weekend into this game. Elsewhere the overs will welcome FC Bailie to Strangford Ave in a mid season friendly as they look to tweak some aspects of their performance to ensure they finish their league campaign on a high. All support is appreciated.

League
1st vs Suffolk Swifts II - 2pm ko
27.01.2024 - Mallusk Playing Fields

Friendly
Over 35s vs FC Bailie - 1pm ko
28.01.2024 - Strangford Avenue Playing Fields

THIS WEEKENDS RESULTS

First Team 7-1 Realta II

Saturday saw the firsts head up to the Grove in search of a far better performance than the weekend before. It didn’t take the lads long to show they meant business as a number of chances fell to ACs front men which would have started the scoring earlier than it did. But it wasn’t long until Edgar Teixeira opened his account for 2024 with a great half volley finding the back of the Realta net, this was quickly followed by his second and third putting AC 3-0 within the first half an hour. Realta battled back into the game and found a couple of chances which were narrowly put wide. However, AC were able to round out the scoring in the first half with a goal from Niall McInerney after a corner bounced around in the Realta penalty box.

The second half began even faster than the first with Edgar Teixeira finding the net for his fourth after only three passes from the AC players. The lads began to slowly a little bit in the second half as at 5-0 they just looked to manage the game and grab their first 3 points of the new year. The home side managed to grab one back however from the penalty spot before Eoin Devenny got on the scoresheet. As well as Chris Moore, who was able to claim his first goal in senior football, which rounded out the scoring at 7-1.

The lads will look to next week and try to take the momentum into their next match in an attempt to keep pressure on the top teams.

Goals: 4x Edgar Teixeira, 1x Chris Moore, 1x Eoin Devenny, 1x Niall McInerney
Assists: 1x Jamie King, 2x Eoin Devenny, 1x Aaron O’Donovan,

MAN OF THE MATCH: Edgar Teixeira

Over 35s 1-2 Mallusk FC Over 35s

AC Belfast Over 35’s took to a windswept Strangford Avenue Playing Fields seeking revenge against runaway league leaders Mallusk, following a cruel, late 4-3 loss in the reverse fixture in October.

The hosts started on the front foot, showing greater composure on the ball compared to recent showings which culminated in two good opportunities in quick succession. Having won possession in the centre of the park, midfield anchor Seán Donnelly picked out Conor McDaid’s excellently timed run but just as the lively frontman was bearing down on goal and about to pull the trigger, a well-timed Mallusk tackle snuffed out the danger. Within minutes fellow frontman Adrian Murphy tested the visiting keeper with a snapshot when well placed. Marshalled by the resolute back three of Everden, Bowers and Leckenby, the usually free-scoring visitors were restricted to strikes from distance but despite the AC’s dominance in the opening period, it was scoreless at the break.

Playing against a gale-force wind in the second half it was perhaps a shock when the hosts opened the scoring within 60 seconds of the restart. Dynamic wideman Caomhin Doherty managed to show the opposing full back a clean pair of heels down the flank before drilling a cross into the danger area from which the referee adjudged that the Mallusk defender handled. Adrian Murphy stepped up to cooly his dispatch his 11th goal of the season by sending the keeper the wrong way.
Within minutes Doherty was at it again, cutting in from the left and beating his man before being felled by the despairing defender as he bore down on goal. To everyone’s disbelief, the referee saw no infringement and waved play on in what likely proved to be a defining moment in the game.

On 61 minutes, a quick counter-attack saw the hosts short on numbers at the back and a clumsy tackle on the edge of the area gave Mallusk a path back into the game which they duly took, penalty converted for 1-1.

With the wind increasingly wreaking havoc in what was a finely poised affair, it was the conditions that contributed to the winning goal. A weak goal kick against the wind found the Mallusk striker who clinically headed home to secure the points and leave the hosts pondering what could – and probably should – have been.

Goals: 1x Adrian Murphy

MAN OF THE MATCH: Caoimhin Doherty

As always we wish our opponents good luck for the season and Uppa AC!

This weekend sees the clubs first double header of 2024 as both squads will look to battle for their first wins of the new year. All support is appreciated.

League
1st vs Realta II - 2pm ko
20.01.2024 - Grove Playing Fields

League
Over 35s vs Mallusk FC Over 35s - 1pm ko
21.01.2024 - Strangford Avenue Playing Fields

This weekend sees the firsts back up at Mallusk to kick off their 2024 as they host league leaders Glanville. The boys will look to keep the pressure on the top three knowing they’ll need to continue their good start to the season to push for a successful season come May. All support is welcome and greatly appreciated.

League
1st vs Glanville F.C. - 2pm ko
13.01.2024 - Mallusk Playing Fields

THIS WEEKENDS RESULTS

Over 35s 2-2 St Oliver Plunkett FC Over 35s

AC Belfast Over 35’s started the new calendar year looking to build on a solid away win last time out and to complete the double on St Oliver Plunkett having secured a 3-2 victory earlier in the league campaign.
At a fog-bound Strangford Avenue there were initially no signs of rust or over-indulgence on Christmas turkey as AC got off to a flier, opening the scoring in just the third minute. Midfield lynchpin Sean Donnelly won the ball in the centre circle and managed to pick out Conor McDaid with an exquisite through ball before cooling lashing home for his 9th league goal of an impressive debut season at the club.
The early pressure and control exerted by the visitors slowly began to wane as St Oliver Plunkett grew into the game and whilst dominating possession for most of the first half, it was AC who looked the more threatening, with Sean Donnelly again causing problems by heading against the crossbar from a whipped Marty Ferguson corner.

It was from another corner – this time a delivery from the effervescent Joe Rice – that AC extended their lead. The hosts failed to clear their lines and paid the price as Adrian Murphy cooly fired home from distance on the half volley for his 10th of the campaign.

With just a minute of the first half remaining, AC’s Achilles heel – a lack of concentration – reared its ugly head again to let St Oliver Plunkett back into the contest as the hosts fired home at the back post following a corner. Game on.

The second half ebbed and flowed but as the encounter wore on, AC looked to be tiring – not helped by a lack of composure or control on the ball at times. Eventually the hosts found a leveller, albeit in controversial circumstances as the St Oliver Plunkett striker broke clear and fired past keeper David Williams from 12 yards despite loud but unanswered calls for offside.
AC continued to battle and held firm thanks primarily to the central defensive pairing of Phil Leckenby and the bloody-nosed captain Sean Bowers. It wasn’t without scares though, as the hosts came within a layer of paint of winning the game as they struck the post from distance with the last kick of an entertaining yet ultimately frustrating game.

Goals: Adrian Murphy x1, Conor McDaid x1
Assists: Ken Golden x1, Martin Ferguson x1

MAN OF THE MATCH: Sean Bowers

As always we wish our opponents good luck for the season and Uppa AC!

This weekend sees the overs kick off ACBs 2024 with a matchup against St Oliver Plunkett Over 35s at Strangford Avenue. The overs will look to start the new year on the right foot and set the tone for the club in 2024. All support is appreciated.

League
Over 35s vs St Oliver Plunkett FC Over 35s - 1pm ko
07.01.2024 - Strangford Avenue Playing Fields

#2024

AC Belfast want to wish all at AC and the wider footballing community a happy new year. Thank you everyone who has contributed to the clubs success in 2023 and let’s have an amazing year in 2024, right from the start!