The Clearer Water Irish Cup continued at the weekend with another 29 second round ties generating the usual helping of knock-out drama, late goals and talking points.
It all kicked off on Friday evening when Rathfriland Rangers welcomed Windmill Stars to Iveagh Park with the NIFL club running out comfortable six-goal winners thanks to a Jake Corbett hat-trick alongside a brace from Matthew Holloway and a late strike from Ruari Fitzpatrick.
Corbett was one of five players to claim the match ball over the weekend. He was joined on Saturday afternoon by Ballymacash Rangers' Benny Igiehon (pictured) as he bagged all the goals in their 3-0 defeat of Rathcoole at the Bluebell Stadium while Coagh United's Zach Ferson hit three as they swept past Bourneview Mill at Hagan Park.
Banbridge Rangers' Ethan Copes hit his opening goal away to Sirocco Works in first half stoppage time, doubled up early in the second half and clocked up his hat-trick as late as the 93rd minute.
Matthew Pierce also scored three on the road as Newbuildings United cruised past Hanover. The 28-year-old opened the scoring after just five minutes but had to wait until a quick fire double with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining to clock up his hat-trick.
Three games required spot-kicks to settle them, and each one saw the lead change hands during the 120 minutes of open play - and no place more so than at Brookvale Park as home side Wellington Rec. eventually got past Albert Foundry at the end of a six-goal thriller.
Curtis Crawford fired Rec. in front after a quarter-of-an-hour, Thomas Ryan levelled for Foundry midway through the first half before Stephen Wilson edged them in front just after the half-hour mark.
Crawford brought the home side back into it again on 56 minutes but Wilson restored Foundry's lead not long after that.
Callum Wharry made it 3-3 on 65 minutes, and that was how it stayed until the shoot-out which Rec. edged 4-3 to progress to the next round.
Ballymena-based side Wakehurst travelled to Belfast to take on St. Oliver Plunkett and hit back from two down to win through in the end.
Scoreless at the break, a Conall Breen double before the hour put Plunkett into a strong position, but Ryan Sands registered for the visitors midway through the second half ahead of a Cameron Neilly equaliser to bring the visitors level before they came through on penalties.
Meanwhile, at Wilbourne Park, Islandmagee accounted for Heights after twice coming from behind.
Mark Edgar struck first for Heights - in their inaugural season in the competition - on 22 minutes but this was cancelled out by Ciaran McCormick with just over ten minutes of the first half remaining.
Edgar restored Heights' lead on 58 minutes but, again, this was short-lived after Joel McMurtry scored on the hour for the home side. With no further scoring, it fell to penalties to settle it with Islandmagee winning through 4-3.
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