Norwich City defender Ruairi McConville celebrated his first goal in senior football over the weekend, though the milestone was overshadowed as the Canaries suffered a 4-3 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers at Carrow Road.
The 21-year-old, who was playing his 46th game for the club, headed home in the 19th minute to give Norwich City a 2-1 lead, but he admitted it meant little in the immediate aftermath of defeat.
“I want to score goals and I know I'm capable of doing it,” he told BBC Radio Norfolk. “It's just I've not been good enough in the box, and thankfully I got one today.
“It's something that I need to keep adding to my game, but obviously it doesn't mean much today, losing the game.”
Elsewhere in the Championship, Paul Smyth scored a superb last-minute equaliser as ten-man QPR, who had Pierce Charles in goal, came back from two goals down to earn a point in a 2-2 with Preston North End at Loftus Road.
It was the 29-year-old’s second of the campaign, and QPR boss Julian Stephan praised the contribution of the former Linfield player after coming off the bench midway through the second half
“We know Smithy is able to do something sometimes, something very, very, special,” he told the club website. He’s a special player.
“He’s a right-footed player, but even with the left foot, today’s was a top goal, fantastic. I’m very happy for him.”
In League One, former under-21 international JJ McKiernan scored in Bromley’s 2-1 home win over Huddersfield Town while former Larne striker Lee Bonis took his tally for the campaign to three with a goal in Chesterfield’s 2-0 League Two victory at home to York City.
Meanwhile in Scotland, loanee midfielder Callum Burnside scored both goals in Airdrie’s 2-1 win over Peterhead while goalkeeper Mason Munn, who joined Dumbarton on a season-long loan from Rangers, kept a clean sheet on his debut for the club as the defeated Spartans 3-0 at home.
In the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership, Cora Chambers coolly converted a late penalty to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory for Linfield over their 'Big Two' rivals Glentoran on Sunday. The result officially crowned Cliftonville Ladies as champions for the third time in five seasons.
The Reds had done their part on Friday night, defeating Lisburn Rangers 3-1 thanks to Louise McDaniel finding the net for a third consecutive game.
In the Premier League, Daniel Ballard started Sunderland’s 5-3 defeat to Manchester City, while Trai Hume played the final eleven minutes of the eight-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium.
Midfielder Shea Charles started his third successive Premier League contest for Fulham as the west-London outfit picked up a valuable point in their 1-1 draw with Michael Carrick’s Manchester United at Craven Cottage.
Everton’s teenage prospect Braiden Graham and Hull City’s 31-year-old defender Paddy McNair both remained on the bench as unused substitutes during their respective club’s weekend fixtures.
In the Under-18 Premier League, former Cliftonville player Eamon Tohill continued his excellent form since joining Middlesbrough in the summer, scoring his fifth goal in six games in an impressive 5-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.
Southampton striker Luke Hawe netted his fourth goal of the campaign, and 17-year-old Coran Madden scored to help Brentford U18s cruise to a 3-0 victory against Ipswich Town.
