It’s been a difficult start for new manager Jonathan Smith after taking charge of his first game on 22 November 2025.
In the fixture before he was appointed, Interim Manager, Mark Leahy took charge with help from Graeme Baillie, with the team falling to a 4-2 defeat at home to Suffolk.
Jonny relied on the knowledge of his assistants and club members when picking his squad. However, his first starting line up was disrupted before kick-off when Alan Dickson couldn’t make it after filling his car with the wrong fuel. The match finished 8 – 0 in favour of the hosts, Tullycarnet. Calvin Yeates and teenager Leo Elliott made their first team debuts in tough circumstances.
The following week didn’t improve much either, with high-flyer, promotion chasing Woodvale visiting The Millbridge. With Stefan missing, Ian McMullan took the Captain’s armband for the first time. Despite taking an early lead through a Ben Maxwell free kick after 12 minutes, United conceded an equaliser just ten minutes later, and fell behind another five minutes after that.
This opened the floodgates somewhat, and it was 7-1 at the break when Tyler Dickson was forced off with an injury.
Things went from bad to worse for the home team with debutant Owen Gill receiving his marching orders for dissent with a second yellow card.
Jonathan brought himself on for his debut with 35 to go while former Youth team goalkeeper, Charlie Parkinson stepped into goals but could do little about the following four goals. An unsightly 13-1 drubbing, which was made worse when Mark Leahy left his role as assistant manager to join Downshire IIs.
A series of mixed communication saw the following fixture called off with the team set to travel to Ballywalter for a relegation 6-pointer.
Instead, a cup game followed, 2C side Ballysillan Swifts hosted United in the Clarence Cup, but Ballynahinch wouldn’t progress despite the majority of chances. Another Ben Maxwell freekick squirmed over the line to draw Ballynahinch level but an error from goalkeeper Stefan Graham gifted the home side the lead again. They added a third with the Sky Blues desperate to equalise. Justin Herbert looked bright off the bench making his first-team debut, meanwhile Glenn Bennett made his 50th first-team appearance. However, the result wasn’t the lead into the Christmas break that the club wanted.
With a home fixture against Bloomfield postponed due to weather, United’s next fixture was against league-leaders St Mary’s at Dixon Park. Debutants Dawson Kelly and Nathan Dunn lined up for the first time in midfield with Tom Nelson and Adrian Mee. The quartet kept the ball well, while defensively the team were astute keeping fixture scoreless until half-time. In the second half, the home side took the lead from a corner, but Justin Herbert equalised with an excellent header from Nathan’s cross.
St Mary’s persisted forward and made their possession count adding four more goals, with three in the last five minutes to give the scoreline a harsh look.
Matthew Tate came off the bench in the final moments for his first-team debut, and after a six-month layoff. Unfortunately, Adrian Mee suffered a shoulder injury after landing awkwardly on the 4G surface which will rule him out for the next few weeks.
Tullycarnet 8 – 0 Ballynahinch United
[22-Nov-2025] – Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Charlie Parkinson, John McMenamin, Chris Coleman, Tom Nelson, Ben Maxwell, Adrian Mee, Glenn Bennett (Ben Sullivan), Glenn Moffett, Leo Elliott, Ryan Rooney (Calvin Yeates),
Unused: Alan Dickson.
Ballynahinch United 1 – 13 Woodvale
[29-Nov-2025] – Line up: Owen Gill, Charlie Parkinson, Tyler Dickson (Ethan Perkins), Ian McMullan [C], Chris Coleman, Tom Nelson, Thomas Rodgers (Jonathan Smith), Adrian Mee, Ben Maxwell, Ben Sullivan (Jude Kelly), Glenn Moffett.
Ballysillan Swifts 3 – 1 Ballynahinch United
[13-Dec-2025] Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Charlie Parkinson, John McMenamin, Tyler Dickson (Ethan Perkins), Chris Coleman, Tom Nelson, Ben Maxwell, Glenn Moffett (Graeme McMullan), Glenn Bennett, Ian McMullan, Jude Kelly (Justin Herbert).
MOTM: Ian McMullan
St Mary’s 5 – 1 Ballynahinch United
[17-Jan-2026] – Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Charlie Parkinson, Glenn Moffett, Chris Coleman, Ian McMullan, Tom Nelson, Ben Maxwell (Leo Elliott), Nathan Dunn, Justin Herbert, Adrian Mee (Jude Kelly), Dawson Kelly (Matthew Tate).
MOTM: Justin Herbert
While the first team played just four fixtures in two months, the Swifts only played three. Stephen Irvine saw his side fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Even more so when the one came from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
In the following fixture, United Swifts travelled to face Downpatrick II who are unbeaten and pushing at the top of the league. However, Ballynahinch contained them well throughout. A goal shortly before the half gave the home side the lead, while they were able to double it with 2 to go off the game. Sam Lockhart took charge with Stephen unavailable.
After the Christmas break, the Swifts faced another unbeaten side, this time league leaders Dundrum United. It was a fourth away fixture in a row.
Despite a strong line up, United never got going and finally fell behind 2-0 before Glenn Bennett powered home to reduce the deficit.
Unfortunately, he’d find himself in the changing room early after a second bookable offence.
It leaves the Swifts with just one point this season, and without a win in 13 games, since 22 April 2025.
Celtic Bhoys Academy 1 – 0 Ballynahinch United Swifts
[22-Nov-2025] – Line up: Owen Gill, Ethan Perkins, Stephen McNair, Greg Blunt, Gareth Bingham [C], Graeme McMullan (Tyler Dickson), Scott Brashaw, Diarmuid Lavery, Jake Emerson (Pearse Irvine), Jude Kelly, Matthew Douglas (Liam Rodgers).
MOTM: Tyler Dickson
Downpatrick II 2 – 0 Ballynahinch United Swifts
[29-Nov-2025] – Line up: Lewis Roy, Ryan Rooney, Stephen McNair, John McMenamin, Greg Blunt [C], Calvin Yeates (Luke Craig (Callum Greene)), Leo Elliott, Gareth Bingham, Diarmuid Lavery, Matthew Douglas, Jake Emerson.
Unused: Graeme McMullan.
Dundrum United 2 – 1 Ballynahinch United Swifts
[03-Jan-2026] – Line up: Stefan Graham, Charlie Parkinson, Ryan Rooney (Ben Wilson), Chris Coleman, Greg Blunt [C], Adrian Mee, Tom Nelson, Glenn Moffett (Matthew Douglas), Glenn Bennett, Ben Maxwell, Jude Kelly (Gareth Bingham).
Similarly, the Albion have also only played three fixtures in the past two months, with their last fixture on 25 October 2025 before this update (22 January 2026). Albeit, that’s where the similarities stop.
Matthew Lindsay’s Albion Army picked up 9 points in that time.
A late winner from Matthew Shaw saw the Thirds nick a 3-2 win away to Saintfield United Swifts with Nathan Cheevers and Scott Cheevers also on the scoresheet.
Another away tie saw them defeat Dromara Village Swifts at Rathfriland High School 3G. This time Scott Brashaw, Partick Harkin, Stephen McNair and Gareth Bingham produced the goods to seal the win. However, they made it difficult for themselves after going 3-0 up after just 16 minutes, Dromara fought back, scoring twice, before Gareth Bingham made sure of the three points.
Back at Langley, Celtic Bhoys Athletic visited but were on the receiving end of an Albion annahilation. Lee Maxwell opened the scoring after just 4 minutes while Scott Brashaw doubled the lead after 9 with a goal from the halfway line. The Bhoys pulled on back 20 minutes later but were reduced to ten men soon after.
United took full advantage scoring five more, including Lee Maxwell completing his hat-trick, a brace from Colin Nelson and a first senior goal for Curtis Johnston off the bench.
It leaves Ballynahinch United Albion sitting 3rd in the NADAFL Division 2 on 17 points, although someway off the pace behind Newcastle Town Forest (34 points) and Ballyvea III (36 points). Ballynahinch can close the gap however with 6 games and 4 games in hand of their rivals, respectively.
Saintfield United Swifts 2 – 3 Ballynahinch United Albion
[29-Nov-2025] – Line up: Harry Wilson, Alan Dickson [C], Keith Hamilton, Patrick Harkin, Liam Rodgers, Nathan Cheevers (Bradley Herbert), Matthew Lindsay, Scott Cheevers, Anthony Greene, Matthew Shaw, Harry Brown.
Dromara Village Swifts 2 – 4 Ballynahinch United Albion
[13-Dec-2025] – Line up: Lewis Roy, Ben Wilson, Alan Dickson, Keith Hamilton, Stephen McNair, Gareth Bingham, Ryan Rooney, Scott Brashaw [C], Ben Kennedy (Lee Maxwell), Callum Greene (Calvin Yeates), Patrick Harkin (Matthew Lindsay).
MOTMs: Scott Brashaw and Keith Hamilton
Celtic Bhoys Athletic 1 – 7 Ballynahinch United Albion
[17-Jan-2026] – Line up: Lewis Roy, Ben Wilson, Will McNeill, Stephen McNair (Curtis Johnston), Scott Brashaw [C], Colin Nelson, Alan Dickson, Lee Maxwell (Ryan Patterson), Roy Shilliday, Matthew Lindsay (Nathan Cheevers), Keith Hamilton. MOTM: Will McNeill