Category: Fixtures

BUFC Notes

United’s annual Last Man Standing fundraiser gets under way this weekend. Anyone wishing to enter should contact any committee member before Saturday and all those who have already entered should make their team selections before Saturday.

Everyone at BUFC would like to wish Billy Hamilton Sen. a speedy recovery after his recent hospitalisation and look forward to seeing him and Sally back at the Millbridge very soon.

The Swifts game against Strangford in the Supplementary Cup was postponed on saturday past and it is hoped that it will take place at Millbridge this Saturday at 1.30pm.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 1 v 1 Ballyvea 2nds

The Swifts entertained table toppers Ballyvea 2nds in this league match at the Millbridge last Saturday.

Both teams appeared to be at full strength and they served up an exciting afternoon fair. The Swifts took the game to their more experienced opponents from the first whistle with Gareth Bingham and Graeme McMullan proving to be a constant threat to the Ballyvea defence which looked solid throughout.

McNeill, King, McMenamin and Bonner worked tirelessly in defence to keep the Ballyvea attack in check while in midfield McPhail, Massey, Manly and Wilson won a lot of possession with their quick closing down of the opposition.

A 0 – 0 score line at half time was not surprising as both teams generally cancelled each other out with neither goalkeeper having much to do.

In the second half the Swifts pushed on forcing a number of corners whilst Ballyvea were dangerous on the break with Swifts keeper Johnny McGreevy having to make a few timely saves.

The Swifts got the first break in the 70th minute when Graeme McMullan was upended in the penalty area however the usually reliable Alan Massey’s spot kick by was well saved by the Ballyvea keeper.

This seemed to spur the visitors on and in the next attack Ballyvea scored when a shot beat McGreevy and went in off the post.

Minutes later the Swifts were on the attack following the introduction of substitutes Ross Bingham and David Griffiths. They were awarded a corner and from the resultant kick Ross Bingham powered a header into the net off the underside of the crossbar for what was a deserved equaliser.
This was a competitive game played with spirit and sportsmanship throughout which was a credit to both teams.

The referee deserves considerable credit for his handling of the game and his consistent decision making.

This week the Swifts travel to Strangford for a cup game.

Match Report: Strangford 4 – 4 Ballynahinch United 2nds (20/12/14)

The Swifts travelled to Strangford on Saturday the 20th December with no doubt that they would be in for a tough game. The early exchanges were cagey, with no real chances materialising for either team. As the game progressed Strangford were gaining the upper hand and with some slack defending to aid them, they took the lead with a good finish from their striker.

Ballynahinch pushed for an equaliser and when Bingham released Dalton Tate he delivered a great ball in for Aaron McCaffery to power the ball home from close range. Strangford again pushed forward and The Swifts were again guilty of some slack defending and as a result found themselves 3-1 down at the break and their heads were down.

A stern team talk from manager Davy Taggerty seemed to galvanise The Swifts and they came out with a different attitude and were attacking with menace.

Strangford had now adopted a more physical approach with some challenges that would have belonged more on a rugby pitch, but The Swifts would not be intimidated. After a strong spell of good attacking football, a long throw from Paul King fell to Massey and he stroked the ball home from inside the penalty area making it 3-2.

With the wind in their sails The Swifts were pushing for the equaliser and from a corner Dalton Tate delivered a dangerous ball in, which the Strangford defence could not deal with and the ball was met by their defender and ended up in the top corner making the score level at 3-3.

With both teams tiring the game was stretched and when Strangford broke on the right a cross was turned in from close range and Strangford were celebrating again with the score of 4-3 in Strangford’s favour.

With not long left on the clock The Swifts pushed tirelessly through with Matty Manley and Ben Wilson, and with Alan McMullan creating openings just like his younger brother Graeme did before he had to go off injured at half time.

Backed up by Shaun Bonner, Scott McNeil and Craig McMullan in defence The Swifts were looking dangerous. Dalton Tate was proving the thorn in Strangford’s side and when he broke free in the box he was chopped down for a penalty, which Alan Massey dispatched, and the score was 4-4 with a few minutes left.

Strangford pushed and pushed for the winner and with a great save from keeper McGreevy and a last ditch block from Ian Blackwood in the final moments the score finished level.

The Swifts will be pleased to have kept their unbeaten run going in a particularly difficult game and they showed they have character throughout the team, which they will need for the difficult games that will present themselves in the new year, starting with a top of the table clash at home to Ballyvea this Saturday the 3rd January.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 0 v 1 Dromara Village

Clarence Cup

The Millbridge was the setting for the first derby game between these two sides for quite a few years and while the football wasn’t very exciting there was no shortage of action as both teams ended the game with nine players.

United entered the game missing Adam Herron due to suspension and the unavailable Paul Dickson however they were buoyed by the return of Aaron Cheevers who transferred to United from Temple Rangers during the week.

The first half was keenly contested with neither of the two goalkeepers seeing any real action however the referee was very much the centre of things booking United players David Kelly, Ross Hayes and Ethan Majury and surprisingly no Dromara Village players despite an equal amount of fouls and confrontations.

United’s best chance came from Aaron McCaffrey whose spectacular overhead kick sailed over the Dromara crossbar.

The second half continued much the same as the first with both teams cancelling each other out however the referee intervened again on the hour mark when he gave Ross Hayes a second yellow card for a foul in the penalty area – an incident that was hotly disputed as any contact was as much due to the Dromara player jumping into the United players back.

The resulting penalty was taken by the Dromara goalkeeper Kieran Gordon but the weak effort was palmed around the post by Bryan McMullan. As a result of the red card, United’s defence had to be reorganised with Gavin Crawford joining Scott Brashaw in the central area with Majury and Davy Boal on either side.

United should have scored after seventy minutes when Dalton Tate and Stuart McMullan combined to put McCaffrey on the left wing and he cut in to cross the ball but the onrushing Ian McMullan couldn’t keep his shot down.

The game truly exploded in the 75 minute with three players, one United and two Dromara, being sent off following a foul on the edge of the Dromara penalty area. This resulted in United’s Davy Boal being set upon by at least half a dozen visiting players with fists and even what appeared to be a “Kung Fu” kick. The referee could easily have sent a lot more players from the field for what was a most disappointing incident.

The only goal came in the 81st minute when Dromara broke away on the right wing and a low cross was palmed out by keeper Bryan McMullan into the path of Dromara forward Johnny Gray who diverted it into the net. This however was not without its controversy either as the ball came at Gray so quickly it hit his chest and then went into the net off his left arm. The referee was so far behind play he could not have seen it and so United’s fate was sealed and the Dromara players and large contingent of supporters celebrated their victory.

In the closing minutes United fought gamely to get back into the game but Dromara held out to go into the second round.

Match Report: Ardglass 3rds 1 v 3 Ballynahinch United 2nds

A much changed Swifts travelled to Ardglass on Saturday after a few weeks off due to the adverse weather, that coupled with no less than 7 players missing due to injury and work commitments made it a difficult tie against a team that would provide a stern test.

The Swifts started brightly and were putting the Ardglass defence under considerable pressure, if it had not been for the experience of the Ardglass centre half partnership an early goal would of been a strong possibility.

The Swifts were patient in their build up play and waited for the right opportunity, aided by the defence who were firmly in control they were getting closer to breaking the deadlock with every attack. On the half hour mark a quickly taken free kick by Alan Massey caught the Ardglass midfield flat footed, Paul King received the ball and let a rasping shot go from 25 yards – such was the power in the shot the Ardglass keeper was lucky to save but could not hold onto it and the lively Jack Patterson made no mistake from 10 yards when the ball broke loose.

That goal gave The Swifts more confidence and with Bonner, King, McMenamin and McNeill in commanding form, McGreevy in nets had little to do.

A quick corner from Massey near the break saw him play a one-two and chip a ball onto the far post. A couple of last ditch tackles kept the score at 1 nil. But The Swifts would not be denied. Matty Manley’s smart free kick from the edge of the box caused considerable confusion and again Jack Patterson was in tip top form to smash the ball in.

A mere lapse in consentration just before the halftime whistle saw Ardglass gain a goal direct from a corner when The Swifts ought to have done better.

The Swifts had a clear vision of what was needed in the 2nd half and carried it out well. Bingham never missed a thing all day long and with the impressive Jack Patterson and Manley on the wings The Swifts were a constant threat. Indeed it was Manley on 70 mins who took a short corner to Massey who played the ball back to him, with a neat cross-field pass it was met by McMenamin on the volley for the goal of the game.

This was a good strong team performance from The Swifts who remain unbeaten this season, but with stronger tests on the horizon it will be all hands to the pump especially at home to Annalong this saturday.