Category: Steel & Sons Cup

Match Report: Crewe United 9 – 0 BUFC

Ballynahinch United travelled to Crewe Park, Glenavy in the first roynd of the Steel & Sons Cup. The winners of the tie would face either East Belfast or Bangor FC in the next round.

Before the game both sides lined the centre circle for a minutes silence to pay respects to former Crewe United player and manager, Tommy Breslin.

The place where Tommy Breslin learnt his trade as a boy and hung up the boots as man.

Continue reading Match Report: Crewe United 9 – 0 BUFC

Cup Draws – Our Fixtures

We now know our opponents in the early rounds of the cup draws for:

  • Toals Steel & Sons Cup,
  • Border Regt. Cup and
  • The Tennent’s Irish Cup.

Steel & Sons Cup Draws

We will play Crewe United on Saturday 10 August at 2.30pm in the Toals Steel & Sons Cup, First Round. The tie will be played at Crewe Park.

On 2 July, the Second Round ties were also announced. The winners of our fixture against Crewe United will visit East Belfast FC or Bangor FC on 24 August at 2.30pm.

We’ve made it to the Second Round for six years in a row. Last season, we were knocked out of the Steel & Sons Cup in Round 2 when we lost 4-0 to St James’ Swifts at The Millbridge. While in 2013, we made it to Round 3 and lost to a strong Ballyclare Comrades side.

Border Regiment Cup

In the Border Regt Cup, we will play against NAFL Div 1B new boys, Aquinas FC.

We will play Aquinas FC on Saturday 31 August at Rathmore School and the match will kick off at 2pm.

In previous years, we have made it to the third round of the Border Cup, however in 1989/90, we won the winning the Amateur League’s Border Regiment Cup when the team beat British Telecom on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Tennent’s Irish Cup

Meanwhile, in the Tennent’s Irish Cup draw on 8 July, we were drawn another away tie – this time to Strabane FC on 17 August. Our kick off for Irish Cup games is at 1.30pm.

Our best run in the Irish Cup came in 2013 when we got to the 5th Round. On 9 January we traveled to the North Coast to face NIFL Premiership side, Coleraine FC. The score was 0-0 at half time, but finished 8-0 to the favourites. The aim will be to get to that stage again and further in the other Northern Ireland cup competitions.

We will keep you up to date on the next round of cup draws.

Pre-Season Friendly Match Report: Ballynahinch United 3 – 0 Moneyslane

Ballynahinch United got their preseason underway with a friendly against Mid-Ulster side Moneyslane at Millbridge last Saturday. Manager Keith Hamilton was missing a number of first team squad members, however it gave him the chance to give some of the youth team an opportunity to show what they can do and when the chance came they most certainly did.

The home side were on top for most of the first half with David Kelly running the midfield aided and abetted by Alex Miller, Gavin Crawford, Jordan Kennedy and Stuart Hunter.

Moneyslane came more into the game in the latter stages of the first half and early part of the second and defensively Greg Allison, Ross Hayes, Ethan Majury and Scot Brashaw were in commanding form while goalkeeper Brian McMullan came to the rescue on several occasions. Aaron Cheevers played up front on his own and his hold up play and distribution was excellent throughout.

United took the lead in the 30th minute when a bit of quick thinking by Cheevers led to a free kick being taken quickly for Kelly to lash it home past the visiting keeper.

During the second half four youth team players – Craig Tate, Alex Burtney, Ben Ohnuo and Jack Davis were introduced into the team and as they have been training with the seniors since late June they didn’t look one bit out of place. It was during the latter stages of the game that United increased their lead with two goals from Cheevers and Kennedy. In the 75th minute Aaron Cheevers latched onto a through ball and fired an unstoppable shot into the net while in the 85th minute Jordan Kennedy stepped up to score from the penalty spot.

This was a great start to the season however a lot of hard work has still to be done in preparation for the seasons start on 13th August at home to Wellington Rec. in the Steel & Sons Cup.

Training sessions continue each Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Millbridge and new players will be made very welcome.

Next Saturday afternoon [23rd July] United will entertain Bloomfield at the Millbridge.

Ballyclare Comrades 6 v 1 Ballynahinch United

United’s run in the Steel & Sons Cup came to an abrupt halt when they were well defeated by an excellent Ballyclare Comrades side last Saturday. They found themselves two down midway through the half and four down at half time. A spirited second half saw them get a goal back though Ian McMullan but a further two goals were conceded.

This week United play their first home match at Millbridge for well over a month when they entertain NAFL Premier League side Dunmurry Recreation in the Border Cup.