Category: Results

Match Report: Kirkistown 3-0 Ballynahinch United Swifts

Ballynahinch United Swifts travelled to Kirkistown this week in a match which looked a tight affair on paper as both teams had the same number of points after the early stages of the season.

For the first ten minutes it was the Swifts who did most of the attacking with Ross Murray starting his first senior game playing well down the left. Swifts were awarded a number of free kicks after Allison and Cheevers were both upended but they could not quite find the telling delivery into the box.

Then a long ball break saw Kirkistown have their 1st chance but John McMenamin saved well, however another long ball saw the home team score from what seemed to be an offside position. Sadly worse was to follow when Fitzpatrick cleared the ball as a Kirkistown forward advanced into the penalty area and with players from both sides expecting a corner referee Lowey unexpectedly awarded a penalty kick which was gratefully converted to leave the Swifts trailing by 2 at half time.

In the second half Kirkistown were content to hold onto what they had by soaking up lots of pressure. Numerous half chances came for the Swifts with Cheevers rounding the keeper but having no angle to score while McCaffrey rose well at a corner but could not get the necessary power into his header.

Defensively the Swifts played well with full backs Graeme McMullan and Alex Burtney prominent in both defence and attack while Bingham and Fitzpatrick played steadily in central defence.

Kirkistown made their victory secure in the closing quarter when they converted after Burtney was adjudged to have handled the ball and the resulting penalty was blasted home giving McMenamin no chance.

Overall this was a good performance from the youthful Swifts squad with manager Alan Davis introducing new players to senior football on a week by week basis which is very encouraging from the club’s point of view.

Tennants Irish Cup Round 2 Match Report: 18th Newtownabbey 2 – 1 Ballynahinch United

United travelled to Newtownabbey to take on an 18th Newtownabbey side that has been performing well this season and whose ranks include a number of former Irish League stars.

The United line-up included a full debut for teenager Corey Fitzpatrick and what an outstanding showing he put in.

Aaron Cheevers gave United the lead however the home team equalised later in the half and could have gone ahead but for the brilliance of keeper Brian McMullan who saved a penalty.

In the second half United had a number of chances to score and should have had a penalty of their own which appeared to be more justifiable than the one awarded against them. As the game was approaching extra time the home team scored a rather fortunate goal to thwart United’s hopes of progressing in the competition.

This week United travel to Rathfern Rangers in a league game.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 2 – 1 Ballynagross Seconds

Ballynahinch United Swifts entertained Ballynagross Seconds at the Millbridge on Saturday last. Manager Alan Davis had to shuffled his squad due to a number of first team call ups and absentees however it gave him the opportunity to see some new faces and some players getting starting places for the first time.

From the start the Swifts settled quickly and played at a high tempo however it was the visitors who took the lead from the first corner of the game. Despite this set back the young Swifts team followed their game plan and were soon on attack and were level within five minutes when Gregg Allison beat the Ballynagross right back for pace to deliver and quality cross which Dave Griffiths slotted home.

Alan Massey and Aaron McCaffrey controlled central midfield opening up the game to both sides of the pitch. Graeme McMullan and Alex Burtney were providing the danger on the left wing with their superb linking overlapping and throwing in dangerous crosses.

Influential in creating the second goal was Craig Tate who pounced terrier like on a startled centre half and his poor clearance fell to Griffiths who struck a superb shot 25yrds out past a started goalkeeper.

In the closing stages of the first half Swifts keeper John McMenamin was called on to make several saves to prevent the half ending all square.

In the second half some adjustments to positions on the park for players ensured to all intent and purposes it was one way traffic as the Swifts tried to create a third goal to put the game out of the oppositions reach. New signing Niall Tyndall, Ben Onhua and Dylan Fitzpatrick coped with the Ballynagross breaks. McMullan who’d hit the bar earlier had another shot saved while Allison through some creative work went close twice but was thwarted by the Ballynagross keeper.

Massey and McCaffrey tried their luck from distance but that third goal proved elusive. New signing Lorenzo Fucas made a substitute appearance along with Blaine and Jay to keep the tempo going.

Ballynagross proved to be an extremely competitive team contributing to an exciting game that despite the Swifts superior possession defended resolutely whist being dangerous on the counter attack. In the end the home side managed the game well particularly in a final frantic five minutes to get take all three points and achieve their third victory of the season.

This weekend the Swifts travel to Kirkistown in the league.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 4 v 0 Carryduff Athletic

The Swifts entertained Carryduff Athletic at Millbridge in a league game on Saturday and they were quickly into their stride on 5 minutes when Alan Massey struck a left foot shot which the Carryduff keeper failed to hold and it trickled over the goal line.

The 1-0 lead quickly became 2-0 after Aaron McCaffrey had chased a lost cause into the box and was brought down to gain a penalty. Up stepped Dylan Fitzpatrick to score his first senior goal with a well-placed shot.

The game settled down with Carryduff gaining more possession without causing the home defence much trouble while the Swifts continued with their pressing game and hunting down the ball. Defensively Alex Burtney and Ben Onhua were linking with midfielders, while Ross Hayes fresh from a family holiday made an instant partnership with Dylan Fitzpatrick to thwart a Carryduff team which had been in free scoring mode in their previous games.

Alan Massey and Gregg Allison set about testing the full backs and from such a run Allison had a fine shot saved while Massey tried his luck again with a long range shot which shaved the cross bar.

Johnny Stevenson who was making his first start of the season was leading the line well with Aaron McCaffrey who both did all they were asked to do by forcing errors and creating chances.

The 3rd goal came when a deep hanging cross from Greg Allison found Jack Davis to head home from 8 yards. Davis’s partner in midfield Corey Fitzpatrick was playing a pivoting role in breaking up play which enabled the Swifts to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the half time break.

Carryduff marshalled by former United defender Davy Boal took the game to the Swifts for the first 10mins of the 2nd half and despite all their pressure John McMenamin remained dominant in goal holding crosses as well as making some great saves.

Manager Alan Davis made his 1st change by bringing on the terrier like Craig Tate and within 2mins he found himself on the scoresheet as he sniffed out a rebound from a corner. Other shots from Davis tested the Carryduff keeper while a solo run from Allison almost created a fifth.

The 4-0 score line reflected a great afternoon’s work by all of the fourteen man Swifts squad.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 0 v 1 Rosario YC

A goal midway through the second half of this game was enough to give the visitors the points however the home team played very well throughout and had they taken one of the few chances they made in the first half they may well have taken a point.

Throughout the first half both teams had a few chances but it was the defences who were in command. United who had conceded quite a few goals in recent matches certainly tightened up with debutant teenager Jack Davis at right back along with Paul Dickson, Ethan Majury and Stuart McMullan. Brian McMullan was in commanding form in goals and his distribution created quite a few opportunities the best of which fell to Scott Brashaw who couldn’t get enough power into his shot. Ethan Majury went close with a free kick in the closing minutes of the first half.

In the second half Rosario who are a useful team with their eyes on promotion came more into the game and they created the one goal scoring opportunity with a slick move which saw their forward glide onto a super pass to thread the ball past Brian McMullan into the net. In midfield Dalton Tate was prominent along with Stuart Hunter, Dylan Carberry, Scott Brashaw while Aaron Cheevers and Ian McMullan worked tirelessly up front. Substitutes David Kelly, Greg Allison and Alex Miller came on in the closing quarter and gave the Rosario defence some anxious moments but failed to make the crucial breakthrough.