Category: Results

Ballynahinch United 1 v 1 Dunmurry YM

United entertained Dunmurry YM at the Millbridge on Saturday in a league game. Encounters between these teams have traditionally been close and this one was no different.

United dominated the opening exchanges and should have been ahead however the underside of the crossbar came to the rescue of Dunmurry YM in the 10th minute following great work by McMullan while their keeper produced an outstanding save from an Adam Herron thunderbolt from the edge of the penalty area that looked goal bound all the way.

The home side were playing some great football however the lack of a goal to provide that extra bit of encouragement and the absence of new striker Steven Kennedy through illness was a disappointment for the large contingent of supporters who were looking forward to his home debut.

Defensively United were well organised with Davy Boal, Ross Hayes, McCauley Foster and Adam Herron dominating however it was the visitors who breached the United goal when a forward toe poked a loose ball into the roof of the net giving Brain McMullan no chance.

In the second half, United surged forward in search of an equaliser with Hunter, Brashaw and Smyth linking very well however the Dunmurry rear-guard were in no mood to give up their lead.

The introduction of substitutes Craig Bowman and Scott McKibbin together with a change of formation gave United a significant territorial advantage with Cheever’s getting more service and the forcing a number of corners.

Smyth who is one of the smaller players on the pitch almost scored in the 70th minute when he rose to head wide under pressure however the visitors did not learn their lesson and when McMullan sent over another well placed corner Jay Smyth was in the right place to head the ball into the net.

In the closing minutes the game became very open and McMullan in the United goals had to be at his best defending a number of well-placed free kicks while at the other end Ross Hayes almost won the game for United when he climbed above the Dunmurry YM defence to head goal ward but the keeper managed to grab the ball.

This was a hard earned point for United however they fully deserved it for the quality of their play and percentage of play.

Club Notes

The Swifts and The Albion were both in action at the weekend. The Swifts travelled to Bryansburn Rangers and continued their good form securing a point in a drawn game with McCaffrey scoring their goal.

Alan Massey continued his good form for The Albion scoring from the penalty spot for the second successive Saturday however they were unable to get back into winning ways.

The committee and members would like to express their thanks to Ian Blackwood of IB Electrical for ther generous sponsorship which is very much appreciated.

It was also great to see former player Michael Jones in attendance at Saturday’s game. Michael who is living and working in Melbourne, Australia was home recently for a family wedding and returned down under yesterday. He is playing football in one of the Victorian Leagues and secured the league championships with his team and by all accounts they are going well this season again.

Rathfriland Rangers 3 v 1 Ballynahinch United

United travelled to Iveagh Park, Rathfriland for this league encounter against the home side who are riding high and one of the favourites for promotion from Division 1B.

Last year United scored a superb away victory but despite a spirited display they could not do it again.

United played very well in the first half and were a shade unfortunate to go in at half time 2-1 down. The home side scored after twenty minutes but United equalised through Steven Kennedy on the half hour mark.

Rathfriland went into the break 2-1 up when they scored from a free kick in the closing seconds.

United toiled away in the second half in an effort to secure an equaliser but all was in vain against and experienced and well drilled home defence.

Rathfriland made sure of the points when they scored a third goal although it was somewhat contentious as most thought the player who laid on the pass to the scorer did so from an offside position.

This week United entertain Dunmurry YM in the league at Millbridge with a 2pm kick off.

Ballynahinch United IIs 5 v 0 Civil Service

The Swifts continued their improvement in form with a resounding victory over Civil Service at the Millbridge on Saturday. From the kick off the Swifts were quickly on the attack forcing a few corners and generally dominating possession. They took the lead on ten minutes when great work on the left wing by Alan McMullan and Jordan Hayes, who was making his Swifts debut, released Greg Allison and his cross ball was hooked into the net by Aaron McCaffrey.

It was 2-0 five minutes later when the Civil Service goalkeeper needlessly bundled over Jordan Hayes in the penalty area and Darren Fitzsimmons scored from the spot.

Five minutes later Aaron McCaffrey was again on the spot to score following good work in midfield from Stevenson and Gray.

At the start of the second half Civil Service stepped up a gear but this passage of play was short-lived as the Swifts defence of Alan and Craig McMullan, Majury, Dunlop and second half substitute Gary McCracken were in fine form ensuring that veteran goalkeeper Johnny McGreevy had a fairly quiet afternoon and a clean sheet.

Stevenson in midfield was making strong runs through midfield and in the 65th minute he got to the edge of the penalty area where he unleashed a bullet of a shot into the net without the Civil Service keeper moving a muscle to make it 4-0.

In the closing minutes the same player intercepted a poor clearance to skip into the penalty area and chip the ball into the net past the on rushing keeper for his team’s fifth goal.

This week the Swifts travel to Bryansburn Rangers 2nds.

Maghera IIs 4 v 3 The Albion

The Albion travelled to Church Hill Park, Maghera for this league game against Maghera 2nds.

Maghera took the lead early on from what the Albion players thought was an offside position and not long afterwards found themselves 2-0 down from a brilliant shot that gave keeper John McMenamin no chance.

Just before half time Albion got back into the game when following good work on the right wing by Ross Bingham who crossed to Graham McMullan who shot toward goal past the keeper and Stuart Wilcox made sure that it was going over the line.

In the second half Albion got back on level terms when a long throw from Paul King was scrambled into the net by Steven Bridges.

The Albion pressed forward for the winner but they were caught out by two breakaway goals to fall behind by 4-2. They never gave up and when Dean Blackwood was fouled in the penalty Alan Massey stepped up to score but it was too little too late.

This week the Albion entertain Carryduff Colts 2nds at the Council Pitch in Drumaness.