Category: Results

Ballynahinch United 1 v 2 Sirocco Works

NAFL DIVISION 1B

United’s long unbeaten run of nine games came to a disappointing end when they lost this league game at the Millbridge on Saturday last.

The game was quite even in the opening stages although United had the lion share of the possession with Cheevers prominent on the right wing.

The best chance of the first ten minutes fell to Patterson who found himself free inside the penalty area but as he delayed his shot the ball was cleared off his foot to safety for a corner. From the corner Stuart McMullan had the ball in the net but he was correctly adjudged by the referee to be offside.

On 20 minutes Sirocco took the lead from the penalty spot a decision that was hotly disputed. The ball had broken free in midfield and a Sirocco player picked it up and passed it into the path of his team mate who ran into the penalty area. He was challenged by at least three defenders and keeper Brian McMullan who cleared the ball for a corner however the player plunged to the ground and the referee who was quite well back gave the spot kick which Brian McMullan was unable to save.

United pressed forward but despite the amount of possession they had they did not threaten the Sirocco keeper. Just before the half hour mark Sirocco were 2-0 up when they again found space through the middle of the park to slip a forward in to score past Brian McMullan with a well executed finish.

In the second half United pressed to get back into the game and did so when a shot was defelcted into the Sirocco net by a defender but despite all their efforts they could not get the equaliser.

This was a disappointing result for the home team who were looking to this game to guage how much they had progressed as Sirocco are expected to challenge for honours this year. United were every bit their match however overplaying in the centre of the midfield area was their undoing for both of the goals. The other area that they need to improve in is in converting the opportunities they create into goals. At the end of the day they proved themselves to be every bit as good as Sirocco. This week they travel to another of the fancied teams away to Lisburn Rangers.

Ardstraw 1 v 2 Ballynahinch United

INTERMEDIATE CUP ROUND 1

United made the long trip on Saturday to Ardstraw near Newtownstewart County Tyrone for this first round Intermeduate Cup tie.

Strangely enough the opposition are no strangers to United as the clubs played each other in the same competition two seasons ago and a friendship having been built up resulted in United travelling there in a pre season friendly last August past.

On Saturday United went into this game without the services of Ross Hayes, Craig Bowman and Alan Patterson however they welcomed back Aaron Cheevers to the line up. The home side had been on a decent run of late and came into the game on the back of a good win last week and as United found to their cost they were revelling in the confidence that it had brought. Indeed Ardstraw went ahead on the half hour mark however this spurred United on and having enjoyed a fair bit of possession they finally equalised when David Kelly was placed in the right spot at the back post to head home.

The second half was a very cagey affair with both teams exercising caution however United got the breakthrough midway through the half when a Johnny Hunter free kick was placed into the edge of the six yard area and an Ardstraw defender put the ball into his own net under pressure.

The home team pressed for an equaliser but the United defence in which Boal, Carlisle, Herron were outstanding was giving nothing away backed up by competent handling from goalkeeper Brian McMullan.

This week United return to league action against Sirocco Works at the Millbridge with a 2pm kick off.

Ballynahinch United 2 v 1 Dromore Amateurs

IRISH CUP – ROUND 2

United entertained near neighbours Dromore Amateurs at the Millbridge on Saturday last for the first time in a number of years in this Irish Cup 2nd Round tie.

The home team went into this game without regulars Aaron Cheevers, Ross Hayes, David Boal who were unavailable through holiday, injury and suspension respectively.

From the start the home team were on the attack and indeed maintained this for most of the game however it was Dromore who took the lead after ten minutes when their captain latched onto a loose ball from Stuart McMullan to score from some twenty five yards with a shot that sailed over keeper Brian McMullan’s head into the net.

While this stunned the home team it did not prevent them from getting into their passing game and throughout the remainder of the half they launched attack after attack with Ian McMullan, Johnny Hunter, David Kelly, Gareth Bingham and Craig Bowman all going close.

The second half resumed with United again on the attack with Johnny Hunter hitting the crossbar with a long range deflected shot.

Inside the first ten minutes United lost influential midfielder Stuart McMullan who had to leave the field with a very nasty facial injury that necessitated hospital treatment. The circumstances of the injury caused considerable upset to both team mates and the home supporters who were incensed that the referee did not see the offending punch.

When the game settled down United pressed for an equaliser and it came on the hour mark when Scott Brashaw and Johnny Hunter combined for Hunter to run onto the edge of the six yard box to score with a shot into the roof of the net.

Adam Herron who was making his first appearance of the season following injury took the place of the unfortunate Stuart McMullan and it was he who created the winning goal when he bombed forward onto a pass from Jonathan Smyth to centre the ball which was met by Ian McMullan who’s shot was deflected into the net past the despairing dive of the Dromore keeper.

The visitors pressed forward in search of an equaliser however they found the United defence of Brashaw, Patterson and JJ Carlisle in a very determined mood.

The home team introduced attacker Scott McKibbin and he stretched the Dromore defence with his strong runs.

United travel to Ardstraw this coming Saturday for an Intermediate Cup tie.

The Swifts and Albion games fell foul of the weather.

Club Notes

The Swifts and Albion were both defeated in their league games at the weekend.

The Albion travelled to Hydebank for a match against Carryduff and if they had taken any of the numerous chances that came their way in the first half things might well have been very different.As it was a goal from teenager Graeme McMullan equalised Carryduff’s opener however a penalty and a late goal ruined the Albion’s day.

The Swifts on the other hand were outclassed in an away game to Greencastle Rovers with a brace of goals coming from Chris Gray.

Club Memberships are now overdue and the small number of players who have not paid should note that they must do so immediately or risk not being selected until they have done so.

The first club fund raiser of the season is currently being launched in the form of the very popular ‘Last Man Standing’ which was very successful and enjoyable last season. All monies should be paid as soon as possible.

Ballynahinch United 2 v 1 Newcastle

United entertained Newcastle in a Division 1B league fixture at a very sunny Millbridge last Saturday.The two teams had met the week before at the Shimna Integrated School in what was a fairly tame scoreless affair however this one turned out to considerably livelier and with a considerable bit more controversy. United plans were somewhat upset when Ross Hayes reported with a back injury and had to drop out of the team at the last minute.

Right from the kick off the home side were on the offensive and surprisingly Newcastle seemed content to soak up the pressure with ten men behind the ball for most of the half. Their attacking opportunities were limited to breakaways by this tactic and a superbly well marshaled defence in which Brashaw, Carlisle, David Boal and Craig Bowman performed brilliantly were allowed to orchestrate many of their sides attacking moves.

Unfortunately for United they were unable to create any clear cut opportunities giving Baker in the seasiders goal a relatively quiet first half.

In the second half the early exchanges were controlled by Newcastle however they left themselves susceptible to the pace of United’s two forwards Ian McMullan and Aaron Cheevers who both missed good scoring opportunities in the first fifteen minutes of the second half.

The controversial moment of the second half and what possibly turned the game occurred on the hour mark. Ballynahinch United were awarded a free kick on the edge of their penalty area which was taken quickly by keeper Brian McMullan. The ball was launched into the Newcastle penalty area and it was chased by Ian McMullan who went for the ball in a clear 50/50 with keeper Paddy Baker. When the two players collided the ball appeared to come off McMullan’s hand and ended up in the back of the net. The referee who was well behind play did not and would not have been unable to see any hand ball infringement awarded the goal despite the protests of the Newcastle players.

This stroke of good fortune for United spurred them on and within five minutes they were 2-0 up when Ian McMullan pounced on a loose ball to score past the despairing dive of Baker.

Newcastle pressed hard to get back into the game but United held firm with Stuart McMullan, David Kelly, Scot McKibbin and Johnny Hunter working overtime in midfield to support their defence. Substitutes Smyth and late in the game Patterson played their part in securing three precious points that see United maintaining second spot in the league ahead of a run of at least two weeks when they play cup matches.

The game ended with a Newcastle player being sent off for a robust tackle on Boal and a number of booking for players for both side although the game was generally played in a good spirit.

This Saturday United entertain local rivals Dromore Amateurs who they have not played for a number of years. The Dromore team are currently playing in Division 1C  and have been on a good run of late and United certainly not be taking them lightly. The kick off is at 1.30pm.