Prior to The Swifts kick off on saturday at the Millbridge, Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie made a presentation to Ballynahinch War Memorial Fund to Committee member Andrew Carlisle on behalf of the club. The Millbridge Grounds were originally provided as a recreational facility for Ballynahinch after the Great War.
![Left to right - Ross Bingham, Gilbert Cromie [BUFC Chairman], Andrew Carlisle [War Memorial Committee] and Graeme McMullan.](http://www.ballynahinchunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/War-Memorial-Presentation.jpg)
The Swifts entertained Tollymore 2nds at a damp and wet Millbridge on saturday and after an end to end game they secured all three points with a goal from Lee Price.
The youthful Tollymore team played really well and perhaps on reflection were somewhat unfortunate to lose but when United got their nose in front they fought hard to hold on, ably led by the experienced Ross Hayes who is making his comeback after injury.
Despite the atrocious weather United travelled to Dromara on Saturday for the derby game against Ballynahinch Olympic who are riding high at the top of NAFL Division 1B. The fact that games between United and Olympic at first team level have only come into being in the last two seasons despite the clubs having existed for over 40 years each means that this derby does not have the same atmosphere as others.
Nevertheless both teams approached the game with very much a want to win approach. United have been showing good form in recent weeks with wins against Rosario YC and Sirocco Works so they came into the game with a certain confidence.
After a scoreless first half it was United who drew first blood when Johnny Stevenson opened the scoring however Ryan Molly levelled things up just after the hour mark and that was the way things finished.
Everyone at BUFC would wish to convey their condolences to the McConnell family on the untimely death of Stanley. Many of the older players in the club had the honor of competing against Stanley in his Annalong days and while he rightly proved to be a formidable opponent he was always a true sportsman and gentleman and the local game will be all the poorer for his passing.
As a mark of respect, all fixtures at the weekend in the Newcastle League were cancelled so The Swifts had no game.
United’s recent winning streak came to a sudden end at Bloomfield last Saturday and yet anyone watching the game would wonder how such a thing could have happened.
Bloomfield started brightly and took the lead on five minutes when a forward latched onto a loose ball and lashed it into the net from 20 yards.
It took United some time to settle down and on twenty minutes forward Ian McMullan had to be replaced by Aaron McCaffrey.
The visitors settled into the game and Gareth McMullan and Aaron McCaffrey both had decent chances to equalise but the Bloomfield goal keeper produced several top drawer saves.
In the second half United dominated proceedings and full back Alex Miller scored for the second week in a row when he was put through by Scot Brashaw.
United attacked a will with Greg Allison coming more into the game and going close on several occasions. Matthew Shaw had several good chances but again the Bloomfield keeper came to his teams rescue.
In midfield David Kelly saw a lot of the ball and threaded a number of passes through a beleaguered home defence while defenders Dalton Tate, Ethan Majury and Stuart McMullan came forward to add to the numbers in search of the goal that their general play deserved.
In the 80th minute United conceded a penalty which Bryan McMullan made a heroic attempt to save without success. The spot kick came from a throw in awarded by the home linesman which had clearly come off a Bloomfield player and which should have been picked up by the referee who was fairly close to the incident.
United piled everybody forward introducing defender Craig McMullan into the action to allow players to go forward including goalkeeper Brian McMullan. Despite their efforts United could not breach the Bloomfield defence which miraculously managed to repel them.
This was a disappointing outcome particularly because United created more than enough chances to have won this game.
This week United entertain Rathfern Rangers at the Millbridge.
