Awards Night

Saturday 3rd of May saw Ballynahinch United hold their annual dinner and presentation of awards in the Primrose Bar, Ballynahinch. As usual there were a large number of committee, players and supporters in attendance.

Following a very enjoyable meal which was to the usual high standards of the Primrose Bar the Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie officially welcomed everyone. Summarising the past year the Chairman expressed his sadness that the Club’s Third team (Albion) had to withdraw from the league due to a shortage of players and it was his hope that it would be restored once again next season. He made particular mention of the outstanding work of the management teams of Keith Hamilton, Colin Murray, Davy Teggarty, Johnny McGreevy and Paul Allison and he paid tribute to the commitment of the players both at training and on the field of play.

He highlighted the vital work of the club officers and committee and very importantly the faithful supporters and sponsors who make such an important contribution. Special mention was made of the long-time contributions of senior club members Jimmy Brown and Winston Brown for all the hours they put in maintaining the facilities and faithful supporters Billy Hamilton and his wife Sally who never miss a home or most away matches with Sally providing sandwiches for all home fixtures which is much appreciated.

Turning to the club awards the Chairman congratulated and made a presentation to first team goalkeeper Bryan McMullan who has been included in the Northern Amateur League squad for the amateur International against their Scottish counterparts which took place at Killyleagh on Saturday 10th May.

The Chairman then invited the management teams to come forward and present the awards for the 2013/14 season which were as follows:

Ballynahinch Swifts
Player’s Player – Aaron McCaffrey and Alan Massey [shared]
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Managers Player – Shaun Bonner
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Leading Scorer – Aaron McCaffrey

Ballynahinch United
Player’s Player – Scott Brashaw
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Managers Player – Scott Brashaw
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Leading Scorer- Ian McMullan
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Club Young Player of the Year – JJ Carlisle
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A signed shirt was presented to the first team attendant Steven Jess who is standing down from the role due to family commitments although he will remain on the committee.
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The very popular and much sought after Golden Boot award was introduced by club stalwart Wilson Hamilton and through numerous comic moments and false trails to both hint but keep the audience and recipient guessing to the last possible moment the winner was announced as Ross Hayes to rapturous applause.
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Match Report: Ballynahinch United 4 v 0 Hollywood F.C.

United entertained the relegation threatened Hollywood F.C. in this league encounter and they secured all three points with a battling performance.

The first half was generally poor with United having the lion share of the play however they could not find the elusive first goal despite laying siege to the Hollywood goal mouth. United midfield of Carlisle, Brashaw, Ian Boal, Cheevers and Herron worked tirelessly reducing the visitors to occasional breakaways but despite a number of surges forward they never really troubled Brian McMullan in the home goal.

Despite what was a frustrating first half it was United who went ahead on the stroke of half time thanks to the persistence of Ian McMullan who chased a back pass charging down the keeper’s clearance which cannoned off his body into the net.

In the early stages of the second half the visitors pegged United back with Hayes, Davy Boal and Herron, who dropped back into defence for Stuart McMullan who took a knock late in the first half and was replaced at half time by Lee Maxwell.

Having repelled Hollywood’s early dominance United started to get back into the game and they increased their lead on the hour mark when a shot from Ian Boal was parried by the visiting keeper and as the alert Maxwell pounced on the loose ball he was brought down and referee Hazzard gave a penalty. Up stepped Aaron Cheevers to fire the ball into the net. Ten minutes later United had the game wrapped up when Lee Maxwell ran in on goal and passed the ball under the advancing keeper and into the net.

United penned Hollywood into their own half and following some excellent passing exchanges on the right wing Cheevers chipped the ball into the penalty area and Ian McMullan rose high to glance the ball into the net to make the score 4-0.

Next week United travel to Newtownards to take on 1st Bangor Old Boys.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 3 v 0 Tollymore 2nds

The Swifts welcomed Tollymore 2nds to Millbridge for this league encounter and the home side secured a valuable three points against a dogged team who scrapped throughout. Fielding only ten men in the opening half hour, Tollymore found themselves 2-0 down. The first goal came on twelve minutes through a converted penalty from Aaron McCaffrey following a hand ball in the penalty area. The second goal came on the half hour when teenager Graeme McMullan poked the ball home following a goal mouth scramble.

Tollymore were up to full strength after this and they came more into the game but the Swifts defence of Ross Bingham, Scott McNeill, Paul King and Shaun Bonner were able to hold firm to give keeper Johnny McGreevy a fairly easy afternoon.

The Swifts midfield quartet of Alan Massey, Gareth Bingham, Matthew Manley, Graeme McMullan and in the closing stages Stuart Wilcox saw plenty of the ball but failed to create opportunities for forwards Johnny Stevenson, until he came off injured, and Aaron McCaffrey who both worked hard.

The introduction of Jack Patterson before half time gave the Swifts a real impetus as the young player with pace to burn stretched the Tollymore defence. The Swifts third goal came midway through the second half when Patterson won a race for a loose ball and he flicked it past the on rushing keeper and into the net.

Banbridge YC 1 v 5 Ballynahinch United 2nds

The Swifts travelled to Banbridge for this league encounter with the local Youth Club team and they came away with an excellent victory.

Missing their strike force of Stevenson and McCaffrey through injury and suspension respectively manager Davy Teggarty was able to move the experienced Gareth Bingham forward to partner teenager Graeme McMullan and they provided three of the goals. Gareth Bingham opened the scoring on the half hour mark when he chipped the keeper after being put through by brother Ross who came into the team in place of McCaffrey. Graeme McMullan made it 2-0 before half time.

In the second half Alan Massey scored from the penalty spot after Stuart Wilcox had been fouled. Graeme McMullan got his second to make it 4-0 and Paul King scored the fifth while Banbridge managed a consolation.

The 2nds are at home this week to Tollymore in a league fixture.