2nds & 3rds results

The Swifts were at home to Killough 2nds last Saturday however they paid the penalty for their failure to take the early chances they created. A missed second half penalty when the score was 2-0 could well have made an impact. Aaron McCaffrey did score a penalty late on.

The Albion travelled to Downpatrick with both a youthful and much changed team and lost 4-2. Their performance for the majority of the game had been excellent and they led by 2-0 with goals from Alan McMullan going into the last quarter until their goalkeeper got himself sent off.

Ballynahinch United 1 v 1 Ballywalter Recreation

United continued their league programme with the league encounter against Ballywalter who like their hosts are sitting in a mid-table position. United’s squad included the return of JJ Carlisle and Ian Boal from suspension and Stevenson and Jackson from injury and work commitments respectively.

United started very brightly and took the lead within the first few minutes when Ian McMullan headed home from a free kick. They were unable to build on this advantage as the visitors managed to control the game with their physicality which would cost them dearly with the dismissal of a midfielder for a bad tackle midway through the half.  Efforts by JJ Carlisle, Gareth McMullan and Simon Jackson failed to increase the lead while Brian McMullan had to be at his brilliant best to repel several good efforts from the visitors speedy forwards. Ballywalter got their break just before half time when the ball broke from a corner to fall kindly for a forward who smash past Brian McMullan for the equaliser.

In the second half United enjoyed the majority of possession with Cheevers, Maxwell, Crawford and Stuart McMullan moving the ball throughout midfield however they could not find the openings for the forwards. Ballywalter were reduced to nine men on the hour mark when Ian McMullan was the victim of a vicious challenge from behind.

The visitors worked tirelessly to stop United getting scoring opportunities and they employed every tactic they could to waste time to hold onto what they had. Substitutes Ian Boal and Johnny Gibson were introduced and United almost scored with a header from Maxwell who perhaps had more time than he thought while Stuart McMullan looked to have scored with a superb shot but the Ballywalter keeper produced an excellent save.

United will have been disappointed not to have won this game however but for a few timely interceptions from defensive pairing Ross Hayes and Scott Brashaw they could have lost as Ballywalter posed a threat on the break.

Club News

The Albion had a home game in the league against Carryduff Colts on saturday however despite goals from Paul King and a first for the club from teenager Jack Shepherd they were defeated 4-2.

The Swifts had a free week.

Congratulations to Scott Brashaw and Steven Jess for organising an excellent fund raiser last Saturday night which was very successful and many thanks to all those who turned up.

Ballynahinch United 2 v 0 Rathfern Rangers

United entertained Belfast side Rathfern Rangers at Millbridge in this league encounter.

The home team were without the injured Ethan Majury and the suspended JJ Carlisle and the Boal brothers however they welcomed back Adam Herron into the match day squad. The early exchanges were even with both teams pressing for the advantage although the visitors had been lucky when their goal keeper dropped a corner ball against the post and his defence managed to get it scrambled away.

Ian McMullan who has been on the score sheet regularly in recent weeks added to his tally after 25 minutes when he was on hand to take advantage of a collision between goalkeeper and central defender to bundle the ball over the line. He was making up for missing a chance a minute earlier when he headed wide from a Johnny Gibson cross. After this Rathfern picked up the pace and caused the United defence of Scott Brashaw, Ross Hayes and Stuart McMullan considerable problems while goal keeper Brian McMullan was in outstanding form foiling several one on ones to keep a clean sheet before half time.

The start of the second half saw United take a 2-0 lead within minutes of the kick off. A good passing movement through midfield involving David Kelly and Gavin Crawford found Aaron Cheevers free and he chipped the ball over the Rathfern defenders into the path of Lee Maxwell who chipped the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

Moments later United should have had a third goal when Ian McMullan was put through by cousin Gareth McMullan but the referee ruled that he was offside. A moment of indiscipline in the 70th minute saw David Kelly dismissed for retaliation after he was clearly hit in the face off the ball and as a result Manager Keith Hamilton sacrificed a forward by introducing Jay Smyth to the midfield as the United defence was under a fair bit of pressure. Stuart McMullan playing in a much deeper position than usual was in inspirational form regularly emerging with the ball from dangerous positions.

The experienced Adam Herron and later Nathan Farquhar were introduced to the fray and they were involved in a number of attacking moves which put United back on the offensive. From a corner Ian McMullan appeared to be punched by the Rathern keeper who was dismissed however instead of awarding a penalty as the ball was in play which would have sealed the game for United he inexplicably gave a bounce ball.

United’s steel and determination came to the fore in the closing stages of this game and they saw the game out. This was another good display from United who are at home again next week against Ballywalter Recreation.

Ballynahinch United 2nds 2 v 0 Annalong 2nds

The Swifts continued their return to form with a win at Millbridge last Saturday against a workmanlike Annalong 2nds who played good football throughout.

The side were missing a number of regulars due to first team call ups and injury however those players who came in gave good accounts of themselves.

The game was very close in the first half with the best effort being a long range shot from Jay Smyth which was well saved while Johnny McGreevy had to twice palm shots away for corners. The Swifts had the best opportunity to take the lead when the ever reliable spot kick taker Alan Massey hit the cross bar from a penalty kick awarded by referee Alan McAvoy after Aaron McCaffrey had been upended by the Annalong keeper. Annalong almost took the lead themselves in the final minute of the first half when the ball rebounded off the Swifts cross bar with Johnny McGreevy well beaten.

In the second half the Swifts came out with a lot more purpose and they took the lead when Alan Massey’s 50th minute corner was side footed into the net by central defender Scott McNeill. Defensively the Swifts tightened up considerably with Greg Allison, Paul King, McNeill and Shaun Bonner decisive when called upon.

Jay Smyth in central midfield was ever lively and again brought a great save from the Annalong keeper with a second long range drive. Ross Bingham and Matthew Manly were causing a lot of problems on the wings while the hard running of Graeme McMullan and McCaffrey up front kept the Annalong defence busy. It was teenager Graeme McMullan who made it 2-0 when he ran onto a through pass to slot the ball under the advancing keeper.

The same player had another great opportunity late in the game but he placed the ball wide and his strike partner McCaffrey should have opened his account late on.

Substitutes Stuart Wilcox, John McMenamin and Lewis Lowey came on for the last quarter and they gave good accounts of themselves in what was a very good team performance which will have pleased manager Davy Teggarty.