Tag: Aaron Cheevers

Annual Dinner & Awards Night

Ballynahinch United held their annual dinner and awards nights in the Primrose Bar, Ballynahinch last Saturday night. There was an excellent attendance and everyone was welcomed by Club Treasurer Johnny McGreevy who performed the role of master of ceremonies superbly in place of the Club Chairman who was attending a family wedding.

In his remarks he thanked everyone for attending and thanked the staff of the Primrose Bar for the excellent meal and service on the night. He also offered the club’s best wishes to owner and former United player Ted McKibbin following his recent accident.

Commenting on the season which was almost at an end he praised the work of the club officials and committee, the commitment of the team managers and players throughout the year, the encouragement given by the clubs supporter’s week in week out and the financial support given by each and every one of the clubs sponsors.

The highlight of what has been a good season for the club overall was the first team reaching the 5th Round of the Irish Cup and being drawn against Premier League opposition in the form of Coleraine. Whilst the outcome was not by any means ideal the team had performed extremely well against a well drilled semi-professional side and the club had been able to take well over a hundred supporters with them to the game which was outstanding by any stretch of the imagination.

As always the awards were all closely contested throughout the season and the outcome was as follows:

Albion: Players Player and Top Scorer – Alan Massey, Managers Player – John McMenamin.

Swifts: Managers Player & Top Scorer – Aaron ‘Beattie’ McCaffrey, Players Player – Ethan Majury and Craig McMullan.

United: Managers Player – David Boal, Players Player – David Boal & Stuart McMullan.
Top Scorer – Johnny Hunter

Overall Club Top Scorer – Aaron ‘Beattie’ McCaffrey
Young Player of the Year – Aaron Cheevers
Supporter of the Year – Robert Creighton

The annual Golden Boot award went to David Boal who despite some strong competition throughout the year achieved it for his historic achievement of BUFCs first red card in the 5th round of the Irish Cup!

Club stalwart Jimmy Brown who was so disappointed to lose out yet again to Robert Creighton in the Supporter of the Year category scooped the Groundsman of the Year/Decade award. He was presented with an antique Ards F.C. shirt signed by the team that previously reached the top flight. Former United star Terry Luring came across it last year and Wilson ‘Chico’ Hamilton replaced the glass in the frame.

Ballynahinch United 1 v 1 Lisburn Rangers

United entertained Lisburn Rangers in their penultimate league fixture at Millbridge on Saturday last. This proved to be a difficult encounter although United will be bitterly disappointed that their superior percentage of play did not yield all three points.

In the first half United were out of the blocks very quickly and Lisburn were hemmed into their own half for most of the time although they were quite dangerous on the break giving United defence of Foster, Brashaw, Boal and Herron some difficult moments while Brian McMullan was called upon to make one excellent stop.

In midfield Smyth, Hunter, Stuart McMullan and Aaron Cheevers were controlling things but they just couldn’t create the openings for hard working forwards Ian McMullan and Scott Brashaw.

Lisburn were reduced to ten men on the half hour when a moment of indiscipline followed moments later by a crude tackle on Cheevers was  suitably rewarded.

In the second half Lisburn regrouped and on the hour mark following a strong and persistent run by their centre forward he managed to hold of the tackles of Foster and Brashaw to score with a delicate shot that gave McMullan no chance.

Ian McMullan who had been lively all afternoon scored the equaliser in the 65th minute however despite the introduction of Kelly, Bowman and Allison United were unable to get their noses in front.

United’s last game of the season takes place at the Millbridge on Saturday 4th  May.

Ballynahinch United 3 v 1 Bangor Rangers

United entertained Bangor Rangers in this league fixture at Millbridge on Saturday – a day that was somewhat over shadowed by the news that they had drawn Premier League side Coleraine in the 5th Round of the Irish Cup.

Right from the start United were on the front foot hemming Bangor Rangers back into their half as they probed down the right and left wings through the runs of Aaron Cheevers and Stuart McMullan. They took the lead just short of the half hour mark when Alan Patterson ran onto a Johnny Hunter through ball. The Bangor keeper raced off his line to challenge for the ball but it broke to Cheevers who calmly slotted it into the empty net from twenty yards.

United continued to probe but they conceded a goal against the run of play when a long right wing cross evaded everyone and fell to a Bangor forward who controlled the ball before slotting it into the net despite the efforts of Brian McMullan. Undeterred United pressed forward and following a goal mouth scramble Ian McMullan side footed the ball into the net.

In the second half United continued to control the game restricting Bangor Rangers to the odd excursion forward leaving Brian McMullan generally as a spectator.

The midfield of Bowman, Hunter, Patterson and Stuart McMullan were very strong moving the ball about with confidence while defensively Davy Boal, Ross Hayes, Adam Herron and Scott Brashaw all went about their tasks with efficiency.

Numerous openings were created to extend their lead but it was not until the 75th minute that they increased it when Patterson again surged forward and unleashed a shot which was brilliantly saved by the Bangor keeper however in doing so it cannoned off a defender and looped into the net.

The full substitute bench of Carlisle, McKibbin and Smyth had been introduced midway through the second half and they played their part with McKibbin out pacing the Bangor defence on a number of occasions and being very unlucky not to score.

An excellent result which keeps United in the top four of the Division 1B league table as they go into Christmas and this weekends big local derby with Temple Rangers in the Clarence Cup.

Downshire YM 0 v 1 Ballynahinch United

United travelled to Hillsborough for this league fixture against local rivals Downshire YM.

The game was quite tight throughout with the home side giving United little time on the ball whilst they were particularly well set up defensively making them hard to break down.

The home side had the ball in the net midway through the first but the Downshire player was adjudged to have fouled United keeper Brian McMullan.
In the second half United upped their game and when Downshire had a player dismissed they took advantage with Aaron Cheever’s being rewarded for his hard running with a goal in the early stages of the second half.

This was a vital three points as United keep in contention in the top four although the remainder of the half is strewn with numerous difficult fixtures.

This week United travel to Irish League Championship 2 side Ballymoney United in the third round of the Irish Cup.