Tag: Alan Massey

Club Notes

The Swifts and The Albion were both in action at the weekend. The Swifts travelled to Bryansburn Rangers and continued their good form securing a point in a drawn game with McCaffrey scoring their goal.

Alan Massey continued his good form for The Albion scoring from the penalty spot for the second successive Saturday however they were unable to get back into winning ways.

The committee and members would like to express their thanks to Ian Blackwood of IB Electrical for ther generous sponsorship which is very much appreciated.

It was also great to see former player Michael Jones in attendance at Saturday’s game. Michael who is living and working in Melbourne, Australia was home recently for a family wedding and returned down under yesterday. He is playing football in one of the Victorian Leagues and secured the league championships with his team and by all accounts they are going well this season again.

The Albion 2 v 2 Dromara Village 3rds

The Albion entertained high flying Dromara Village 3rds in this league fixture at Drumaness Council pitch and they continued their excellent form.

They were the first on the score sheet with a goal from Steven Bridges who is getting on the score sheet more regularly these days.

The visitors equalised but The Albion were back in front with a penalty from Alan Massey and as it went into its dying moments it looked like they would hold on for all three points but a late Dromara equaliser meant they had to share the points.

Another great performance with teenage keeper John McMenamin, a regular centre back this season, deputising for the injured Johnny McGreevy while defensively McNeill, Murnin and Paul King were strong and resolute. In midfield Bingham, Bonner, Steven King and Wilcox are willing workers while Graeme McMullan and Steven Bridges are willing runners up front. The team is supported by Blackwood, Scott and Hayes with others unavailable or injured having to fight for their places.

The Albion 4 v 2 Strangford IIs

NEWCASTLE & DISTRICT AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Davy Teggarty’s young Albion side have been on a good run of form in recent weeks and so it continued this week with a fine performance against a strong Strangford reserve side.

The afternoon didn’t start too well when experienced keeper Johnny McGreevy dislocated a finger in the warm up and had to go to hospital. Luckily teenage central defender John McMenamin is a handy goalkeeper and he deputised.

The Albion started brightly and with five minutes gone, Graeme McMullan had the ball in the Strangford net only for it to be disallowed for what was apparently offside.

The first goal came after 35 minutes and at that point slightly against the run of play because the visitors had got back into the game. Live-wire Stuart Wilcox took a pass from Ross Bingham in the centre of the park and he unleashed a long range shot which deceived the Strangford keeper in the strong sunshine to go into the net.

Wilcox who was causing all sorts of problems with his strong running made it 2-0 on 55 minutes when he latched onto a loose ball in the six yard box to score. Moments after the restart Alan Massey intercepted the ball in centre midfield after a good tackle from Ciaran Bonner and he fired a twenty yard shot into the net which went in off a post.

With The Albion firmly in the driving seat, Steven Bridges spurned a number of chances – indeed he could and should have had a hat trick.

On 70 minutes a mix up between Bingham and Massey let Strangford in to make it 3-1 and moments later more poor defending saw the deficit reduced to one with the score at 3-2. Some last ditch defending from King and Shaun Bonner saved the day as the Albion struggled. However a long clearance was picked up by Gareth Scott who passed to Wilcox and the midfielder stormed into the penalty area to score an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

This was another excellent display from this young team who are working very hard for their manager and each other.

The Albion 5 v 3 Saintfield AYC IIs

The Albion produced a five star performance against what was a fairly experienced Saintfield AYC reserve side.

The home side took the lead when Shaun Bonner fired in a twenty yard pile driver from the left side of midfield. Not long after it was 2-0 when Steven Bridges followed up on an Alan Massey long range shot which the Saintfield keeper had parried to head the ball over the line.

Saintfield AYC got back into the game when they scored direct from a corner but Alan Massey continued his good scoring form when  he converted a penalty resulting from a hand ball offence from a defender after good work from Ciaran Bonner and Ross Bingham.

Early in the second half Steven Bridges made it 4-1 with a dash into the penalty area and a lob over the keeper. The visitors got a goal back to make it 4-2 but Graeme McMullan continued his good scoring form with a fifth goal. A third goal from the visitors did nothing to take away the euphoria of the home side to secure a very good three points.

In addition to those already named there were good performances all over the park with defenders Paul King, Scott McNeill and John McMenamin providing excellent cover for keeper Johnny McGreevy while in midfield Stuart Wilcox worked his socks off all afternoon. Substitutes Jordan Hayes, Matthew Murnin and Gareth Scott made significant contributions.

The Albion 5 v 1 Rathfriland Rangers 3rds

Newcastle & District Amateur League Division 3

The Albion played this home league match at Kilmore and came away with a convincing victory despite falling behind in the opening minutes.

Rathfriland went ahead on 15 minutes however the home side equalised very soon after and in an outstanding display went into the break 3 – 1 up.

In the second half they consolidated their victory with another two goals. The goal scorers were Alan Massey with a hat trick, Paul King and Graeme McMullan.

This was a great result for Davy Teggarty’s young charges who give their all every week and despite the occasional blip come back with regular displays that give everyone so much encouragement for the future.