Tag: Gareth Bingham

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.

Ballynahinch United 2nds 3 v 0 Ardglass Colts

The Swifts had Ardglass Colts as the visitors at Millbridge on Saturday and in an entertaining game they secured all three points with three excellent second half goals.

The first half was relatively even with Ardglass going close on several occasions necessitating a lot of hard work defensively from King, McNeill, McMenamin and Bonner in support of keeper Johnny McGreevy. Paul King had United’s best opportunity when his 25 yard free kick hit the inside of the post and rebounded to safety.

After a scoreless first half things burst into action when the always lively Jack Patterson dashed down the wing and crossed to Aaron McCaffrey who volleyed an unstoppable shot into the net. Patterson led the way again when another left wing cross was met by the hard working Stuart Wilcox who headed his team into a 2 – 0 lead.

Patterson and his midfield colleagues Massey, Wilcox and Gareth Bingham were in total command at this stage but they were unable to increase their lead thanks to some excellent defending by the Ardglass team. Swifts manager Davy Taggerty introduced a trio of replacements in Nathan Farquhar, Matthew Manley and Ross Bingham and with Farquhar playing some neat football spreading the ball to all parts of the field it looked almost certain that they would score again.

The final goal came following a run down the right wing by Ross ‘Chris’ Bingham who unleashed a shot that looked as if it would land on the Downpatrick Road. In fact it dipped viciously under the cross bar and the Ardglass keeper at full stretch, managed to claw it out but the ever alert Matthew Manley ran in to fire the ball into the net before the keeper could recover.

This week the Swifts are away to Dromore Leisure Centre to play Banbridge Boys Club.

Rossglass 3 v 6 Ballynahinch United 2nds

The Swifts got back to action with a trip to Killyleagh for this Harry Cup tie against Rossglass.

The star of the show was undoubtedly forward Johnny Stevenson who helped himself to 4 (four) goals however this was by no means an easy victory as the Swifts were behind until just before half time.

The first twenty five minutes were evenly fought until Johnny Stevenson broke free on the right wing before rifling a shot past Ross Preece in the Rossglass goal – video below.

Rossglass countered and within a relatively short space of time they were 3-1 ahead, however experienced campaigners Gareth Bingham and Johnny Stevenson levelled before half time. Bingham scored with a superb drive (below) while Stevenson’s pace and strength allowed him to break free and volley home.

In the second half the Swifts scored three unanswered goals through an own goal from an Alan Massey free kick and two more from Johnny Stevenson.

Ballynahinch United 2nds 5 v Banbridge YC 2

The Swifts got back to league action with a home fixture at Drumaness Council Ground against league newcomers Banbridge YC. In a lively first half the Swifts took the lead from the penalty spot when Alan Massey converted after Aaron McCaffrey had been felled in the penalty area.

The visitors equalised with a shot from 25 yards and then took the lead when defender Ross Bingham was unlucky to head past keeper Johnny McGreevy. The Swifts got level when Graeme McMullan, on for the injured Johnny Stevenson, equalised.

David Kelly who was controlling midfield along with Gareth Bingham gave the home side the lead when he carried the ball half the length of the pitch before despatching a shot from twenty yards into the roof of the net.

In the second half the Swifts took control of the game with their defence of Ross Bingham, Glynn Robinson, Scott McNeill and John McMenamin performing in a more controlled manner while Greg Allison caused mayhem on the ring wing. Stuart Wilcox made the score 4-2 when he latched onto Alan Massey’s free kick and Graeme McMullan headed home a cross from Greg Allison to close the scoring at 5-2.

This was a good performance from an almost full strength side which saw the return from injury of Shaun Bonner when he made a second half appearance.

The Swifts play their first game of the season at Millbridge this week when they entertain Valley Rangers 3rds.

Killough 2nds 5 v 5 Ballynahinch United Swifts

This was an end to end league game that provided plenty of entertainment and perhaps more than enough excitement for the respective management teams.

The Swifts took the lead through Gareth Bingham from a David Kelly cross however Killough equalised. Jay Smyth made it 2-1 and the same player then increased the score to 3-1.

The home team reduced the arrears to 3 – 2 before half time.

After half time Killough levelled before David Kelly made it 4 – 3 but a resilient home team were soon back on even terms.

The Swifts were awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched by Alan Massey to make it 5-4 but they could not hold on and the home side got a late equaliser.