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.

Ballynahinch Utd IIs 3 v 3 Kilroot Recreation IIs

The Swifts entertained a Kilroot reserve side which has not won a single game this season and which was filled with first teamer’s in this enthralling league game at the Millbridge.

Aaron McCaffrey gave the Swifts the lead after ten minutes but a rash tackle on the edge of the penalty area saw Kilroot equalise with a well-placed free kick. Not long Ethan Majury conceded a penalty which was converted despite Johnny McGreevy getting a hand to it.

On the half hour mark Aaron McCaffrey got the equaliser when he rose highest in the penalty area to head home brilliantly from a Majury free kick. Kilroot who were dangerous on the break scored a third following a sweeping move down the right wing.

Paul King who had one of his poorest games by his own admission scored the equaliser before half time with a simply stunning strike from 20 yards out that shot into the roof of the net.

After this the scene was set for a rip roaring second half or so the half dozen or so supporters who braved the elements but they were to be sorely disappointed. Very few chances were created and had it not been for an excellent save just after half time from McGreevy the Swifts may not have got anything out of the game at all.

The best player on the park in the second half was teenager Greg Allison who worked his socks off on the left wing both in attack and defence and he was closely followed by the efforts of another teenager Graham McMullan who had a good game on his first start for the Swifts.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2 v 2 Temple Rangers (Temple won 3-1 on pens)

Clarence Cup Round 1 – view photos.

This much awaited Clarence Cup tie which had been postponed three times since it was originally scheduled for Saturday 22 December took place at Millbridge on Saturday. The large attendance was one of the biggest turn outs at a local match for some considerable time and was evidence if any was needed at the popularity of the local game and particularly in a derby setting.

United went into this game seriously depleted missing no less than six first team regulars – Adam Herron, David Boal and Johnny Hunter [Suspended], Alan Patterson [Injured] and Scot Brashaw and Jay Smyth [Unavailable]. While this certainly stretched United’s squad it gave manager Colin Murray the chance to bring in some of the clubs youthful talent with Greg Allison stepping up from the Swifts and the surprise inclusion of Paul King who is an Albion regular.

From the kick off United were on the attack and after nine minutes they went into the lead when some excellent approach play resulted in Aaron Cheevers crossing onto the edge of the six yard box and Ian Boal slotted the ball into the net past Alistair Coburn.

Despite this advantage United just did not press on and rarely troubled the Temple defence despite winning quite a few corners.

In the second half Temple Rangers came out strongly and generally dominated play however United’s defence was well marshalled by Hayes, Carlisle and Foster with Brian McMullan having little to do.

Temple equalised on the hour mark which really lit the game up because whilst they were getting plenty of possession they were not really doing that much with it. The goal came from a long throw with McDowell sliding the ball into the path of defender who scored from the edge of the penalty area with a scorching drive.

Minutes later they were 2-1 up when a long ball into the United penalty area found its way into the net whether as an own goal or a header from substitute Lee Maxwell whatever the way of it he may not have known much about it.

United had a major problem at this stage and to their credit they rose to the occasion with the introduction of Bingham, Allison and King giving them fresh legs.

The equaliser came in the 87th minute when great work from Stuart McMullan on the left wing ended with a cross into the penalty area which the Temple defence failed to deal with and as the ball fell on the edge of the penalty area Paul King lashed it into the roof of the net for his first senior goal on his debut. In the closing seconds of the game United almost snatched the win when Gareth Bingham latched onto a loose ball and fired towards an unguarded goal from the edge of the area but his effort went narrowly wide.

The game went into two periods of extra time during which Temple lost their veteran keeper Alistair Coburn with a dislocated finger which meant that Paul Dickson had to take his place.

All too soon it was time for the penalty shoot-out which would provide as much excitement as what had gone before. Temple Rangers changed their goal keeper for the penalty shoot-out which proved a master stroke bringing in forward Adam McDowell in place of Paul Dickson.

First to take a penalty was Temple’s Matty Shaw and he blazed it high over the bar but United didn’t take advantage with David Kelly’s effort saved by McDowell. McDowell took the next one himself scoring past McMullan with precision. Scott McKibbin took United’s second penalty and he scored to bring the scores level. Brian McMullan got into the penalty saving act when he kept out Lee Maxwell’s effort. Stuart McMullan had the chance to put United in front but he saw his strike palmed round the post by McDowell. Temple substitute Johnny Dickson converted his effort confidently to make it 2-1. United’s Paul King needed to convert his to level the scores but he was thwarted by McDowell and it was left to Carberry to win the cup tie which he duly obliged with a confident strike to give McMullan no chance.

Disappointment for United who will wonder what might have been had they not have had so many senior players missing however on a positive note their depleted squad with so many youngsters in it never gave up and they could have won it in the dying minutes of normal time. Temple battled hard throughout and shaded the game on chances created but then again neither goal keeper was that seriously troubled in either normal or extra time.

Temple go on to meet Civil Service in the 2nd Round of the Clarence Cup a game they can certainly win.

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.