Match report: Ballynahinch United 0 – 3 St Mary’s

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United hosted fellow 1C competitors St Mary’s in the Border Cup with last season’s top goalscorer Lee Maxwell forced to play centre back in a make-shift defence.

The first-half saw both teams battling hard in the glow of the August sun. And despite the away side superior possesion, it was even at the break after solid defending from Ballynahinch with Thomas Rodgers and Charlie Parkinson putting in superb performance against tricky wingers.

It took until almost the hour mark for either side to take the lead, when St Mary’s nipped in ahead of Stefan Graham to scoring the opener.

United pushed forward but were undone twice in the last ten minutes after leaving space trying to find an equaliser.

Despite the defeat, it marked an improved performance compared to United’s 5 – 2 defeat against Grove on Thursday evening.

Man of the Match: Thomas Rodgers

Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Thomas Rodgers, Charlie Parkinson, John McMenamin, Lee Maxwell, Kyle Spindlow, Glenn Moffett, Tom Nelson, Ben Maxwell (Bradley Hamilton), Louis Boyd (Rhys O’Hare), Glenn Bennett (Ian McMullan).

Match report: Ballynagross 4 – 1 Swifts

Meanwhile at Mountain Quarter, Saul, the Swifts knew a win could take them to the quarter final of the KitRoom Cup.

It was the home side who took the lead in the second half, however, Greg Blunt pulled one back shortly after.

With United forced into changes through injury, the team struggled to keep their cohesion and the premier division side took advantage, adding three more goals to their tally.

United will now face Ballyvea III in the quarter final of the KitRoom Shield.

Congratulations to Curtis Johnston who made his senior club debut at 16. Curtis previously played for Ballynahinch Youth.

Man of the Match: Graeme McMullan

Line up: Lewis Roy, Ryan Rooney, Stephen McNair (Cameron Farr), Curtis Johnston, Greg Blunt, Ethan Perkins (Christopher McVarnock), Graeme McMullan [C] (Jake Redmond), Cameron McKissick (Gareth Bingham), Diarmuid Lavery, Patrick Harkin, Callum Greene (Matthew Lindsay).