Another tough weekend for the Ballynahinch Management teams with a whole host of players unavailable.
Despite that the club still churned out three squads with the first’s at The Millbridge against Tullycarnet.
United took the lead, a cross from the left by Stuart McMullan found Scott Cheevers at the back post to nod it back to Glenn Bennett who converted with his head.
Tullycarnet equalised from a short free kick that found an unmarked man at the back post.
Another Stuart McMullan cross was headed back across goal by Glenn to Captain Greg Hall to take the lead again before half time. To complete a strong first half performance.
Tullycarnet evened the score again from the spot in the second half.
Chances were few and far between but United cracked the post and were unfortunate not to see it nestle in the net.
The away side went ahead for the first time late on, after a bizarre incident that saw a Ballynahinch clearance loop back into the path of Tullycarnet’s forward to set him one on one with the keeper, and duly dispatched.
Player of the Match: Richard Annett
Line up: Anthony Greene, Jamie McNeil, Stuart McMullan, Richard Annett, Chris Coleman, Gavin Crawford, Scott Cheevers, Greg Hall, Glenn Bennett, Jack Patterson (Diarmuid Lavery) Luke Curry (Graeme McMullan)
Unused Sub: Cameron McKissick
Saintfield United III 4 – 2 Ballynahinch Swifts
The Swifts faced winless Saintfield and started well but were unable to take the lead.
It was the home team who broke the deadlock with a good finish from the edge of the box.
A second soon followed after a goalmouth scrambled was prodded home from a dangerous long throw.
The Swifts pulled one back after Ben Maxwell beat his man and put in an excellent cross from the left that Ian McMullan bundled home with his left knee. His first goal after returning from ACL reconstruction.
Ballynahinch equalised early on in the second half after Ian bagged a second with a glanced header from Ben’s free kick.
Saintfield regained the lead again from another long throw, their main form of attack. Ballynahinch argued fruitlessly that the thrower was on the pitch.
Saintfield bagged a fourth from the same play, this time nodded home at the back post.
Ian tried to complete his perfect hattrick with an audacious half way line effort but to no avail.
Player of the Match: Ian McMullan
Line up: Steven Chapman, Justin Herbert, Stephen McNair, Will McNeill, Keith Hamilton (Thomas Casement), Andrew Shannon, Ben Maxwell, Gareth Bingham (Luke Craig), John Stevenson [C] (Nathan Cheevers), Ian McMullan, Roy Shilliday.
Ballynahinch Albion 1 – 4 Rossglass County Development Squad
Some key members of the Albion squad were needed higher up the club, leaving the match day squad with 13 players.
The game started fairly even with not many chances coming either way. That was until two lapses in concentration saw Rossglass score two goals within 3 minutes, which saw some of the Albion’s young heads drop.
Rossglass were in the ascendency and continued to probe, however Albion’s defence stayed resolute until the half time whistle, with young Charlie Parkinson and Ethan Perkins having a solid game throughout.
Rossglass would go on to score a third goal early in the second half. But with the game looking almost out of sight, Albion received a corner with about 20 minutes to go.
Sam Annett delivered a cross in which would be bundled into the net by a Rossglass defender. Albion had the tails up as the game neared completion.
But the efforts weren’t to be today as Rossglass saw off the game with a fourth goal with 15 minutes to go. The young Albion side will take the lessons learnt from today and move on to next week.
Player of the Match: Charlie Parkinson
Line up: Jake McCarten, Charlie Parkinson, Ryan Rooney, Ethan Perkins, Greg Blunt, Callum Greene (Liam Rodgers), Pearse Irvine (Kian Connolly), Rhys O’Hare, Matthew Lindsay [C], Samuel Annett, Kyle Steenson.