It was a double header across the peninsula with both the First Team and The Albion facing Portavogie Rangers and Cloughey IIs respectively.
A two minute silence was held before kick off at New Harbour Road with the Home team captain laying a wreath in the centre circle.
United started slow and almost conceded early as the team got used to playing together with a host of changes including first team debuts for teenagers Charlie Parkinson and Ben Maxwell.
They batted back into the game, however went behind after 25 minutes.
The away side were then reduced to ten when Richard Annett was given his marching orders.
Portavogie doubled their lead 10 minutes later but United responded immediately when Scott Brashaw pulled one back despite the man disadvantage.
Ben Maxwell proved a threat throughout and almost assisted another before the break.
In defence Charlie Parksinon put in a strong, spirited display, whilst in midfield, another teenager Andrew Shannon kept United ticking in only his second ever first team appearance, alongside experienced stalwart Ben Wilson, making his first first-team appearance since March 2023 after injury.
It took until the hour mark before Portavogie increased their lead.
Luke Curry, who had worked tirelessly upfront was replaced by Ian McMullan making his return to first-team football in over two years.
Portavogie added another soon after.
Manager Kyle Rendall was forced to make an appearance with 15 minutes to go with Scott Brashaw withdrawn through injury.
Portavogie added another after Christine Coleman’s clearance unfortunately stayed in off the corner flag.
Player of the Match: Charlie Parkinson
Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Charlie Parkinson, Thomas Rodgers, Scott Brashaw (Kyle Rendall), Chris Coleman, Andrew Shannon, Lewie Soar, Ben Wilson (Graeme McMullan), Richard Annett, Luke Curry (Ian McMullan), Ben Maxwell.
Swifts 1 – 6 Cloughey
The Cloughey first team made the reverse travel of our Albion and faced The Swifts at The Millbridge.
A tumultuous first 15 minutes saw the home side fall four behind.
The Swifts regrouped and played well for the remainder of the game, with Colin Nelson returning to action for Ballynahinch after a long sabbatical.
It wasn’t until the 70th minute that the away side added to their lead again.
John Stevenson pulled one back but it couldn’t invigorate an imaginative comeback.
Cloughey completed their route late on.
Player of the Match: Will McNeill
Line up: Steven Chapman, Kian Connolly, Matthew Tate, Will McNeill, Keith Hamilton, Luke Craig (Matthew Douglas), Colin Nelson, Gareth Bingham, John Stevenson [C], Patrick Harkin, Thomas Casement.
Cloughey II 2 – 0 Albion
An early goal upset Albion’s chances of a result but despite a good performance they couldn’t find an equaliser.
New signing Ross Duffield added some extra steel to the battling Albion midfield on his debut.
The home side added a second from the spot with ten to go.
Player of the Match: Callum Greene
Line up: Jake McCarten, Ryan Rooney, Kian Connelly, Anthony Greene, Greg Blunt, Ethan Perkins, Ross Duffield (Liam Rodgers), Glenn Bennett [C], Callum Greene, Nathan Cheevers.
On the positive side, all our Player of the Match awards were handed to players who have come up through Ballynahinch Youth.