After a weekend without fixtures due to adverse weather, we returned to action away to Bloomfield.
United made it difficult for themselves and gifted the home side a two-goal lead early on.
On a positive note, Harry Wilson started his first game in 18 months and completed 60 minutes on his return from a serious knee injury.
More individual errors proved fatefully for Ballynahinch which Bloomfield capitalised on.
United had chances of their own but despite a goalmouth scrambled couldn’t change the scoreline, at the other end in similar circumstances, Bloomfield pounced.
On another positive, Ross Murray scored off the bench on his first appearance after signing in the summer and on his return from injury but it wouldn’t be enough to turn the tide.
Player of the Match: Harry Wilson
Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Harry Wilson (Jamie McNeill), Stuart McMullan, Matthew Hall, Scott Brashaw (Thomas Rodgers), Gavin Crawford, Ronnie Johnston, Greg Hall, Andrew Shannon (Ross Murray), Lee Maxwell, Aaron Cheevers.
Ballynahinch United Swifts 5 – 4 Ardglass II
Meanwhile at home, Gareth Bingham’s experienced Swifts squad were involved in a goal fest.
Despite dominating early on, the home side fell behind against the run of play.
John Stevenson pulled one back from the spot after being brought down in the box.
Captain John McMenamin poked The Swifts ahead after a goalmouth scramble following a corner but Ardglass equalised soon after.
United went ahead again when Ben Wilson marauded forward on the right to square to Stevenson for an easy finish.
The veteran forward completed his hat-trick with a weaving run of his own ending with a calm finish in the bottom corner to give United a 4-2 lead at half-time.
In the second half, United added a fifth after Ian McMullan shot home from the edge of the box.
Changes on the hour mark disrupted United’s flow and offered Ardglass a way back into the game.
Ardglass duly delivered and pulled two back to mark a nervy ending for Ballynahinch but the home side held on for three points with Steven chapman making important saves to claim the win.
Player of the Match: John Stevenson
Line up: Steven Chapman, Ben Wilson (Cameron McKissick), Alan Dickson, Keith Hamilton, John McMenamin [C], Graeme McMullan, Colin Nelson, Roy Shilliday, Ian McMullan (Luke Curry), Patrick Harkin, John Stevenson (Diarmuid Lavery).
Rossglass County Development Squad 6 – 1 Ballynahinch United Albion
The Albion travelled to Rossglass but returned with nothing despite Rhys O’Hare’s equaliser in the first half.
Line up: Jake McCarten, Ryan Rooney, Stephen McNair [C], Greg Blunt, Ross Duffield (Thomas Casement), Ethan Perkins, Callum Greene, Charlie Parkinson, Anthony Greene (Nathan Cheevers), Ben Maxwell (Luke Craig), Rhys O’Hare.
Last Man Standing
Week 2 of the competition was completed at the weekend.