Despite a red weather warning on Friday causing havoc across the country, Ormagefield’s Gibson Park was unaffected and the game went ahead.
In the early stages, both teams had half chances but the ‘keepers were equal to the efforts.
Ballynahinch, plying down the hill, got more into the game and created some dangerous situations with Thomas Rodgers proving tenacious in midfield and Matthew Hall effective as a target man but the home side were able to weather the early storm.
United went ahead when Lee Maxwell’s free kick was pushed onto the crossbar for Hall to nod home from close-range.
The lead didn’t last long however as Orangefield soon equalised and then went ahead from a penalty that Stefan Graham came close to saving.
The home side added a third from long range before the half.
Lee Maxwell came close from another free kick when he cheekily spotted the goalkeeper out of position. The referee judged the ball not to have crossed the line on what was a close call.
In the second half, United started brightly again with Maxwell and Ross Murray threatening on the wings, but it was Orangefield who proved most clinical and added another to their tally two to their tally.
Luke Curry, John McMenamin and Ian McMullan entered the fray to try mix up the United approach.
Ballynahinch pulled one back when Matthew Hall got on the end of John’s lobbed pass.
United came close twice more but couldn’t convert, while at the other end Orangefield added a 6th to put the game beyond doubt.
Player of the Match: Matthew Hall
Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Jamie McNeill, Alan Dickson, Scott Brashaw, Chris Coleman, Thomas Rodgers, Ronnie Johnston (John McMenamin), Andrew Shannon, Matthew Hall, Lee Maxwell (Ian McMullan), Ross Murray (Luke Curry).
Swifts P-P Downpatrick II
Despite both teams warming up and lining up awaiting kick off, the match was postponed at 2.15pm when a referee didn’t appear.