United entertained near neighbours Castlewellan Town in a league match on Saturday past welcoming former Player and Manager Glynn Robinson to The Millbridge as the opposition manager.
Both teams settled well into the game however only a few real goalscoring opportunities materialised. Castlewellan’s well drilled defence coped with the regular forays from United’s forwards Aaron Cheevers, Jack Patterson and Rhys Patterson while the away goalkeeper was commanding in the air. However, he was a little fortunate when a header from Jack Patterson bounced off the crossbar.
United’s midfield trio of Crawford, Greg Hall and debutant Lewie Soar gave their Castlewellan counterparts few opportunities.
United’s goalkeeper Raymond Tate was commanding throughout and made a couple of decent saves at the end of the first half. Just before the close of the first half United lost defender Richard Annett with a thigh injury.
At the start of the second half Castlewellan came out with great determination and had plenty of possession however they got little change from United’s defence of Coleman, Brashaw, Matthew Hall and Tommy Rodgers who replaced Annett.
A strong wind blowing across the pitch meant that control of the ball wasn’t always easy .
United took the lead in the 60th minute when Scott Brashaw who had made several forays in succession up the left wing eventually outwitted his opponent and fired in a superb cross which was diverted past a stranded Burns by Aaron Cheevers to nestle in the corner of the net.
United’s defence whist coming under severe pressure as the game headed for its end was dealing with everything that came their way until Jarosinski met a clearance from a corner to fire a bullet like drive into the net giving Tate no chance.
United introduced substitutes Lee Maxwell and Scott Cheevers into the game with Maxwell creating a number of openings.
Controversy was the order of the day in the closing minutes of the game when firstly United’s keeper Tate was cleaned out after he had punched the ball clear from the edge of the penalty box. The referee decreed that it was a natural coming together and a a throw-in was awarded to Castlewellan.
Chris Coleman headed the ball clear from the throw-in however it was clear that it had skimmed off the head of a Castlewellan player but instead of a goal kick the referee gave a corner. From the corner the ball bounced about in the area and a deflected shot which looked to be going over the crossbar dropped into the net.
This was a very cruel outcome for a United team that battled hard throughout but were left surprised after the two referee decisions that some of the visiting players were honest enough to confirm after the game were incorrect.
Next Saturday United will entertain Colin Valley from Division 1B in the McComb’s Intermediate Cup Round 1.
Player of the Match: Gavin Crawford
Line up: Raymond Tate, Chris Coleman, Scott Brashaw, Richard Annett (Thomas Rodgers), Matthew Hall, Gavin Crawford, Lewie Soar, Greg Hall, Aaron Cheevers (Scott Cheevers), Jack Patterson, Rhys Patterson (Lee Maxwell).
Rossglass County 7 – 2 Ballynahinch Swifts
It was another difficult day for The Swifts this time away to Rossglass County in the league having suffered defeat to the same opponents the week before in the cup.
Despite United having more options available this week and a stronger squad, it took just three minutes for the home team to take the lead.
Rossglass added to their lead throughout the half to make it 4-0 at half-time.
Three minutes into the second half, it was the same story for Ballynahinch again when County added another.
Luke Curry pulled one back direct from a corner, while United battled determinedly in midfield.
The Dunleath outfit added another two before Diarmuid Lavery scored for The Swifts which completed the scoring.
Player of the Match: Jamie McNeill
Line up: Jake McCarten, Matthew Tate, Cameron McKissick (Keith Hamilton), Tyler Dickson (Luke Craig), John McMenamin [C], Andrew Shannon, Luke Curry, Gareth Bingham (Nathan Cheevers), Diarmuid Lavery, Graeme McMullan, Jamie McNeill.
Strangford II 4 – 4 Ballynahinch Albion
It was goals galore at The Links when Ballynahinch Albion faced Strangford IIs.
The first half provided much of the action and it was Strangford who struck first with two in quick succession after 19 minutes.
Strangford added a third from the spot beating debutant Steven Chapman in goals after half an hour but United fought back.
Stephen McNair clawed one back from a free kick, from wide left.
A minute later Captain Glenn Bennett added another to put The Albion within touching distance.
Another free-kick was fired home by Ben Maxwell on the stroke of half-time to even the scoreline, and complete an outstanding comeback.
However, it was only half time and The Albion had it all to do in the second half.
But it was the home side who took the lead again.
Despite another setback, The Albion continued to probe and finally managed an equaliser late in the game when Glenn Bennett scored again.
Player of the Match: Stephen McNair
Line up: Steven Chapman, Charlie Parkinson, Stephen McNair, Ethan Perkins, Greg Blunt, Callum Greene, Ben Maxwell (Pearse Irvine), Rhys O’Hare, Glenn Bennett [C], Matthew Lindsay (Kian Connolly), Kyle Steenson.
Unused sub: Liam Rodgers