Category: Fixtures

Ballynahinch United 0 v 2 Coagh United

INTERMEDIATE CUP 2ND ROUND

United entertained Irish League Championship Division 1 side Coagh United at Millbridge on Saturday before a large crowd, swelled by a big contingent from the County Tyrone village.

The early exchanges were quite even but as the game developed it was United who had the lion share of the play forcing a number of corners and interceptions from the Coagh United keeper.

The midfield of Hunter, Patterson, JJ Carlisle and Stuart McMullan were supplying good quality balls to Cheevers in particular who was causing all sorts of problems however no real scoring opportunities were created although Alan Patterson did cause the Coagh keeper to spill a few balls from crosses. Defensively United were strong with Boal, Hayes, Brashaw and Herron on top of anything that the visitors threw at them however it was obvious that they were going to be dangerous on the break.

Indeed that would be how the opening Coagh goal would come about when a long ball out from their defence fell kindly for their forward and as Hayes went to challenge him he noticed keeper Brian McMullan off his line and he lobbed a delicate shot over his head and into the net.

In the second half United continued to play neat attractive football and shortly after half time it took a superb save from the Coagh keeper to deny Stuart McMullan an equaliser. Soon after Coagh made it 2-0 when an attacking move down the left wing ended with a shot into the net from close range to give McMullan no chance.

United battled on in search of an equaliser and despite maintaining a good share of the play they failed to get on the score sheet. Substitutes Jay Smyth, Scott McKibbin and first team debutant McCauley Foster were introduced during the second half and they maintained the fluidity of the team but they were unable to break down an experienced and well drilled Coagh defence.

Club Notes

Both the Swifts and Albion’s league games were postponed due to waterlogged pitches at Civil Service and Drumaness respectively which means that neither will be back into action until Saturday 5th January 2013.

Everyone at the club – be they committee, managers, players and supporters are looking forward with anticipation to the forthcoming Irish Cup 5th Round Cup tie against
Danske Bank Premier League side Coleraine. The game takes place on Saturday 12th January 2013 and while United were drawn out of the hat first the cup rules mean that they must travel to their more illustrious opposition.

This has been a fantastic achievement by Colin Murray, his assistant Keith Hamilton and their squad of players who all work fantastically hard week in and week out in training and on the pitch. They are under no illusions that the task they face will be anything other than a David and Goliath struggle however each and every one of them will do their level best.

Every week both home and away the team are privileged to have an enthusiastic group of supporters who encourage them along and this will also be something very special for them to look forward to and enjoy no matter what the result is.

Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie who was present at the Cup Draw event joked afterwards that ‘he had been sent specifically to get a top Premier League side and that he had delivered’ however such an outcome has been almost unbelievable and many folk around the club are still in a state of shock. This is the third big success that the club have achieved in the second half of 2012 which has seen club man Jimmy Brown win the Hughes Insurance Volunteer of the Year followed up quickly by Hannah Majury recently winning a Female Coach of the Year award.

The Club Committee are now working hard to make arrangements for the big day and details will be made available shortly however anyone who would be interested in travelling with the club to this big match should contact a member of committed as soon as possible to book a place. Any local businesses or individuals who would be interested in sponsoring the club for match balls, training gear or the like thus taking advantage of the publicity that this game will attract should also contact the club as soon as possible.

The Committee, Managers and Players of Ballynahinch United would take this opportunity of wishing all of its supporters, sponsors as well as the local media a Very Happy Christmas and Happy New Year and our thanks for everything that you do for us.

Ballynahinch United 3 v 1 Bangor Rangers

United entertained Bangor Rangers in this league fixture at Millbridge on Saturday – a day that was somewhat over shadowed by the news that they had drawn Premier League side Coleraine in the 5th Round of the Irish Cup.

Right from the start United were on the front foot hemming Bangor Rangers back into their half as they probed down the right and left wings through the runs of Aaron Cheevers and Stuart McMullan. They took the lead just short of the half hour mark when Alan Patterson ran onto a Johnny Hunter through ball. The Bangor keeper raced off his line to challenge for the ball but it broke to Cheevers who calmly slotted it into the empty net from twenty yards.

United continued to probe but they conceded a goal against the run of play when a long right wing cross evaded everyone and fell to a Bangor forward who controlled the ball before slotting it into the net despite the efforts of Brian McMullan. Undeterred United pressed forward and following a goal mouth scramble Ian McMullan side footed the ball into the net.

In the second half United continued to control the game restricting Bangor Rangers to the odd excursion forward leaving Brian McMullan generally as a spectator.

The midfield of Bowman, Hunter, Patterson and Stuart McMullan were very strong moving the ball about with confidence while defensively Davy Boal, Ross Hayes, Adam Herron and Scott Brashaw all went about their tasks with efficiency.

Numerous openings were created to extend their lead but it was not until the 75th minute that they increased it when Patterson again surged forward and unleashed a shot which was brilliantly saved by the Bangor keeper however in doing so it cannoned off a defender and looped into the net.

The full substitute bench of Carlisle, McKibbin and Smyth had been introduced midway through the second half and they played their part with McKibbin out pacing the Bangor defence on a number of occasions and being very unlucky not to score.

An excellent result which keeps United in the top four of the Division 1B league table as they go into Christmas and this weekends big local derby with Temple Rangers in the Clarence Cup.

Ballymoney United 1 v 1 Ballynahinch United

IRISH CUP ROUND 4

United travelled to the Riada Stadium to take on Irish League Championship side Ballymoney United in the fourth round of the Irish Cup. From United’s point of view this was a game that was going to be difficult as the home sides results had improved significantly in recent weeks following the appointment of Jim Platt the former Northern Ireland goalkeeper as manager.

United battled hard throughout the game and felt a little unfortunate to be a goal down at half time however a determined effort in the second half brought an equaliser from Scot Brashaw to send the game into extra time.

The dismissal late in the second half of midfielder David Kelly was a major blow however the lads all dug in and were able to withstand the Ballymoney onslaught.

When the dreaded penalties came the tension was unbearable particularly for the travelling support who could hardly watch.

Davy Boal took the first one and scored but the usually reliable spot taker Johnny Hunter missed. Craig Bowman thundered his kick home to put his side level after a Ballymoney kick was saved by Brian McMullan. Next up was Ian McMullan to score and team captain Scot Brashaw was cool when he converted his kick to take Ballynahinch United into the 5th Round of the Irish Cup for the first time ever.

This Thursday United go into the 5th Round had along with nineteen other Intermediate sides and the twelve Irish League Premier Division clubs.