Category: Results

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 2 v 1 Kilmore Rec. 2nds

The Swifts met Kilmore Rec 2nds for the third time in relatively quick succession and this time in the Purdy Cup.

Due to first team call ups manager Alan Davis had to shuffle his team somewhat. There was a strong wind blowing across the Langley Road pitch which made conditions difficult and the Kilmore team settled the quicker of the two. They also took the lead from the penalty spot in the early minutes of the game which brought about a change of formation for the Swifts.

The visitors were calling the shots with the home defence and midfield having to work hard to keep them out however as the first half was nearing its end Graeme McMullan sent Aaron McCaffrey through only to see his shot go narrowly wide. Minutes later Ross Murray who was having a quiet half ran onto an Alex Burtney pass to slot the ball home.

In the second half the Swifts had a slight wind advantage but the overall conditions made flowing football almost impossible. The home defence of Onhua, Annett, Beattie and McMullan coped with Kilmore’s long ball strategy while in midfield King and Hunter started to get the upper hand. The winning goal came from a Hunter pass which found Ross Murray and his shot was parried by the Kilmore keeper however Gareth Bingham was on hand to bundle the ball into the net. In the closing minutes Blaine almost increased their lead but his shot sailed past the post.

In the end the Swifts were pleased to get into the second round of this competition.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 10 v 0 Wellington Recreation

Wellington Recreation provided the opposition at Millbridge for this vital league encounter with both teams occupying the relegation places in Division 1B. Despite an improvement in results the visitors fortunes have changed in recent weeks with their manager resigning while United have had some really encouraging performances particularly against table topping teams.

Obviously a win for the home team was essential and this was exactly what they got in more ways than one. From the outset United were on the front foot attacking on either flank driven on from central midfield by Gavin Crawford and Ben Wilson while Greg Allison and Jack Davis on the right and Stuart McMullan and Aaron Cheevers on the left. The breakthrough came in the 10th minute after a penetrating attack on the left wing saw Stuart McMullan cross for Greg Allison to shoot home. Wellington almost equalised moments later but Brian McMullan blocked the shot for what was his only serious save of the match. Greg Allison increased United’s lead on 21 minutes when he smashed the ball home after Aaron Cheevers had crossed from the right wing. On the half hour mark Matty Shaw crashed the ball off the crossbar.

Just before half time Stuart McMullan raced clear of the visitors defence and crossed for Greg Allison to head home and score his first hat trick for the first team. Wellington reorganised their defence to nullify the threat coming from United’s left flank however the emphasis changed to the right side and within ten minutes another two goals had been scored through headers from Matty Shaw and Gavin Crawford all from right wing crosses. Jack Davis, Matty Shaw and Aaron Cheever’s swarmed all over the visitors defence resulting in Cheevers scoring on the hour mark to make it 6-0. Jack Davis who has had a superb season since his promotion into the first team scored United’s seventh when he ran into the Wellington penalty area and crash a shot in from ten yards. United never let up in this game scoring a further three goals in the closing quarter with Gavin Crawford crashing a shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area and Aaron Cheevers slipping past the offside trap to score.

First team debutant Scott Cheevers came on for the closing quarter and he made an immediate impact by crashing the ball off the crossbar and in the final minutes he lobbed the onrushing keeper to score his first ever goal at this level and his teams tenth of the game. Defensively United coped easily with the odd forward excursion from the visitors and their back three of Dalton Tate, Scott Brashaw and Paul Dickson regularly joined the attack with Dickson sending several long range shots narrowly wide.

This win took United out of the bottom three but players and management are well aware that a lot of hard work remains to be done in the coming weeks and that starts with this weekend’s visit to Ballywalter.

Match Report: Ballynagross 2nds 1 v 6 Ballynahinch United Swifts

A hat trick from teenager Ross Murray was the highlight of this game which was abandoned in the 78th minute following a serious leg injury to Swifts striker David Griffith’s.

Despite having to survive constant pressure in the opening ten minutes it was Ballynagross who took the lead when an attacker shot home from outside the penalty area giving Swifts keeper John McMenamin no chance. The lead however did not last long as Aaron Cheevers burst through on the right following good work from Ben Wilson and shot home to equalise.

The Swifts had several other scoring opportunities with Simon Wishart causing mayhem around the penalty area but it was from the penalty area that they took the lead after he was held back during a goal mouth scramble. Up stepped Dylan Fitzpatrick to rifle the spot kick into the net. Ballynagross continued to cause the Swifts trouble with their rampaging breaks with Wilson, Fitzpatrick, Onhua and Burtney working hard to contain them.

The strong midfield of Murray, Crawford, Hunter and Aaron Cheevers were tenacious in the tackle and worked the ball extremely well and in the 35th minute they went 3 – 1 up when Aaron Cheevers raced to the bye line and fired in a superb cross which was met by Ross Murray who shot into the net.

In the second half the home team started lively lunching a number of attacks but within ten minutes Scott Cheevers who had been prominent in nearly every one of Swifts attacks scored when the ball broke free in the six yard box. Not long after Ross Murray had doubled his tally when he shot home to make it 5 – 1.

The Swifts were dominant throughout the second half creating numerous scoring chances with Ballynagross defending resolutely and manager Alan Davis introduced substitutes Craig Tate and David Griffiths with both players adding additional pace to an already rampant attack.

In the 78th minute David Griffiths was injured in a 50/50 challenge with the ball falling to Ross Murray who slammed it into the net. The celebrations that followed were brief when the seriousness of David’s leg injury became clear with players and officials from both sides coming to his aid immediately. Referee Colin Dickson abandoned the game as there was no appetite on either side to continue and he was unstinting in his efforts to ensure that David was as comfortable and warm as possible on what was a very cold day indeed.

The officials and players of BUFC would wish David a speedy recovery from his injury and would like to pay tribute to referee Colin Dickson, the players and officials of Ballynagross and the ambulance staff for their assistance.

Match Report: Kirkistown 3-0 Ballynahinch United Swifts

Ballynahinch United Swifts travelled to Kirkistown this week in a match which looked a tight affair on paper as both teams had the same number of points after the early stages of the season.

For the first ten minutes it was the Swifts who did most of the attacking with Ross Murray starting his first senior game playing well down the left. Swifts were awarded a number of free kicks after Allison and Cheevers were both upended but they could not quite find the telling delivery into the box.

Then a long ball break saw Kirkistown have their 1st chance but John McMenamin saved well, however another long ball saw the home team score from what seemed to be an offside position. Sadly worse was to follow when Fitzpatrick cleared the ball as a Kirkistown forward advanced into the penalty area and with players from both sides expecting a corner referee Lowey unexpectedly awarded a penalty kick which was gratefully converted to leave the Swifts trailing by 2 at half time.

In the second half Kirkistown were content to hold onto what they had by soaking up lots of pressure. Numerous half chances came for the Swifts with Cheevers rounding the keeper but having no angle to score while McCaffrey rose well at a corner but could not get the necessary power into his header.

Defensively the Swifts played well with full backs Graeme McMullan and Alex Burtney prominent in both defence and attack while Bingham and Fitzpatrick played steadily in central defence.

Kirkistown made their victory secure in the closing quarter when they converted after Burtney was adjudged to have handled the ball and the resulting penalty was blasted home giving McMenamin no chance.

Overall this was a good performance from the youthful Swifts squad with manager Alan Davis introducing new players to senior football on a week by week basis which is very encouraging from the club’s point of view.

Tennants Irish Cup Round 2 Match Report: 18th Newtownabbey 2 – 1 Ballynahinch United

United travelled to Newtownabbey to take on an 18th Newtownabbey side that has been performing well this season and whose ranks include a number of former Irish League stars.

The United line-up included a full debut for teenager Corey Fitzpatrick and what an outstanding showing he put in.

Aaron Cheevers gave United the lead however the home team equalised later in the half and could have gone ahead but for the brilliance of keeper Brian McMullan who saved a penalty.

In the second half United had a number of chances to score and should have had a penalty of their own which appeared to be more justifiable than the one awarded against them. As the game was approaching extra time the home team scored a rather fortunate goal to thwart United’s hopes of progressing in the competition.

This week United travel to Rathfern Rangers in a league game.