Category: Results

Match Report: Ballyvea IIs 1 v 3 Ballynahinch United Swifts

The Swifts travelled to Kilkeel without last week’s match winner Lee Price and Ross Hayes who were both called up to the first team. With the poor weather conditions the teams had to play on a heavy pitch which deteriorated as the match went on.

In the early exchanges there was little between both sides with Paul King and John McMenamin holding firm at the centre of the Swifts defence, while at the other end Graeme McMullan and Aaron McCaffrey worked tirelessly to cause problems for the Ballyvea defence.

However, mid-way through the first half Ballynahinch took control of the game and, as they pushed forward, started to create chances. The opening goal came following a period of intense pressure on the home side. When Allan Massey rifled the ball into the box, McCaffrey reacted quickest with a powerful diving header that left the keeper with no chance.

It was McCaffrey again who caused problems leading up to the second goal. Clean through, he took the ball round the home keeper who was caught outside his penalty area, only to be sent sprawling. From the resulting free kick Matt Manley stepped up to curl the ball into the top corner of the net from at least 35 yards.

The Swifts were keen to add to their lead and managed to do so spectacularly early in the second half. With Ballyvea again forced to defend in numbers inside their own box the ball broke to Gareth Bingham 25 yards out. Taking a touch with his left foot and shooting with his right, he swept the ball over the defence and the keeper into the top of the net.

As the second half progressed Ballynahinch continued to maintain pressure on the home side until an unusual situation developed. Ballyvea 1sts were playing on an adjacent pitch with an early kick off in the Bobby Dalzell Cup. When their match finished two first team players joined their 2nds to come on as substitutes. While no rules were broken, it caused a distraction for the away side and gave Ballyvea a foothold in the game.

With Ballyvea pushing forward they started to get a few chances of their own, and forced a couple of saves from McGreevy in the Ballynahinch goal, before finally finding the net. A deflected pass from the left finding an unmarked forward in the box who was able to glance the ball home. With twenty minutes left the momentum shifted to the home side and the Swifts were indebted to Stewart Wilcox for a goal line clearance to keep their two goal cushion intact.

However, the game was to take another turn with Ballynahinch stepping up their game. Massey and Bingham dropped deep in midfield and stopped the Ballyvea advance, while Manley, McMullan and McCaffrey pushed further forward to put the home side on the back foot again. Only a goal line clearance from McCaffrey’s shot and the keeper’s save from Griffith’s effort prevented a wider winning margin.

A special mention must go to veteran Ian Blackwood who came on as a substitute only to dislocate one finger and break another. Epitomising the away side’s spirit he played on without complaint and helped Ballynahinch to an excellent away victory.

This week the Swifts travel to Killough for a league encounter.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 1-0 Tollymore 2nds

The Swifts entertained Tollymore 2nds at a damp and wet Millbridge on saturday and after an end to end game they secured all three points with a goal from Lee Price.

The youthful Tollymore team played really well and perhaps on reflection were somewhat unfortunate to lose but when United got their nose in front they fought hard to hold on, ably led by the experienced Ross Hayes who is making his comeback after injury.

Match Report: Ballynahinch Olympic 1-1 Ballynahinch United

Despite the atrocious weather United travelled to Dromara on Saturday for the derby game against Ballynahinch Olympic who are riding high at the top of NAFL Division 1B. The fact that games between United and Olympic at first team level have only come into being in the last two seasons despite the clubs having existed for over 40 years each means that this derby does not have the same atmosphere as others.

Nevertheless both teams approached the game with very much a want to win approach. United have been showing good form in recent weeks with wins against Rosario YC and Sirocco Works so they came into the game with a certain confidence.

After a scoreless first half it was United who drew first blood when Johnny Stevenson opened the scoring however Ryan Molly levelled things up just after the hour mark and that was the way things finished.

Match Report: Bloomfield 2 v 1 Ballynahinch United

United’s recent winning streak came to a sudden end at Bloomfield last Saturday and yet anyone watching the game would wonder how such a thing could have happened.

Bloomfield started brightly and took the lead on five minutes when a forward latched onto a loose ball and lashed it into the net from 20 yards.

It took United some time to settle down and on twenty minutes forward Ian McMullan had to be replaced by Aaron McCaffrey.

The visitors settled into the game and Gareth McMullan and Aaron McCaffrey both had decent chances to equalise but the Bloomfield goal keeper produced several top drawer saves.

In the second half United dominated proceedings and full back Alex Miller scored for the second week in a row when he was put through by Scot Brashaw.

United attacked a will with Greg Allison coming more into the game and going close on several occasions. Matthew Shaw had several good chances but again the Bloomfield keeper came to his teams rescue.

In midfield David Kelly saw a lot of the ball and threaded a number of passes through a beleaguered home defence while defenders Dalton Tate, Ethan Majury and Stuart McMullan came forward to add to the numbers in search of the goal that their general play deserved.

In the 80th minute United conceded a penalty which Bryan McMullan made a heroic attempt to save without success. The spot kick came from a throw in awarded by the home linesman which had clearly come off a Bloomfield player and which should have been picked up by the referee who was fairly close to the incident.

United piled everybody forward introducing defender Craig McMullan into the action to allow players to go forward including goalkeeper Brian McMullan. Despite their efforts United could not breach the Bloomfield defence which miraculously managed to repel them.

This was a disappointing outcome particularly because United created more than enough chances to have won this game.

This week United entertain Rathfern Rangers at the Millbridge.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 3 v 0 Donard Hospital

United entertained old rivals Donard Hospital in this league match at the Millbridge last Saturday. The visitors had been promoted last year after a few years in Division 1C however they have found the higher level that little bit more difficult.

United settled into the game from the first whistle however it was Donard who posed a threat in the opening quarter with their right winger particularly prominent.

On one of their rare forward forages United took the lead in the 10th minute when Ian McMullan latched onto a loose ball to shoot into the corner of the net giving the Donard keeper no chance.

Donard pressed for an equaliser giving the United defence of Miller, Shaw, Majury, Tate and Stuart McMullan lots to think about however they held firm.

Goal scorer Ian McMullan was forced off with a hamstring strain and he was replaced by Johnny Stevenson who on the half hour mark laid the ball back for David Kelly to fire a thunderbolt into the net.

Kelly, Wilson and Brashaw were under a fair degree of pressure in midfield and they combined with their defence to keep Donard at bay while goalkeeper Brian McMullan produced an outstanding save in the 45th minute to prevent a goal.

In the second half Ben Wilson, who was struggling with an injury, was replaced by Gareth McMullan with striker Greg Allison moving into the left back role and Stuart McMullan taking over the central midfield position.

United were happy to surrender possession to Donard and played a containing game which proved very effective and occasionally they attacked with speed. It was from one of these quick breaks that defender Alex Miller found himself in space inside the penalty area and he crashed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3–0.

Donard threw everything at United in the last half hour of the game and it took some serious defending to keep them out. Brian McMullan who has been in great form proved to be a competent last line of defence saving a penalty after Stuart McMullan had been harshly adjudged to have handled in the penalty area following a shot that was driven into him from relatively close range.

Graeme McMullan came on to give the United attack some added vitality and in the closing stages it was the home team who forced a series of corners.

This was another great win for United who will travel to Bloomfield this coming Saturday for another league match.