Saturday saw football return to The Millbridge after last week’s late postponement. A strong Portavogie side made the trip to Ballynahinch, a team who got the better of ‘hinch last season.
Continue reading Match report: Ballynahinch United 1 – 2 Portavogie RangersCategory: Results
Match report: Killough II 2 – 5 Ballynahinch United Swifts
The first team fixture against Orangefield OB was postponed after the referee was reassigned to a different game.
But the Swifts kicked off their campaign with an impressive performance win against Killough II.
Continue reading Match report: Killough II 2 – 5 Ballynahinch United SwiftsMatch report: Dundonald 3 – 1 Ballynahinch United
A weakened Ballynahinch United squad with 9 missing faced off against league favourites Dundonald away at Billy Neill.
Continue reading Match report: Dundonald 3 – 1 Ballynahinch UnitedMatch report: Ballynahinch United 0 – 7 Saintfield United
Ballynahinch started slow and gave the ball away twice on the edge of their own box within the first two minutes.
Continue reading Match report: Ballynahinch United 0 – 7 Saintfield UnitedMatch report: Castlewellan Town 3 – 3 Ballynahinch United
Tuesday’s mid-week match saw Ballynahinch return to league action against the newly promoted, and in great form, Castlewellan Town.
From the kick off both sides knew they were in for a battle. However it was Ballynahinch United who struck first just three and a half minutes into the game. A loose ball dropped to Jack Patterson who connected as sweet as could be on the volley. Once the ball left his foot you knew it was destined for the goal. A rocket off the bar and in saw United take the lead.
Castlewellan increased the pressure and the game sprung to life. Uniteds back line of Tommy Rodgers, Matthew Hall, Chris Coleman and Scott Brashaw kept their shape and began frustrating the Castlewellan attack who kept finding themselves offside. Pressure mounted from Castlewellan but it was United who found the net again.
A clever ball into the middle of the park from Brashaw saw Greg Hall in a bit of room. Again from around 20 yards out, Greg rolled back the years and whipped a beautiful shot past the goalkeeper, 2-0.
This only encouraged Castlewellan who again upped the tempo and pressure with United struggling to get their foot on the ball. A sloppy pass at the back was intercepted by the Castlewellan striker who went on to convert. 2-1
The second half started brighter for Ballynahinch with both teams battling again. Both sides created some chances but neither could capitalise. A few dubious decisions seemed to go against United but that didn’t stop their drive. A ball over the top from Matthew Hall saw Jack Patterson free from any markers. With the ‘keeper rushing out, Jack was able to get the ball under control and lob it over the top of the onrushing keeper for the brace. 3-1.
Pressure continued to mount from Castlewellan and after a scramble at United backpost and a great save from Stefan, the ball fell kindly to the Castlewellan forward who smashed it in to make it 3-2. A second yellow for Matthew Hall following the goal left United down to 10-men for the remaining 20 minutes.
The ten men knew they were in for a battle and worked together as a unit. The effort and teamwork could not be faulted however it was not meant to be. A free kick on the 89th minute outside the Ballynahinch box ended up in the top corner of the net. Heartache for United and jubilee for Castlewellan.
A point away from home at a difficult opposition, but Ballynahinch came away disappointed to have dropped two points.
Player of the Match: Chris Coleman
Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Thomas Rodgers (Alan Dickson), Stuart McMullan, Scott Brashaw, Matthew Hall, Gavin Crawford, Chris Coleman, Greg Hall, Jack Patterson, Lee Maxwell (Cameron McKissick), Scott Cheevers (Rhys Patterson).