Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 4 v 3 Strangford

The Swifts continued their excellent form and made it 4 games unbeaten with victory over a very good Strangford side at Millbridge last Saturday.

It was the visitors who were on the attack from the start and their early efforts were rewarded by a goal on 15 minutes when a shot was deflected into the net giving keeper Johnny McGreevy no chance. The early dominance of the visitors dissipated after the goal and their goal was besieged by the Swifts and five minutes later Gareth Bingham controlled a cross from Ben Wilson, swivelled and fired the ball across the keeper into the corner of the net.

Ten minutes later the home side were ahead when Graeme McMullan was bundled over in the penalty area and Alan Massey converted the spot kick.

After 35 minutes the Swifts led 3 – 1 when Bingham scored his second from a Graeme McMullan pass after the teenager had two shots blocked. The visitors pressed hard to get back into the game and got a goal back shortly before half time.

In the second half the game turned on its head as a fluent Strangford side, who are one of the best teams in the division, placed the Swifts defence under constant pressure. Scott McNeill, Paul King, John McMenamin and Shaun Bonner had to work overtime as wave after wave of attack came their way. Veteran Ian Blackwood entered the fray for the injured McNeill and they held out until the 70th minute when Strangford equalised.

Substitute David Griffith entered the fray and very shortly afterward he made an instant impact. Following good work from Matthew Manly and a through ball from Craig McMullan David Griffiths ran onto the edge of the six yard area where he was upended by the Strangford keeper. Referee George, who had a fine game, pointed to the spot and Alan Massey sent the keeper the wrong way to make the score 4 – 3.

The Swifts held on thanks to some stout defending and a few good saves from McGreevy to secure the three points. Strangford will wonder how they lost this game as the youthful side played some excellent football however their defending was suspect and contributed to their downfall.

This Saturday the Swifts entertain Rossglass County at the Millbridge in what will be a difficult assignment.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 4 v 3 Killough 2nds (21/03/15)

The Swifts who were fresh from a rip roaring 4 – 4 draw the previous week produced something similar at Millbridge on Saturday however they had to come back from 1-0 and 3-2 down to a Killough side that battled throughout.

The visitors took the lead after ten minutes but Graeme McMullan got them back onto level terms with a shot across the keeper into the net after good work from Jaimie McPhail who had been on the score sheet the previous week.

Skipper Alan Massey gave the home team a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot when Craig McMullan was brought down however Killough struck two quick goals to take a 3-2 half time lead.

In the second half the Swifts looked much more settled and with defenders Bonner, King, McMenamin and Craig McMullan marking tightly they limited the Killough sides scoring opportunities while keeper Johnny McGreevy’s handling was excellent.

Midfielders Bingham, Massey, McPhail and Manley enjoyed greater possession giving forwards Graeme McMullan and David Griffiths a number of opportunities.

The Swifts got level when a long range cross from Shaun Bonner was mishandled by the Killough keeper into his own net.

In the last half hour manager Davy Teggarty introduced Scott McNeill at right back and moved Craig McMullan upfront along with cousin Graeme and it proved to be the decision that would secure his team maximum points. Minutes later the Swifts were ahead when Craig McMullan was upended by the Killough keeper and Alan Massey fired his second goal and his team’s winner into the net.

Match Report: Portaferry 1 v 3 Ballynahinch United (21/03/15)

This was United’s last match of the season and many would have said that their chances of getting anything out of this game would be pretty slim with Portaferry pushing for promotion with plenty of games to play, and having won 2 – 0 vs United the previous week.

The task was made all the more difficult given the absence of a number of experienced players and the management team having to draft a few untried second teamers and themselves.

Havng travelled across on the ferry, like a proper away day, things started well for the visitors. An early battling performance was strenghtened when Ian McMullan intercepted near the half way line and shrugged off a Portaferry midfielder before fizzing a fierce effort from far out beyond the flailing ‘ferry keeper and finding the corner after 20 minutes to put United 1 up.

The home team laid siege to the United goal but the defence of Boal, Majury, Brashaw and Wilson gave the outstanding Bryan McMullan great cover. The home team’s pressure paid off when they equalised before half time.

After the break, United’s midfield of Stuart McMullan, Dalton Tate, Aaron Cheevers and Gregg Allison continued to worked tirelessly, with Ian McMullan and teenager Scott Cheevers up front running endlessly and causing the Portaferry defence all sorts of problems.

Midway through the second half Ian McMullan banged in his second. A through ball from Aaron Cheevers found the forward through on goal, his left footed finish slotted past the keeper to give United the lead again.

Gregg Allison with pace to burn left his full back for dead and floated a cross from the right. Once again McMullan was on the end of it and rose like Shearer to head home the perfect hat-trick, United’s third and ensure the 3 points for United.

The goal also snatched the Top Goalscorer award away from the absent David Kelly.

Portaferry laid siege to the visitor’s goal once again, but left numbers short at the back allowing United to break.

The Gaffer, Murph, brought himself and coach Keith Hamilton on near the end of the game, to push the average age experience up significantly.

Murph found space on the right and with a swish of his wand of a left foot, he whipped a wonderful ball into the box, Ian lost his marker but the ‘keeper finally was able to stop McMullan from adding another.

An excellent performance all round with McMullan taking home the match ball… figuratively.

The small band of loyal United supporters ended their season’s travels with a great win, and the club finished in a respectable 6th place in NAFL Division 1B.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 0 v 2 Portaferry

United entered this, their penultimate home game on the back of a good home win but missing a number of regular first teamers however the way they played from start to finish was a credit to them and their management team.

Right from the kick off it was the home team with the wind in their backs who were on the offensive with a long range shot from Gareth McMullan having the Portaferry goalkeeper Stephen Keith scrambling across his goal mouth as the ball passed his left hand post.

On twenty minutes Aaron Cheevers had a great opportunity when he ran onto a Greg Allison cross however he didn’t get enough power into his shot and goalkeeper Keith pulled of an outstanding save to touch the ball around the post for a corner.

United were dominating midfield with Scot Brashaw pulling the strings supported by the hard working Cheevers, Allison and Patterson.

Johnny Stevenson led the forward line exhibiting great strength in holding up the ball however a pulled hamstring on the half hour mark led to him being replaced by Aaron McCaffrey.

In defence Ethan Majury, David Boal and Dalton Tate were defending what little attacking threat that Portaferry posed over the first half hour with relative ease however in the last fifteen minutes of the 1st half they came into it more. Brian McMullan in the United goal  had to make a few timely  interceptions to pick up through passes as the opposition’s pacey forwards started to find space.

In the 35th minute Portaferry took the lead when Brian McMullan’s superb save to beat out a stinging shot fell kindly to Aaron McCarthy who was able to side foot the ball home.

In the second half United found themselves both 1 – 0 down and facing a strong wind in atrocious conditions and yet it was the home side who dominated possession. Unfortunately they failed to find the necessary openings and on the hour mark Michael Doran doubled the visitors lead when he ran onto a through ball to strike a shot past McMullan into the net.

While Portaferry would have the occasional breakaways United passed the ball around with ease with teenagers Tate and Allison providing on both flanks however their best chance was a shot from Ian McMullan that sailed just over the crossbar.

This weekend  United travel to Newtownards to take on one of the league favourites 1st Bangor.

Club News

The Swifts travelled to Strangford for their Supplementary Cup tie on Saturday past and having gone 3 – 0 down in the 1st half they staged a fight back in the 2nd half with goals from Graeme McMullan and Ross Bingham but just fell short. This week they entertain Ballynagross at the Millbridge in the league.

Thanks to ClubSportNI – Ballynahinch United now have their own online merchandise shop. You can get anything from Full Tracksuits to Beanie Hats!!!

Please take a look and treat yourselves (or someone else).

Any suggestions of gear people want added then please let us know.

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