Tag: 1sts

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.

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.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 0 v 1 Rosario YC

A goal midway through the second half of this game was enough to give the visitors the points however the home team played very well throughout and had they taken one of the few chances they made in the first half they may well have taken a point.

Throughout the first half both teams had a few chances but it was the defences who were in command. United who had conceded quite a few goals in recent matches certainly tightened up with debutant teenager Jack Davis at right back along with Paul Dickson, Ethan Majury and Stuart McMullan. Brian McMullan was in commanding form in goals and his distribution created quite a few opportunities the best of which fell to Scott Brashaw who couldn’t get enough power into his shot. Ethan Majury went close with a free kick in the closing minutes of the first half.

In the second half Rosario who are a useful team with their eyes on promotion came more into the game and they created the one goal scoring opportunity with a slick move which saw their forward glide onto a super pass to thread the ball past Brian McMullan into the net. In midfield Dalton Tate was prominent along with Stuart Hunter, Dylan Carberry, Scott Brashaw while Aaron Cheevers and Ian McMullan worked tirelessly up front. Substitutes David Kelly, Greg Allison and Alex Miller came on in the closing quarter and gave the Rosario defence some anxious moments but failed to make the crucial breakthrough.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2 v 0 UUJ

United entertained relegation strugglers at the Millbridge on Saturday afternoon and despite an unconvincing performance they came away with a 2-0 victory.

For most of the first half the initiative was taken by UUJ who had a number of experienced players in their line-up and it took a disciplined performance in defence from Crawford, Hayes, Majury and Brashaw to keep them out. As the first half progressed United’s midfield of Kelly, Hunter, Wilson and Carberry managed to get more possession which in turn gave Ian McMullan and Matthew Shaw a few half chances with McMullan going close with a spectacular overhead kick. Matthew Shaw who has been in excellent form gave United the lead on the half hour mark when he took a pass from Hunter on the left hand side of the penalty area before placing his past the advancing goalkeeper into the net.

In the second half it was fairly well more of the same with UUJ pressing and United not really firing on all cylinders however Shaw gave the home team breathing space with a superb second goal. Good work on the right from Gavin Crawford saw the ball crossed over to the left hand side of the penalty area and he despatched the ball into the goal with a strong left foot shot that gave the UUJ keeper no chance. Alex Miller and Dee Stewart entered the fray for the last third of the match and they worked hard all over the pitch to maintain United’s grip on the three points. Goalkeeper Bryan McMullan who had a generally quiet afternoon was called into action late in the game producing a number of outstanding saves to ensure a clean sheet and United’s steady climb up the league table.

 

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 3 v 1 Wellington Rec

Hunter double as United humble another of the Division 1B promotion chasers

United entertained promotion contenders Wellington Rec. at the Millbridge last Tuesday [26th April] as they continued their programme of end of season fixtures which has seen them show their very best form. On the previous Saturday United had dented the promotion hopes of Newcastle and there was a good representation of their supporters to see how this game would go. Fielding the same side that won at Newcastle Keith Hamilton’s side started brightly and took the lead on 15 minutes when Stuart Hunter crossed for Dylan Carberry to head home.

Carberry was on the scoresheet again after half hour mark however it was for the opposition when he was unlucky enough to see a defensive clearance ricochet of his shin and into the net leaving McMullan helpless.

Just before half time good build up on the left wing involving Cheevers, Brashaw and Hunter saw the latter thread a pass toward the on running Shaw which he could not reach however the Wellington goal keeper and a defender failed to deal with it and the ball found the corner of the net.

Wellington were a very experienced team and had United had been under a fair degree of pressure up to this point and in the second half they came out with a more direct game which made United more dangerous on the break. Dalton Tate made his return to the team after injury in the 60th minute and his impact was immediate. Some great passing between Millar, Crawford and Shaw led to Tate weaving his way through the Wellington penalty area. He passed to Hunter who dispatched the ball into the net to give the home team a 3-1 lead.

Wellington for all their efforts couldn’t breach United’s defence of Miller, Majury, Hayes and Brashaw backed up by Bryan McMullan’s excellent handling which provided the rock on which this victory was achieved supported in no small measure by an industrious midfield of Hunter, Wilson, Carberry and Crawford.

Matthew Shaw, Aaron Cheevers and second half replacement Ian McMullan worked tirelessly with their movement playing a massive contribution to what was another top class performance.