1sts Archives – Page 19 of 24 – Ballynahinch United FC

Lisburn Rangers 1 v 3 Ballynahinch United

IRISH CUP ROUND 3

United returned to play Lisburn Rangers for the second week running having been defeated in a league match the previous week. This time it was in the 3rd Round of the Irish Cup and what a difference a week makes because when United came out onto the pitch they were in very determined mood.

The opening half hour was fairly even but it was the home team who took the lead from a corner when a forward nipped in at the near post to head past a helpless Brian McMullan.

This set back would not last for long because in the 40th minute Stuart McMullan fired in the equaliser from a free kick which gave the home keeper no chance.

In the second half United came out ‘full of beans’ playing fluent attacking football which the home side struggled to deal with. In the 55th minute they went ahead when Scot Brashaw’s shot, which was going wide, was intercepted by Craig Bowman who crashed it into the net. On the hour mark it was 3-1 when a surging run from Bowman ended with Aaron Cheevers getting on the end of the resulting cross to fire the ball into the net despite the efforts of the Lisburn Rangers keeper.

For the final half hour the home team pushed to get back into the game but in defence Ross Hayes led his comrades Herron, Brashaw and David Boal with typical determination while in midfield Hunter, Smyth, Stuart McMullan and JJ Carlisle worked hard to stem the tide. Up front Ian McMullan, an early substitute for the unfortunate Scot McKibbin who was injured in the first half, worked tirelessly causing major problems with his decisive running.

This week United are at home to Bloomfield in a league match.

Todays Fixtures (17/11/12)

The 1sts travel to the same opposition as last weeks 2-0 defeat in the third round of the Irish Cup against Lisburn Rangers. Lets hope they gain some revenge after last weeks disappointment. Kick-off is at 1.30pm.

The 2nds are also in cup action today. This time in Round 1 of the Templeton Cup away to St Oliver Plunkett II. A good performance and display should see us into Round 2.

That leaves The Albion playing their first league game at The Millbridge for sometime. The opposition – Strangford IIs who are currently just 1 point ahead in the league sitting in 6th position. Kick-off is at 2pm.

Lisburn Rangers 2 v 0 Ballynahinch United

United fell to their second consecutive defeat away to Lisburn Rangers on Saturday and can feel a little unfortunate as the home teams opening goal looked well offside and their second early in the second half took a wicked deflection of a defenders back to take it away from the grasp of keeper Brian McMullan.

United travel to the same opposition this week in the second round of the Irish Cup and they will be looking to gain some revenge for this defeat.

Ballynahinch United 1 v 2 Sirocco Works

NAFL DIVISION 1B

United’s long unbeaten run of nine games came to a disappointing end when they lost this league game at the Millbridge on Saturday last.

The game was quite even in the opening stages although United had the lion share of the possession with Cheevers prominent on the right wing.

The best chance of the first ten minutes fell to Patterson who found himself free inside the penalty area but as he delayed his shot the ball was cleared off his foot to safety for a corner. From the corner Stuart McMullan had the ball in the net but he was correctly adjudged by the referee to be offside.

On 20 minutes Sirocco took the lead from the penalty spot a decision that was hotly disputed. The ball had broken free in midfield and a Sirocco player picked it up and passed it into the path of his team mate who ran into the penalty area. He was challenged by at least three defenders and keeper Brian McMullan who cleared the ball for a corner however the player plunged to the ground and the referee who was quite well back gave the spot kick which Brian McMullan was unable to save.

United pressed forward but despite the amount of possession they had they did not threaten the Sirocco keeper. Just before the half hour mark Sirocco were 2-0 up when they again found space through the middle of the park to slip a forward in to score past Brian McMullan with a well executed finish.

In the second half United pressed to get back into the game and did so when a shot was defelcted into the Sirocco net by a defender but despite all their efforts they could not get the equaliser.

This was a disappointing result for the home team who were looking to this game to guage how much they had progressed as Sirocco are expected to challenge for honours this year. United were every bit their match however overplaying in the centre of the midfield area was their undoing for both of the goals. The other area that they need to improve in is in converting the opportunities they create into goals. At the end of the day they proved themselves to be every bit as good as Sirocco. This week they travel to another of the fancied teams away to Lisburn Rangers.

Movember

The First Team have taken on the challenge of Movember. Movember is the month formerly known as November and is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men’s health.

If you want to join in use the following link: movember.com/uk/team/785509.

Or if you would like to donate some money to our team for this worthy cause: movember.com/uk/donate/payment/team_id/785509.

Spread the word.