Tag: 2nds

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 2 v 1 Kilmore Rec. 2nds

The Swifts met Kilmore Rec 2nds for the third time in relatively quick succession and this time in the Purdy Cup.

Due to first team call ups manager Alan Davis had to shuffle his team somewhat. There was a strong wind blowing across the Langley Road pitch which made conditions difficult and the Kilmore team settled the quicker of the two. They also took the lead from the penalty spot in the early minutes of the game which brought about a change of formation for the Swifts.

The visitors were calling the shots with the home defence and midfield having to work hard to keep them out however as the first half was nearing its end Graeme McMullan sent Aaron McCaffrey through only to see his shot go narrowly wide. Minutes later Ross Murray who was having a quiet half ran onto an Alex Burtney pass to slot the ball home.

In the second half the Swifts had a slight wind advantage but the overall conditions made flowing football almost impossible. The home defence of Onhua, Annett, Beattie and McMullan coped with Kilmore’s long ball strategy while in midfield King and Hunter started to get the upper hand. The winning goal came from a Hunter pass which found Ross Murray and his shot was parried by the Kilmore keeper however Gareth Bingham was on hand to bundle the ball into the net. In the closing minutes Blaine almost increased their lead but his shot sailed past the post.

In the end the Swifts were pleased to get into the second round of this competition.

Match Report: Ballynagross 2nds 1 v 6 Ballynahinch United Swifts

A hat trick from teenager Ross Murray was the highlight of this game which was abandoned in the 78th minute following a serious leg injury to Swifts striker David Griffith’s.

Despite having to survive constant pressure in the opening ten minutes it was Ballynagross who took the lead when an attacker shot home from outside the penalty area giving Swifts keeper John McMenamin no chance. The lead however did not last long as Aaron Cheevers burst through on the right following good work from Ben Wilson and shot home to equalise.

The Swifts had several other scoring opportunities with Simon Wishart causing mayhem around the penalty area but it was from the penalty area that they took the lead after he was held back during a goal mouth scramble. Up stepped Dylan Fitzpatrick to rifle the spot kick into the net. Ballynagross continued to cause the Swifts trouble with their rampaging breaks with Wilson, Fitzpatrick, Onhua and Burtney working hard to contain them.

The strong midfield of Murray, Crawford, Hunter and Aaron Cheevers were tenacious in the tackle and worked the ball extremely well and in the 35th minute they went 3 – 1 up when Aaron Cheevers raced to the bye line and fired in a superb cross which was met by Ross Murray who shot into the net.

In the second half the home team started lively lunching a number of attacks but within ten minutes Scott Cheevers who had been prominent in nearly every one of Swifts attacks scored when the ball broke free in the six yard box. Not long after Ross Murray had doubled his tally when he shot home to make it 5 – 1.

The Swifts were dominant throughout the second half creating numerous scoring chances with Ballynagross defending resolutely and manager Alan Davis introduced substitutes Craig Tate and David Griffiths with both players adding additional pace to an already rampant attack.

In the 78th minute David Griffiths was injured in a 50/50 challenge with the ball falling to Ross Murray who slammed it into the net. The celebrations that followed were brief when the seriousness of David’s leg injury became clear with players and officials from both sides coming to his aid immediately. Referee Colin Dickson abandoned the game as there was no appetite on either side to continue and he was unstinting in his efforts to ensure that David was as comfortable and warm as possible on what was a very cold day indeed.

The officials and players of BUFC would wish David a speedy recovery from his injury and would like to pay tribute to referee Colin Dickson, the players and officials of Ballynagross and the ambulance staff for their assistance.

Match Report: Kirkistown 3-0 Ballynahinch United Swifts

Ballynahinch United Swifts travelled to Kirkistown this week in a match which looked a tight affair on paper as both teams had the same number of points after the early stages of the season.

For the first ten minutes it was the Swifts who did most of the attacking with Ross Murray starting his first senior game playing well down the left. Swifts were awarded a number of free kicks after Allison and Cheevers were both upended but they could not quite find the telling delivery into the box.

Then a long ball break saw Kirkistown have their 1st chance but John McMenamin saved well, however another long ball saw the home team score from what seemed to be an offside position. Sadly worse was to follow when Fitzpatrick cleared the ball as a Kirkistown forward advanced into the penalty area and with players from both sides expecting a corner referee Lowey unexpectedly awarded a penalty kick which was gratefully converted to leave the Swifts trailing by 2 at half time.

In the second half Kirkistown were content to hold onto what they had by soaking up lots of pressure. Numerous half chances came for the Swifts with Cheevers rounding the keeper but having no angle to score while McCaffrey rose well at a corner but could not get the necessary power into his header.

Defensively the Swifts played well with full backs Graeme McMullan and Alex Burtney prominent in both defence and attack while Bingham and Fitzpatrick played steadily in central defence.

Kirkistown made their victory secure in the closing quarter when they converted after Burtney was adjudged to have handled the ball and the resulting penalty was blasted home giving McMenamin no chance.

Overall this was a good performance from the youthful Swifts squad with manager Alan Davis introducing new players to senior football on a week by week basis which is very encouraging from the club’s point of view.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 2 – 1 Ballynagross Seconds

Ballynahinch United Swifts entertained Ballynagross Seconds at the Millbridge on Saturday last. Manager Alan Davis had to shuffled his squad due to a number of first team call ups and absentees however it gave him the opportunity to see some new faces and some players getting starting places for the first time.

From the start the Swifts settled quickly and played at a high tempo however it was the visitors who took the lead from the first corner of the game. Despite this set back the young Swifts team followed their game plan and were soon on attack and were level within five minutes when Gregg Allison beat the Ballynagross right back for pace to deliver and quality cross which Dave Griffiths slotted home.

Alan Massey and Aaron McCaffrey controlled central midfield opening up the game to both sides of the pitch. Graeme McMullan and Alex Burtney were providing the danger on the left wing with their superb linking overlapping and throwing in dangerous crosses.

Influential in creating the second goal was Craig Tate who pounced terrier like on a startled centre half and his poor clearance fell to Griffiths who struck a superb shot 25yrds out past a started goalkeeper.

In the closing stages of the first half Swifts keeper John McMenamin was called on to make several saves to prevent the half ending all square.

In the second half some adjustments to positions on the park for players ensured to all intent and purposes it was one way traffic as the Swifts tried to create a third goal to put the game out of the oppositions reach. New signing Niall Tyndall, Ben Onhua and Dylan Fitzpatrick coped with the Ballynagross breaks. McMullan who’d hit the bar earlier had another shot saved while Allison through some creative work went close twice but was thwarted by the Ballynagross keeper.

Massey and McCaffrey tried their luck from distance but that third goal proved elusive. New signing Lorenzo Fucas made a substitute appearance along with Blaine and Jay to keep the tempo going.

Ballynagross proved to be an extremely competitive team contributing to an exciting game that despite the Swifts superior possession defended resolutely whist being dangerous on the counter attack. In the end the home side managed the game well particularly in a final frantic five minutes to get take all three points and achieve their third victory of the season.

This weekend the Swifts travel to Kirkistown in the league.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 4 v 0 Carryduff Athletic

The Swifts entertained Carryduff Athletic at Millbridge in a league game on Saturday and they were quickly into their stride on 5 minutes when Alan Massey struck a left foot shot which the Carryduff keeper failed to hold and it trickled over the goal line.

The 1-0 lead quickly became 2-0 after Aaron McCaffrey had chased a lost cause into the box and was brought down to gain a penalty. Up stepped Dylan Fitzpatrick to score his first senior goal with a well-placed shot.

The game settled down with Carryduff gaining more possession without causing the home defence much trouble while the Swifts continued with their pressing game and hunting down the ball. Defensively Alex Burtney and Ben Onhua were linking with midfielders, while Ross Hayes fresh from a family holiday made an instant partnership with Dylan Fitzpatrick to thwart a Carryduff team which had been in free scoring mode in their previous games.

Alan Massey and Gregg Allison set about testing the full backs and from such a run Allison had a fine shot saved while Massey tried his luck again with a long range shot which shaved the cross bar.

Johnny Stevenson who was making his first start of the season was leading the line well with Aaron McCaffrey who both did all they were asked to do by forcing errors and creating chances.

The 3rd goal came when a deep hanging cross from Greg Allison found Jack Davis to head home from 8 yards. Davis’s partner in midfield Corey Fitzpatrick was playing a pivoting role in breaking up play which enabled the Swifts to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the half time break.

Carryduff marshalled by former United defender Davy Boal took the game to the Swifts for the first 10mins of the 2nd half and despite all their pressure John McMenamin remained dominant in goal holding crosses as well as making some great saves.

Manager Alan Davis made his 1st change by bringing on the terrier like Craig Tate and within 2mins he found himself on the scoresheet as he sniffed out a rebound from a corner. Other shots from Davis tested the Carryduff keeper while a solo run from Allison almost created a fifth.

The 4-0 score line reflected a great afternoon’s work by all of the fourteen man Swifts squad.