Tag: Aaron Cheevers

Ballynahinch United 1 v 0 Grove United

United entertained Grove United in this league fixture at Millbridge last Saturday and having defeated the Belfast Shore Road side the previous week in a close encounter the same difficult game was expected.

It was the home team who were on the attack from kick off with JJ Carlisle and Lee Maxwell combining well on the right wing with Stuart McMullan and Johnny Gibson providing a similar threat on the left flank.

After forcing a series of corners it was United who would score what turned out to be the only goal of the game in the 15th minute. Johnny Gibson did extremely well to keep an over hit cross from going out of play which deceived the Grove defence and when he managed to cross the ball onto the edge of the six yard area Gavin Crawford was standing unmarked to head home off the inside of the post.

Throughout the game United’s defence of JJ Carlisle, Scott Brashaw, Ross Hayes and Stuart McMullan were resolute and with Brian McMullan in commanding form, Grove never really created any serious goal threat despite having some good possession.

In midfield Aaron Cheevers worked tirelessly alongside Ian Boal and Gavin Crawford while Ian McMullan was always an attacking threat but little fell his way. Gregg Alison and Davy Boal provided extra support when they came on and even though it wasn’t a convincing display it was nevertheless a deserved victory with another clean sheet being a bonus.

This week United travel to Ballywalter Rec. for a league fixture.

Ballynahinch United 1 v 3 Dunmurry YM

United entertained the Division 1B league leaders Dunmurry YM at Millbridge in this league encounter. The visitors entered the game having won eleven straight league matches and throughout the first half they performed very well stretching the United defence of JJ Carlisle, Davy Boal, Ross Hayes and Stuart McMullan at every opportunity. Brian McMullan in United’s goal seen lots of action and had to be alert on a number of occasions with some excellent saves and catches. United had a few decent attacks on the Dunmurry goal with Johnny Gibson having a couple of half chances. Half time was reached with honours even and generally very little for the respective spectators to shout about.

It was United who came out of the blocks the quickest in the second half and what an impact they made with Aaron Cheevers scoring in the 46th minute when he pounced on a mistake to score with a well struck shot. United continued this ascendency with wave after wave of attacks with Greg Allison and Aaron Cheevers prominent on both wings. United were very unlucky not to go two ahead when a Cheevers cross was deflected by a Dunmurry defender onto his keeper’s chest and then onto the cross bar before being cleared. Moments later Greg Allison beat the keeper to a cross only to see his header bounce agonisingly wide of the post. Gavin Crawford almost made it two when he fired a long range shot goal ward when the Dunmurry keeper mistimes a clearance.

The home teams midfield of Ian Boal, Scott Brashaw, Crawford and Cheevers were working very hard and proving effective however United’s failure to  capitalise on their opportunities always had the potential to be their downfall however it would actually be a series of unfortunate circumstances that would contribute.

In the 75th minute Dunmurry were awarded a penalty following what looked like a decent last gasp challenge by Davy Boal. He appeared to have got the ball but the referee didn’t see it that way and having already been booked he received a second yellow card and was dismissed. Dunmurry duly took their opportunity and their penalty taker made no mistake.

Even though they were reduced to ten players the introduction into central defence of Owen Bassett gave United a solid look and indeed United had a number of opportunities.

United also had fresh legs with the introduction of Ian McMullan who proved to be a handful for the Dunmurry defenders and Lee Maxwell. Unfortunately for United an accidental collision between goal keeper Brian McMullan and Owen Bassett led to United losing their keeper with Lee Maxwell volunteering to stand in. The nine men United team fought on gamely as Dunmurry launched attack after attacked and in the dying minutes of the second half they conceded a second goal from a header. Despite a decent period of additional time they could not breach the Dunmurry defence and the unfortunate JJ Carlisle deflected the ball into his own net deep into injury time to end any chance United had.

Despite this defeat United can be well pleased with their effort because on another day they might well have had at least a draw. This week United travel to the Shore Road, Belfast for a league game against Grove United.

St Patricks YM 4 v 2 Ballynahinch United

United travelled to the Olympia Leisure Centre for this league encounter against top three side St Patricks YM on their all-weather surface.

It was the home team, not surprisingly who were on the front foot from early on as they were used to the pitch however United, who like to play the ball on the ground soon adapted.

Having settled into the game it was disappointing that they fell behind after 12 minutes when some slack marking from a corner left a St Patrick’s player free to side foot the ball into the net.

United continued to play attractive football and it was no surprise when they equalised on the 15 minute mark. A good interception from Ross Hayes led to a long run from Scott Brashaw who exchanged passes with Lee Maxwell and Aaron Cheevers before the ball broke for Gareth McMullan to stroke it into the net. On 20 minutes United went head when Gareth McMullan got his second after a scramble in the penalty area. His hooked lob went over the home keepers head and dropped into the empty net.

The home team were level on the half hour mark when a cross from left to right wing was superbly headed into the net from the edge of the penalty area to give Brian McMullan no chance.

United were reduced to ten men when Davy Boal was dismissed for a second bookable offence moments after the equaliser. This was an extremely harsh decision as the opponent ran into the defender who had made no attempt to tackle him and could not possibly have got out of the way. It was disappointing to see the home team players and officials pressurising the referee to produce the second yellow card.

St Patricks went 3-2 ahead in the 35th minute through a headed goal after a prolonged goal mouth scramble.

In the second half United enjoyed long periods of possession and had a number of shots on goal from Crawford, Jackson, Kelly and Gareth McMullan but they were unable to get the break that their endeavour deserved.

All three substitutes, Ian Boal, Johnny Gibson and Ethan Majury were introduced early in the second period however it was the home team who got the only goal of the second half when a Brashaw clearance fell to one of their players to shoot home.

United never gave up and indeed never really looked like they were a player short as Aaron Cheevers, Stuart McMullan and Scott Brashaw worked tirelessly with the ball to create openings which unfortunately whizzed over the bar or wide of the post.

This Saturday United entertain Hillsborough side Downshire YM who have improved of late and who will provide difficult opposition.

Saintfield United 1 v 4 Ballynahinch United

Ballynahinch United’s recent good run of one defeat in seven league and cup games continued with this important league win away to local rivals Saintfield United. The hosts have been struggling of late however United manager Keith Hamilton would not underestimate their ability to cause an upset. He was delighted to be able to field a full squad except for the suspended David Boal and bringing in new signing Owen Bassett to the match day fourteen.

Saintfield United started off brightly but just as they were settling into the game they were caught out by a quick move which saw Aaron Cheevers put Ian McMullan through to beat the offside trap to round the keeper and slot the ball into the net.

The lead did not last for long as Nick Ross nipped in to get the equaliser for the home side. The remainder of the first half saw both teams cancel each other out with the majority of the play taking place within the central midfield area.

The visitors came out for the second half with a renewed determination and in the 50th minute Ian McMullan gave them the lead when he headed home from a Lee Maxwell corner. Within a matter of minutes the lead had been increased to 3-1 when Simon Jackson crossed for Gareth McMullan to slip the ball home after some fancy foot work and score his first goal since his recent return to the club.

Saintfield who were being captained by former Ballynahinch United player Craig Bowman worked tirelessly with the Softley brothers in fine form however Crawford, Hayes, Brashaw, Stuart McMullan and JJ Carlisle were solid defensively while keeper Brian McMullan’s handling was excellent.

The game was put out of the home teams reach when Aaron Cheevers was flattened in the penalty area and when he gathered himself up he struck a brilliant spot kick into the net to claim all three points.

Manager Keith Hamilton was able to use his substitute’s bench to the full with Bassett on his club debut, David Kelly and Johnny Gibson giving his team a fresh impetus and causing the home team considerable defensive problems with their direct approach.

Saintfield did press hard to get back into the game and they created a number of chances that had they been taken could have caused Ballynahinch some uncomfortable moments.

This week Ballynahinch United are at home to NAFL Division 1C side Bryansburn Rangers in an Intermediate Cup tie. The kick-off is at 1.30pm and this is the last home game at the Millbridge in 2013 so it would be nice to see a big crowd down to cheer the team on.

Ballynahinch United 2 v 0 Rathfern Rangers

United entertained Belfast side Rathfern Rangers at Millbridge in this league encounter.

The home team were without the injured Ethan Majury and the suspended JJ Carlisle and the Boal brothers however they welcomed back Adam Herron into the match day squad. The early exchanges were even with both teams pressing for the advantage although the visitors had been lucky when their goal keeper dropped a corner ball against the post and his defence managed to get it scrambled away.

Ian McMullan who has been on the score sheet regularly in recent weeks added to his tally after 25 minutes when he was on hand to take advantage of a collision between goalkeeper and central defender to bundle the ball over the line. He was making up for missing a chance a minute earlier when he headed wide from a Johnny Gibson cross. After this Rathfern picked up the pace and caused the United defence of Scott Brashaw, Ross Hayes and Stuart McMullan considerable problems while goal keeper Brian McMullan was in outstanding form foiling several one on ones to keep a clean sheet before half time.

The start of the second half saw United take a 2-0 lead within minutes of the kick off. A good passing movement through midfield involving David Kelly and Gavin Crawford found Aaron Cheevers free and he chipped the ball over the Rathfern defenders into the path of Lee Maxwell who chipped the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

Moments later United should have had a third goal when Ian McMullan was put through by cousin Gareth McMullan but the referee ruled that he was offside. A moment of indiscipline in the 70th minute saw David Kelly dismissed for retaliation after he was clearly hit in the face off the ball and as a result Manager Keith Hamilton sacrificed a forward by introducing Jay Smyth to the midfield as the United defence was under a fair bit of pressure. Stuart McMullan playing in a much deeper position than usual was in inspirational form regularly emerging with the ball from dangerous positions.

The experienced Adam Herron and later Nathan Farquhar were introduced to the fray and they were involved in a number of attacking moves which put United back on the offensive. From a corner Ian McMullan appeared to be punched by the Rathern keeper who was dismissed however instead of awarding a penalty as the ball was in play which would have sealed the game for United he inexplicably gave a bounce ball.

United’s steel and determination came to the fore in the closing stages of this game and they saw the game out. This was another good display from United who are at home again next week against Ballywalter Recreation.