Tag: Dave Griffiths

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 2nds 7 – 1 Ballykinlar

The Swifts entertained Ballykinler on Saturday at a frosty Millbridge. In confident mood after last weeks’ result it was a bit of a shock when The Swifts went one nil down with ten minutes on the clock, however it was no less than their slow start deserved.

The Swifts realised they needed to earn the right to play and that they did. Massey whipped in a cross to the back post for Craig McMullan to control the ball on his chest and rifle the ball home into the roof of the net, proving to be a deserved equalizer.

The wave of attacks was sure to come good and Massey beat his man and dropped a cross over the keeper for Gareth Bingham to fire home, to put The Swifts in the lead.

The youthful Graeme McMullan and Matt Manley were causing havoc on the left wing with their neat passing and direct runs and it was McMullan who exchanged passes with Bingham, no less than twice, to find himself one on one with the keeper. He made no mistake with a neat finish to put The Swifts 3-1 up.

The Swifts went in at the break 3-1 and in a commanding position, but they were keen to grab another goal to widen the gap and found it early in the 2nd half when Massey’s corner went straight in.

Now in firm control The Swifts, with Johnny McGreevy having a comfortable afternoon in nets, helped by his defence of Paul King, John McMenamin and Shaun Bonner, kept the Ballykinler chances to a minimum. Jamie McPhail was a rock in midfield and broke up all that came in his path.

After Gareth Binghams harshly disallowed goal, The Swifts scored again through Craig McMullans finish after good work from McPhail to make it 5-1.

The introduction of Alan McMullan and Dave Griffiths just heightened Ballykinlers’ problems and Griffiths got himself on the score sheet with a close-range finish after good work from Alan McMullan to put him through on goal.

The game was nearing a close when Scott McNeil produced the goal of the game. He went on a mazy run from the right back position, beating no less than 3 opponents, and produced a finish that was out of the top drawer to make the final score 7-1.

The Swifts now go into the Xmas break in good form and undefeated in 9 games from the start of the season and will be surely looking forward to the restart of the league campaign.