Tag: Johnny Stevenson

Match Report: Ballynahinch United 3 v 0 Mossley YM

United entertained Mossley YM at Millbridge last Saturday and following what was a good day’s work they turned in a 3-0 win which gives if they repeat this performance in their remaining games they might just escape relegation.

This game burst into life in the 20th minute when Johnny Stevenson slammed home a shot from around the penalty spot during a scramble in the Mossley penalty area.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser but they created little and the defensive barrier of Davis, Patterson, Dickson and Stuart McMullan provided a platform for this victory given their straightforward approach to clearing their lines. John McMenamin provided a safe pair of hands in the goalkeeper position.

United’s midfield of Ian McMullan, Gavin Crawford, Ben Wilson and Scott Brashaw held the ball comfortably with Brashaw linking effectively with forwards Ross Murray and Johnny Stevenson.
In the second half United came out with a purpose not only to defend their lead but also to increase their it and it was teenager Ross Murray who as a constant thorn in the Mossley defence scored United’s second on 50 minutes when he smashed the ball home after good work by Stevenson. Crawford went close minutes later when he shot over after a serious bit of misunderstanding in the visitors defence.

On the hour mark Murray made it 3 -0 when the Mossley defence waited for an offside call against Stevenson however he had never made any attempt to go for the ball and the quick thinking teenager scampered onto the loose ball to coolly finish past the goal keeper.

Sadly the game got rather physical in the latter parts of the game and manager Alan Davis replaced a few of his senior players because of the danger of them being sent off such was the provocation being dished out. Greg Allison, John Hill and Ben Onuoha came into the game and played excellently to maintain one of the few clean sheets of United’ season so far.

Ballynahinch United Swifts secured a derby win against Drumaness when the two teams played each other at the Assumption playing fields on Saturday. A hat trick from Alan Massey and another from Craig Tate gave them a valuable three points.

Match Report: Ballynahinch Olympic 1-1 Ballynahinch United

Despite the atrocious weather United travelled to Dromara on Saturday for the derby game against Ballynahinch Olympic who are riding high at the top of NAFL Division 1B. The fact that games between United and Olympic at first team level have only come into being in the last two seasons despite the clubs having existed for over 40 years each means that this derby does not have the same atmosphere as others.

Nevertheless both teams approached the game with very much a want to win approach. United have been showing good form in recent weeks with wins against Rosario YC and Sirocco Works so they came into the game with a certain confidence.

After a scoreless first half it was United who drew first blood when Johnny Stevenson opened the scoring however Ryan Molly levelled things up just after the hour mark and that was the way things finished.

Rossglass 3 v 6 Ballynahinch United 2nds

The Swifts got back to action with a trip to Killyleagh for this Harry Cup tie against Rossglass.

The star of the show was undoubtedly forward Johnny Stevenson who helped himself to 4 (four) goals however this was by no means an easy victory as the Swifts were behind until just before half time.

The first twenty five minutes were evenly fought until Johnny Stevenson broke free on the right wing before rifling a shot past Ross Preece in the Rossglass goal – video below.

Rossglass countered and within a relatively short space of time they were 3-1 ahead, however experienced campaigners Gareth Bingham and Johnny Stevenson levelled before half time. Bingham scored with a superb drive (below) while Stevenson’s pace and strength allowed him to break free and volley home.

In the second half the Swifts scored three unanswered goals through an own goal from an Alan Massey free kick and two more from Johnny Stevenson.

Ballynahinch United 2nds 5 v Banbridge YC 2

The Swifts got back to league action with a home fixture at Drumaness Council Ground against league newcomers Banbridge YC. In a lively first half the Swifts took the lead from the penalty spot when Alan Massey converted after Aaron McCaffrey had been felled in the penalty area.

The visitors equalised with a shot from 25 yards and then took the lead when defender Ross Bingham was unlucky to head past keeper Johnny McGreevy. The Swifts got level when Graeme McMullan, on for the injured Johnny Stevenson, equalised.

David Kelly who was controlling midfield along with Gareth Bingham gave the home side the lead when he carried the ball half the length of the pitch before despatching a shot from twenty yards into the roof of the net.

In the second half the Swifts took control of the game with their defence of Ross Bingham, Glynn Robinson, Scott McNeill and John McMenamin performing in a more controlled manner while Greg Allison caused mayhem on the ring wing. Stuart Wilcox made the score 4-2 when he latched onto Alan Massey’s free kick and Graeme McMullan headed home a cross from Greg Allison to close the scoring at 5-2.

This was a good performance from an almost full strength side which saw the return from injury of Shaun Bonner when he made a second half appearance.

The Swifts play their first game of the season at Millbridge this week when they entertain Valley Rangers 3rds.

Tollymore Forest 1 v 3 Ballynahinch Swifts

The Swifts travelled to Bear Park, Newcastle for this league encounter against Tollymore seconds. It was the visitors who enjoyed the majority of the opening exchanges controlling play for long periods of time with Johnny Stevenson holding the ball up well for strike partner Aaron McCaffrey while the midfield of Graeme McMullan, Gareth Bingham, Alan Massey and Greg Allison worked tireless in both attack and defence. The Swifts lost defender Shaun Bonner with an ankle injury on the half hour mark and he was replaced by Jamie McPhail.

Ballynahinch United Swifts that played in the match against Tollymore Forest
Ballynahinch United Swifts that played in the match against Tollymore Forest

The Swifts took the lead after thirty five minutes when a long free kick from Glynn Robinson flew over the heads of the Tollymore defence into the path of the Aaron McCaffrey who controlled the ball before gliding it into the net.

In the closing period of the half McMullan, McCaffrey, Stevenson, Allison and Bingham all had got efforts either saved or go wide of goal.

In the second half Tollymore started brightly causing the Swifts defence of Ethan Majury, Scott McNeill, Glynn Robinson and Jamie McPhail lots of problems however they held them at bay and slowly played their way back into the game.

Aaron McCaffrey gave his team a 2-0 lead after fifty minutes when he converted a loose ball after great work from Stevenson. Indeed Stevenson should have been awarded a penalty after he was bundled over from behind inside the six yard area.

The two goal lead was never going to be enough and when Tollymore scored on the hour mark the alarm bells started to ring and never more so when they hit the post with a header that looked for all the world as if it was going in. A few saves from Johnny McGreevy were required as well before the two goal margin was restored when Johnny Stevenson crashed the ball home after great interplay between Bingham, Massey and Allison.

This was a very good display against a workmanlike Tollymore side that were well served by veteransRay Kendall and Mark Hughes and a number of young players who displayed excellent ball skills. Swifts manager Davy Teggarty will be happy with the result and a lot of the general play however he will know that his team were wasteful in front of goal.