Ballynahinch United IIs 0 v 2 Suffolk 2nds

The Swifts fell to a second successive home defeat this time against Suffolk 2nds in a game that they really should have and perhaps deserved to get something out of.
The visitors took the lead on the half hour with what can only be described as the most outrageous of shots. A Suffolk player cut in to the edge of the Swifts penalty area and unleashed a shot that looked for all the world to be going wide but it suddenly swerved to cut inside the post to give Stafford no chance.

This was really a goal against the run of play because had it not been for some extremely fortuitous defending when shots from Stevenson and Boal were diverted over the bar and past the post by a goalkeeper who really didn’t see them as they came through a sea of bodies on both occasions.

In the second half the Swifts battled gamely and again were out of luck when a right wing cross from Stevenson came off the cross bar and post to rebound off forward Gareth Bingham and out for a goal kick.

Late in the game Suffolk secured all three points when they were awarded a late penalty for hand ball.

Ballynahinch United 2 v 2 Holywood FC

United entertained Holywood F.C. at the Millbridge on Saturday last and will have been disappointed not to have secured a win however being 2-0 down at half time they may well be happy enough with a point thanks to a brilliant second half comeback.

The home team were 2 – 0 down after the first 25 minutes when they conceded a penalty which was hotly disputed and a second goal through a very good header. United almost got one back before half time when Johnny Hunter hit the post.

In the second half United came out more purposeful and got a goal back when Johnny Hunter scored through a free kick on the hour mark. It would be another quarter of a hour before United got their equaliser when another Hunter free kick was headed into the net by Alan Patterson.

In the last minute the United supporters thought that they had secured all three points when Ian McMullan headed past the Holywood keeper however Scot McKibbin was adjudged to be offside as he put the ball over the line.

A great fight back from United was not enough to retain top spot in the league which was assumed by Rathfern Rangers.

This week United travel to Newcastle for their next league fixture.

Ballynahinch United 1 v 1 Saintfield United

United entertained local rivals Saintfield United in this league game at Millbridge.

The two sides had met almost a month ago with United winning by a clear margin at Saintfield however in this reverse fixture things were not made so easy with the visitors in much more resilient mood.

Saintfield United’s excellent win last week against Division 1A side Barn United meant that they were coming off the back of a good result.

It was United who were in the ascendency in the early stages of this game scoring in the 25th minute through Ross Hayes and also hitting both the cross bar and post. Stuart McMullan had a goal ruled out for offside however few in the ground agreed with the referees decision.

In the second half Saintfield were a far better proposition and restricted United’s scoring opportunities to a couple of long range efforts.

United’s inability to get a second goal which would likely have killed the game came back to haunt them when with ten minutes to go Ross Hayes had the misfortune of tunring the ball into his own net for Saintfeild’s equaliser.

United will have been disappointed that they did not play better and would have hoped to have taken all three points particularly at home however they have managed to remain unbeaten for a number of weeks and will hope to take this good fortune into their next match away to Ballywalter Recreation.

Saturdays Results

The 1sts went out of the The Steele & Sons after a 3 nil defeat to a very good Glebe Rangers side. We wish them luck in the next round.

The 3rds got another pre-season match under their belts and beat Rossglass 5-3 at a sunny Millbridge. The score at half time was 1-1 after a cracking goal from Gregg Allison and with second half goals from Matthew Agnew, Alan Masey, Paul King and Grame McMullan meant the very young 3rds side came out on top.

The 2nds game against Ballymacash Rangers was cancelled.