Town see off Ballynagross again

Town see off Ballynagross again

19 November 2014

BALLYNAGROSS once again fell victims to their nemesis, Castlewellan, who continue to have a stranglehold over them.

Goals from Stevie Trainor and Karol Jarosifski were enough to send the Town into the quarter-finals and an away fixture with Ballyvea this Saturday.

It was a barnstorming start to proceedings at the Bridge Centre with almost two goals in two minutes setting the tone for a lively encounter.

It was Aiden Burns gliding infield and picking out a remarkably loosely marked Stevie Trainor that almost led to the opening goal on five minutes.

Realising how much time his markers were affording him, the striker elected to shoot and forced a good save at full stretch from Conor McAllister.

Then on seven minutes Stephen Galbraith was allowed to embark on a jinking run into the penalty area and, with a little help from a deflection off John Clarke, his shot defeated the Town ‘keeper, but went narrowly wide.

Castlewellan took the lead on 15 minutes. A customary long throw was not cleared by the ‘Gross and Trainor was on hand to poke home from close range.

Ballynagross stepped up the pace again and were furious on 24 minutes when Galbraith seemed to be brought down inside the penalty box, but referee Deegan was unmoved.

A neat move on 29 minutes involving Matt McKiernan and Matt McGarrity ended with a through ball to Galbraith, who blasted over when the opportunity to test the ‘keeper seemed a reality.

Stephen Douglas, making his first appearance for the hosts, was having a solid game at right back and he almost scored on 37 minutes — a free kick 25 yards out struck with venom was well saved.

The second half was ten minutes old when more controversy arose. Matthew Rooney was played in and as he headed for goal the Town defender, who was the last man, brought him down. As the Gross players surrounded the referee, a yellow card was awarded when a red seemed more probable.

On 63 minutes Deegan did award a penalty to Ballynagross. Douglas whipped in a corner and as Castlewellan tried to clear the ball, it fell to ‘Gross defender Kevin Gracey who seemed to sit on the ball.

As the whistle blew, both sides thought Castlewellan would be awarded a free kick, but the decision was to give Ballynagross a penalty.

Matthew Rooney stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, but his effort went the wrong side of the post, the Town players feeling a sense of justice had been done.

Two minutes later, an inch-perfect pass from Matthew Teggart sent Jason through on goal, but his effort flew over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.

Castlewellan doubled their lead on 75 minutes when Karol Jarosifski received the ball. He still had some work to do but his finish was top quality, opening up his body and bending the ball round the helpless McAllister.

The Town were happy to sit back now and let Ballynagross come on to them, Trainor in particular moving much deeper.

This seemed to work because as much as Ballynagross huffed and puffed they never really looked like getting a goal in the closing stages, even with a remarkable ten minutes of added time, and it’s the Town who face Ballyvea for a place in the semi-finals.

Ballynagross 0

Castlewellan 2

CLUBSPORT NI BOBBY DALZELL CUP 3RD ROUND