United upstage Olympic rivals

5 November 2014

THE expected fireworks at the Battle of Ballynahinch failed to ignite at Bells Bridge, Dromara, but it was United who were singing in the rain at the final whistle.

Keith Hamilton's side did just enough to claim the bragging rights in the first ever competitive meeting between the sides on a dreadful day for football with the wind and rain winning hands down.

Goals from Paul Dickson and Gavin Crawford gave Olympic a mountain to climb and all they had to show for their efforts was a strike from Conor Reid in the dying stages.

Olympic started as if they meant business and with less than a minute got Patrick Flanagan played a delightful ball down the right into the path of Niall Murray.

United knew what was coming next, but they were powerless to prevent Murray's searing pass taking him away from Ross Hayes. The big central defender had one only one course of action open to him and that was fouling Murray on the edge of the box.

Unfortunately, the resultant free kick was wasted and a good chance gone. United learned big time from this and immediately switched Paul Dickson to do a man marking job on Murray and played five at the back in a bid to negate the danger man's influence on proceedings.

A minute later Chris McNamara picked Scott Brashaw's pocked as he tried to play the ball out of his own penalty area.

McNamara seemed to win the ball cleanly and he beat Ryan Walsh all ends up with a good finish, but his celebrations were a bit premature as the referee had blown for a hand ball in the lead up to the goal.

United mounted their first real attack in the seventh minute with a curling effort from Dickson not not too far away and two minutes later at the other end Murray shot tamely at Bryan McMullan after good work from Aidy Walsh down the right flank.

With 11 minutes gone Dalton Tate, who looks the real deal, chanced his arm after a penetrating run, but he shot wide. United were more than holding their own, but Murray remained a constant threat as the half progressed.

Olympic then enjoyed a period of dominance with Murray and Stevie Noade causing problems, but they got little change out of Ross Hayes' stubborn defending.

With 34 minutes gone a Murray corner wasn't cleared properly and Stuart McMullan did well to clear the ball off the line.

United rode the storm and with 43 minutes gone Paul Dickson was given the freedom Bells Bridge when he headed in a corner from Stuart McMullan.

The second half was just not as intense as the first as a dour midfield war of attrition ensued. Olympic were guilty of not being able to get a supply route going to Murray and United were able to contain any threat posed and then hit on the break.

They did just that to great effect in the 63rd minute when Gavin Crawford won the ball in the centre circle. He moved menacingly forward and when Olympic backed off him, he unleashed a rocket of a shot from 30 yards out that flew to the back of the net, 2-0.

With 76 minutes gone Reid headed a Murray cross wide and at the other end Johnny Stevenson cracked one off the crossbar after Ryan Walsh spilled a free kick from Dickson.

Olympic huffed sand puffed after this in a bid to get back in the game, but all they got was a Reid goal in added time with United appealing for a push in the back in the build-up.

Ballynahinch Olympic: R. Walsh, P. Flanagan, N. McGlew, L. Sloan, J. Noade, S. Megoran, S. Noade, C. Reid, A. Walsh, N. Murray, C. McNamara. Subs: R. Molloy, N. Walsh, K. Rogan.

Ballynahinch United: B. McMullan, D. Boal, A. Herron, S. Brashaw, R. Hayes, P. Dickson, S. McMullan, G. Crawford, I. McMullan, D. Tate, A. McCaffrey. Subs: G. Allison, J. Stevenson.

Ballynahinch Olympic 1

Ballynahinch United 2

Amateur League Division 1B

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder