Young ones shine for Ballynahinch

Young ones shine for Ballynahinch

15 November 2017

BALLYNAHINCH United entertained highflying UUJ in this league encounter at Millbridge.

The home team went into this game missing senior players including Ian and Stuart McMullan, Scott Brashaw, Greg Allison and David Kelly .

Manager Alan Davis fielded a very youthful side, but his players didn’t let him down and in truth deserved to get at least a point for their endeavours.

The visitors were a very experienced team and the fact that they went into a 2-0 lead after half an hour proved this.

However United enjoyed a fair bit of possession with Alex Burtney, Mark Murray and Ross Murray creating quite a few openings.

Defensively, John Hill, Alan Patterson, Paul Dickson and Dylan Fitzpatrick worked tirelessly to keep their team in the game and goalkeeper Michael Vladeanu made a number of decisive saves.

In the second half United continued their good work and while UUJ were on the front foot from the start, great work in midfield by Burtney, Corey Fitzpatrick, Jack Davis and Gavin Crawford started to cause confusion in the visitors’ defence.

By the hour mark United were level. Firstly, Alan Patterson scored from a corner and minutes later Ross Murray raced into the penalty area to fire the ball into the net for the equaliser.

UUJ burst into life and managed to go 3-2 ahead with a well-worked move that ended with a well-placed shot which gave Vladeanu no chance.

United continued to press for an equaliser throughout the remainder of the game with Kinnear introduced to give the team more attacking options.

From a corner in the closing minutes Dickson saw his goal-bound header deflected past the post.

This was one of the team’s better performances with the youngsters in the squad stepping up to the mark which despite the end result gave the supporters great encouragement.

This Saturday United are at home to Mid Ulster side Craigavon City in the second round of the Intermediate Cup with a 1.30pm kick off.

Ballynahinch United 2

UUJ 3

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1B