Ballynahinch fall short

Ballynahinch fall short

22 February 2012

BALLYNAHINCH United’s glorious Intermediate Cup run came to an end on Saturday when they were beaten by an experienced Newry City team who are currently lying in second place in the IFA Championship.

Colin Murray’s men put in a Herculean effort and had they taken their chances at certain key moments things could have been a lot closer in the end.

In the opening stages Newry were in the ascendancy with Timmy Grant and Stephen Hutchinson both going close, in particular the latter who clipped the top of the bar.

The home side steadied the ship and enjoyed periods of good possession during which Newry ‘keeper Nathan Morley-Hillen had to save well following shots from Alan Patterson and Ian McMullan.

United’s best chance of the first half came when Scott Brashaw fooled the visitors’ defence by chipping a free kick away from goal onto the head of teenager J. J. Carlisle, which he directed along the six yard area, but Gareth McMullan was unable to make contact with it.

Defensively, United were performing really well with Ross Hayes a colossus at centre half rallying his colleagues Gary Walsh, Scott Brashaw and Adam Herron to work effectively as a unit.

In midfield Alan Patterson and Alan Dickson had their work cut out against skilful and experienced opponents and supported on the wings by Scott McKibbin and Carlisle they managed quite a few forays in support of Ian McMullan and Gareth McMullan.

McKibbin in particular looked dangerous on almost every occasion he got the ball giving the right side of Newry’s defence a difficult time.

Reaching half-time with the score at 0-0 was a well deserved position for the home side, but they knew that the second half was going to be even more difficult as it proved.

Newry came out in the second half with a renewed purpose and from a free kick forced Brian McMullan into an outstanding save when he touched James Hand’s superbly placed effort around the post.

Freeman’s well directed corner was headed in by Mark Hughes to give the visitors the lead in the 50th minute.

United counterattacked almost immediately and Ian McMullan had a great opportunity to equalise, but his tame header

was safely collected by Morley-Hillen.

In the 61st minute Newry doubled their lead when Hughes in midfield spotted a break from Freeman.

Brian McMullan, sensing the danger, rushed out of his goal and although he got his hand to the ball it broke favourably into Freeman’s path and the midfielder was able to slot it into the empty net.

The home side battled bravely to get back into the game introducing substitutes Stuart McMullan, David Boal and Aaron Cheevers and this led to Morley-Hillen having to come to his team’s rescue with a few good saves and some timely catches.

Any hopes United had of salvaging the tie ended in the 79th minute when Newry scored their third goal following a cross from Mark Hughes.

Stephen Hutchinson was well positioned at the back post to shoot home into the roof of the net.

While United’s cup adventures are now over their players and management can take a considerable amount of pleasure out of all of their performances, which in most cases were against teams from higher leagues.

This Saturday United host Border Cup winners Crumlin Star at Millbridge in a league fixture.

Ballynahinch United 0

Newry City 3

INTERMEDIATE CUP 5TH ROUND