Graham is on mark at Stormont

Graham is on mark at Stormont

4 January 2012

BALLYNAHINCH lifted the Sussex Regiment Cup with a superb display against the PSNI on New Year’s Eve.

Skipper Mark Graham weighed in with a double while David Bolton ended any hope of a PSNI comeback when he scored to make it 3-1 with five minutes to go.

The locals were at full strength for the final but suffered a major blow in the fourth minute when winger David Ross hobbled off injured following a clash with PSNI goalkeeper David Stewart. The young winger took no further part in the final and was replaced by Scott Leitch.

The PSNI created the first chance of the game in the opening minute when skipper Simon Ross fired off a shot which was comfortably saved by Brown who went on to produce a number of top class saves over the 70 minutes.

Stuart Hunter was the dangerman for the locals in the middle of the park and his probing runs caused unease in the PSNI defence. Throughout the game, Ballynahinch’s pace caused problems at the back for the police who were camped in their own half at times.

When the police did venture forward, they came up against an impregnable Ballynahinch defence where Ashley Brown, Grant Hayes, Leslie Harrison and Alex Millar were outstanding.

Ross was injured when he chased the ball into the penalty area and collided with Stewart who was blameless for the knock which forced the winger to watch the remainder of the final from the dugout.

Ballynahinch were playing well, but after only seven minutes they ped deeper, conceding territory, but skipper Graham realised what was happening and addressed the situation.

Hayes was at his imperious best at the heart the defence and kept a close rein on Simon Hunter and Chris O’Flaherty as the PSNI threatened to score the opener.

Ballynahinch won their first short corner in the 10th minute and with the PSNI expecting the set piece to find Hayes, it was switched short to Millar who miss hit his shot.

Ballynahinch were beginning to make their mark and took the lead in the 13th minute with a cracking goal. McIlwaine fed the hardworking Hunter and he picked out his skipper who was unmarked in the centre of the goal and swept the ball into the net.

Gary Graham went close with a half-chance soonafter and and then Ashley Brown cleared the danger at the other end. Andrew Mulholland then needlessly gave away possession, with the tenacious Brown clearing up with a timely tackle.

Two PSNI short corners in the 16th minute were saved by ‘keeper Brown and then Leslie Harrison turned a goal-bound shot around the post and then the Hinch ‘keeper got down brilliantly at his near post to save a short corner strike.

Gary Graham should have put Ballynahinch 2-0 ahead in the 21st minute but with ‘keeper Stewart out of position, Brian Caskey blocked the Ballynahinch winger’s shot. Three minutes later McIlwaine fired wide with an open goal at his mercy.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Harrison turned O’Flaherty’s goal-bound shot from a short corner around the post, while in the 30th minute Mark Graham blazed a shot over the bar. In injury time at the end of the half Graham opted to pass inside the PSNI penalty area when he should have gone for goal.

Ballynahinch got the second half off to the perfect start when they scored in the opening minute to lead 2-0. McIlwaine caught Caskey napping and played in his skipper who drilled the ball past Stewart.

The PSNI pulled a goal back in the 43rd minute with a poor goal from Ballynahinch’s perspective; a cross into the penalty area was deflected past Mark Brown into the bottom corner of the net.

Hayes then robbed O’Flaherty when he looked to ghost into the penalty area and then Hunter set up his skipper whose shot was saved by Stewart. When the ball rebounded back to Graham he blazed wide. McIlwaine then saw his shot deflected for a corner and Stewart produced a smart save from a short corner to deny Gary Graham in the 49th minute.

With 16 minutes to go, Harrison’s shot was saved by Stewart before Leitch missed a glorious opportunity a minute later when he delayed getting his shot away. Mark Graham then saw his reverse stick shot fly high over the bar.

With 10 minutes to go Mark Brown proved why he is one of the best ‘keeper’s in senior hockey with a spellbinding triple save which left the PSNI players holding their heads in their hands.

With eight minutes to go Brown palmed away a speculative shot from Harper which took a deflection en route to goal and then Leitch started a counterattack, but couldn’t pick out the unmarked McIlwaine in the penalty area.

With five minutes to go Ballynahinch made sure there was no way back for the cops when David Bolton finished off a slick move started by Hunter, with the former sweeping the ball past Stewart,

Ballynahinch: Mark Brown, Alex Millar, Grant Hayes, Leslie Harrison, Ashley Brown, Andrew Mulholland, Stuart Hunter, Mark Graham, Gary Graham, David Ross, Andy McIlwaine. Subs: Scott Leitch, Darren Roe, Dave Chadwick, David Bolton.

Final score: Ballynahinch 3 PSNI 1.