Magical Maxwell is United’s talisman

Magical Maxwell is United’s talisman

30 October 2013

THE incessant, heavy rain and sodden pitch turned this clash into a cup lottery, but it was Ballynahinch United manager Keith Hamilton who hit the jackpot.

The sides were locked at 1-1 going into the last few minutes and extra-time looked inevitable in the worsening conditions.

United were down to 10 men after J. J. Carlisle was harshly red carded after locking horns with Owen Wright in an off the ball incident.

However, in a positive switch, Hamilton and Colin Murray gambled on throwing on Lee Maxwell in place of Johnny Gibson and the rangy striker struck gold.

Ian Boal launched the ball forward from midfield. Drumaness goalkeeper, Ryan Walsh was favourite to collect the ball at the edge of his box, but the ball held up in the wet grass and Maxwell slid in to poke the ball into an empty net.

Things had started so promisingly for Drumaness. With just five minutes gone Gary Murdock got on the end of a Rory Mason corner, but he was unable to find the target. Four minutes later Bryan McMullan, the Ballynahinch goalkeeper, did well to snuff out the danger from an Anton McGrattan cross.

With 12 minutes gone Bryan McMullan was called into action again to tip a Rory Mason effort for a corner before United retaliated with Ian McMullan forcing Ryan Walsh into a good save at the base of the post.

With 25 minutes gone a long free kick from Ross Hayes at the back begged to be put away with the Drumaness defence all over the place, but there was nobody at home.

Simon Jackson then went close to breaking the deadlock when he went it alone, but it was Drumaness who made the breakthrough in the 33rd minute.

Nathan Jones, who had been kept quiet by Hayes and Scotty Brashaw, burst into the box. He was immediately confronted by Aaron Cheevers and went to ground on contact giving the referee no choice, but to award a penalty.

Jones dusted himself down and confidently put the Mills ahead with a well placed penalty.

Both sides were waiting on the half-time whistle when United launched the final attack of the first half.

The Mills defence failed to deal with Cheevers’ ball into the box and Ian Boal was on hand to drill in a 45th minute equaliser.

Drumaness held sway at the start of the second half with Conor Walsh leading from the front, but United’s dogged resistance continually frustrated the Mills.

Anytime Drumaness did manufacture a shooting opportunity, they were denied by the brilliance of Bryan McMullan in nets. McMullan made several outstanding saves from Conor Walsh, McGrattan and Rory Mason as Drumaness went in search of the lead.

They were given a helping hand by the referee in the 65th minute when he sent off Carlisle and let Wright luckily stay on the pitch with a yellow card after a bit of an altercation away from the ball.

This incensed Ballynahinch as they believed that Carlisle was more sinned against than sinner and set them up nicely for a frenetic finale to the game.