Ballynahinch Youth
A late goal by Carryduff robbed the Under 13 team of a deserved share of the points in their game last Saturday when the two teams met at Hydebank. Eager to make up for their performance in the previous game Ballynahinch had done their homework. Sam Kinnear was given the job of man marking the dangerous Carryduff centre forward and he put in a super performance to keep him out of the game. Right from the start the midfield of Ross Lockhart and Corey Fitzpatrick took control of the midfield putting in some super tackles and breaking up the Carryduff attacks. On the left side Emma McMaster was moving the ball quickly playing triangles with Ross Murray and Ross Lockhart which was great to watch. One such move ended with Alex Burtney hitting a shot which the keeper saved. Carryduff were reduced to hitting long balls over the top which Jack Tate in goals dealt comfortably with. On fifteen minutes Mark Murray turned his defender and hit a shot which the Carryduff keeper saved. Just before half time Ross Murray was denied a goal when he beat two defenders on the edge of the box and hit a shot which beat the keeper but a Carryduff defender got back to clear it off the line. The half finished with Ballynahinch well on top. The second half saw Carryduff tighten up their defence in an effort to restrict the Ballynahinch attacks and it worked with both teams not creating any clear cut chances. Fifteen minutes in Jack Tate pulled off a super save when the Carryduff winger hit a shot from the edge of the box. A long range shot from Corey Fitzpatrick went over the bar and an Alex Burtney shot narrowily went wide. A change saw Alison McMaster go up front and Joshua Higginson step into left back where he put in a good shift. With eight minutes to go a ball into the Ballynahinch penalty box ended up being tapped home at the back post. There was no time to recover from this blow and Carryduff took the points. This was an entertaining game with an outstanding performance from the whole team. Ballynahinch’s player of the match was Emma McMaster. This week the team play Cliftonville at Hydebank.
Scott McNeill stepped into goals for the Under 16 team in their game against St Teresa’s and had a good game. The game followed the same pattern as previous games with Ballynahinch competing well in the opening twenty minutes and restricting St Teresa’s to long range shots. Playing against the wind the first half was always going to be hard but the Ballynahinch defence were working hard with Graeme McMullan and Matthew Manley standing firm. On twenty minutes St Teresa’s went ahead when they broke and their centre forward lobbed McNeill in the Ballynahinch goals. As half time approached they doubled their lead. Ballynahinch were playing with the wind in the second half and for long periods of times were camped in the St Teresa’s half. Greg Allison was chasing every ball and when he tried a cheeky back heel the ball went narrowily wide. A series of corners followed but no Ballynahinch player could get on the end of any of the balls played in. A shot from Paul Robinson hit the post and an effort from John McMenamin was saved. Ballynahinch knew it was not going to be their day when St Teresa’s broke and scored to ensure they took the points. A bit more confidence in front of goals is needed to see the team secure a win. Ballynahinch’s man of the match was Greg Allison. There is no game this Saturday.
The Under 11 team had no game due to the last 11+ but this week get back into action against Ardoyne at Hydebank.
Following the success of the First Kicks Soccer Academy for Girls aged between 6 and 11 we held earlier in the year we are holding another Programme starting on Friday 6 January 2012 at Ballynahinch Community Centre from 6pm to 7pm. The Programme runs for 10 weeks. The cost is £ 2 per session. To register contact Hannah Majury Girls Co-ordinator at hmajury@hotmail.co.uk
