Ards luck story for Ballymoneyhockey girls

Action from Ballymoney 3rds hockey team's match v Pegaus on Saturday.INBM44-13 042SC.

Saturday lived up to all forecasts, with the weather bringing horrendous wind and rain.

The Ballymoney 1st XI v Ards 1st XI hockey

match proved to be the tight encounter expected.

Nine minutes in to the opening half Ards won a short corner and Chloe Brown sent a drag flick down the left hand side but even Ballymoney’s tight defence couldn’t prevent it from entering the back of the net.

In the 20th minute another penalty corner was awarded to Ards.

This time Ballymoney made no mistake in saving the shot but in an attempt of clearing the ball Ballymoney fouled and gave away another short corner.

Sammy Jo Greer saved and cleared it.

24 minutes into the 1st half yet another short corner to Ards and Ballymoney’s stern defence stood strong and held off the danger.

The last ten minutes of the 1st half Ballymoney applied pressure on the Ards team but were unlucky not to produce a goal or to be awarded a short corner.

The second half began and 12 minutes in Ards got a penalty corner which was yet again cleared by the strong Ballymoney defence.

The 15th minute of the second half brought a well deserved short corner to Ballymoney who were unfortunate not to hit the backboard.

Ards were lucky in the 25th minute to be given yet another short corner, and trying similar tactics with another drag flick but this time being prevented from scoring.

Towards the end of the 2nd half Ballymoney received a short corner and were unlucky not to generate a goal from this opportunity.

This was a game which saw 2 yellow cards and several green cards issued, proof of the intensity between these two teams which was all too

evident.

Ballymoney’s strong teamwork was unsuccessful in coming away with any points.

The 10th of November meeting of these two teams once again, this time in the Ulster Shield semi-final, will be sure to be a hard fought clash and one that Ballymoney are looking forward to.

After this league match Ards now top the table on 13 points while Ballymoney are back in fifth place on seven points.

And the games do not get any easier for Ballymoney with their old foes Pegasus coming up on the horizon on November 9.

* Ritchie Remo in Ballybrakes Indoor Bowling Club on Wednesday 13th November 2013! Supported by JD Country and Hugo Duncan! Tickets available now from Ma Kelly’s Ballymoney and Ballymoney Hockey Club members.