Ballymoney Youth Academy

BALLYMONEY Under 11’s missed a great opportunity to make ground on the leading pack on Saturday morning in Belfast. Sirocco caught the visitors out early in the first half with a quick counter attack on five minutes after poor play in midfield to take the lead.

Slack marking then saw them double their lead when their right winger cut the ball across goal and it somehow crept inside the far post.

O’Neill, Laverty and Ferris eventually got a grip in midfield and a couple of chances were created for Moore and Dunlop. At the back a crucial tackle by Cunningham kept the game within reach and just before half time McConaghie fired home from the edge of the box to reduce the lead to 2-1.

During half time the kids were made aware of second half requirements and they started to show their true form after the break with numerous goal bound efforts saved by the Sirocco keeper.

The introduction of several subs freshened things up and Dohertys’ good finish at the back post with his first touch brought Ballymoney level at 2-2 and they looked to be in control.

With time running out Sirocco were holding on as Ballymoney laid siege on their goal. In the last minute good interplay between defence and midfield allowed Dunlop to cut inside and Ferris just failed to make contact with the cross leaving the final score 2-2. Hopefully a lesson will be learned from the game on how important it is to make a good start and even more so not to gift goals to the opposition.

Team: Lyndon McCook, Ryan McCook, Craig Cunningham, Adam Jamison, Harry Kirkpatrick, Conleth O’Neill, Mark McConaghie, Danny Laverty, Rhys Ferris, Andrew Dunlop, Christopher Moore, Conall Doherty, Odhran Doherty, David Laverty

U16s 3 v 0 Crumlin

Ballymoney have played very little football in the past 4 mths and it showed as they lacked cohesion in all areas. The first half saw a serious of missed placed passes and no sharpness in front of goal. They need to get a string of games without breaks to get match sharp and try to get some fluency in their performances. Crumlin had a long spell of pressure but failed to make a clear cut chance. As the half drew to a close it remained 0-0.

Second half Anderson scored after coming on as sub to break the deadlock 1-0. Crumlin then got a great slice of luck when awarded a penalty for hand ball but they fired over the bar. The game became slightly bad tempered this gave Ballymoney the incentive to put in that extra effort.

Bacon scored his first goal for the club with a fine strike which took a slight deflection to deceive the keeper 2-0.The Crumlin keeper made an error throwing the ball directly at McLaughlin and he slotted the ball into the net 3-0. Ballymoney played better the longer the game went on and were unlucky not to add to the score line. Final score 3-0, next match SOPFC.

Team: O’Neill Wildsmith Harding King Milligan Dorrian McBride Carey Moore Bacon Freeman Ferguson McLaughlin Anderson Hewitt