Ballymoney United Youth Academy Under-11s lose 6-3 to Peacocks

After seeing of Maiden City in the NIBFA cup the U11’s reward was a match against Bertie Peacocks. Peacocks who now play in the Lisburn league and have recently convincingly beaten top youth side Linfield was going to be formidable opposition.

Unfazed the Ballymoney lads started the game brightly and should have taken the lead in the opening minutes after Peacocks failed to clear a corner unfortunately Money couldn’t capitalize and the chance had gone.

Ballymoney continued to press forward and after a frantic first 15 minutes could have been 3-0 up.

The 1st goal of the game went against the run of play after Peacocks were awarded a dubious freekick and some slack marking saw Money 1-0 down. Ballymoney were forced to make an early change when their Captain Joel Christie had to be replaced through injury with Jamie Henry playing having to play an unfamiliar strikers role.

Ballymoney tried to get a foothold on the game but weren’t pressing with the same intensity as before.

Despite the efforts of the industrious defensive trio of Scott Gardiner, Matthew McNeil and Jude Bolton and some excellent saves from Eoin Mcferran Peacocks somehow found themselves 3-0 up at halftime. 

          In the second half Ballymoney were asked to come out fighting and once responded well creating another early opportunity but just couldn’t find the net.

Padraig Kelly was introduced to the defence and played one of his best games closing down Peacocks runners and timing his tackles to perfection.

Cameron Milliken who had been awesome in his central midfield role and combined with Jacob Craig displayed their defensive qualities as well as their attacking capabilities.

Both contributed to Moneys opening goal when Craig lofted in a freekick which Milliken stooped under and expertly headed in past the impressive Peacocks keeper.

Once again a lapse in concentration proved Ballymoney’s downfall when Peacocks grabbed a fourth.

Ballymoney refused to lie down and Joshua Morrison, Adam McComb and Jamie Henry showed a determination to track back and defend while still having the energy to provide an attacking threat which paid dividends when Milliken received the ball on the right rounded his marker and slotted the ball neatly into the bottom corner.

With Ballymoney beginning to tire, Peacock’s movement rewarded them with another two goals before Milliken completed his hat -trick with the goal of the game when Scott Gardiner played a superb diagonal ball into the path of Milliken whose excellent first time strike finished up in the top corner.

McComb almost added another in the dying seconds just skimming the post.

This was a pulsating match against a quality side in which the scoreline does not truly reflect the closeness of the tie. 

Man of Match:

Cameron Milliken

BUYA Speedies U12’s v Moyola

Won 1-0 Callum

This was Ballymoney B squad’s first match in Ballysally and they didn’t disappoint!

The boys gelled well together and settled into the game very quickly.

With Connor making some brilliant saves and Matthew, Cormac and Jack in defence they started out really well. 

The weather conditions didn’t stop this brilliant play.

Jaime, Corey and Stuart putting the Moyola boys under pressure in midfield and Callum and Chris hungry for goals. 

Callum scored a cracker of a goal and the boys were chuffed.

Moyola had some chances but they were soon stopped by our line of defence.

First half the wind was against us.

HT 1-0

Second half the boys were straight back out and got stuck in.

They tried for goal again and it was Callum who struck the ball.

It was a lob over the keeper, but sadly it was disallowed.

But that didn’t dampen their spirits.

Ballymoney got a free kick, Callum hit a strong hard ball which the Moyola defence got to.

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