BUYA round-up: Under-12 suffer cup ‘derby’ defeat

BALLYMENA United under 12s lost out to local rivals Coleraine 2-1 in a closely contested NIBFA tie at the Showgrounds on Saturday.
Ballymena United Under-12s who lost to Coleraine in an NIBFA Cup tie on Saturday.Ballymena United Under-12s who lost to Coleraine in an NIBFA Cup tie on Saturday.
Ballymena United Under-12s who lost to Coleraine in an NIBFA Cup tie on Saturday.

The under 10s lost to the Bannsiders to a similar scoreline but the Town side had a great win over Carniny in the North West League.

The 11s continued their good form while the 13s fell to their first league defeat of the season in a disappointing display away to Crusaders.

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The Lisburn league 13s fought out a close encounter with Glentoran while the 14s and 15s had no game.

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BUYA 1, Coleraine 2: In a close encounter where both sides have probably played better football this season, the United goal came from Connor Louw.

Ballymena Town 6, Carniny Youth 3: Another great win for Uniteds second side.

Star on the day was Blake Douglas who fired in a brilliant hat trick and caused the Reds all sorts of problems.

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Debut boy Joel Clarke looked comfortable throughout and the Braid boys will be happy with this performance.

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BUYA 2, Lurgan Town 2: Two of the top Lisburn League sides met and United will be disappointed they didn’t close out the win on the day.

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BUYA 1, Coleraine 2: Ballymena were well on top in the first 15 mins of their NIBFA Cup last 16 tie, showing some of their old form and some slick passing and moving.

Coleraine pressed forward and were awarded a freekick which resulted in an unlucky own goal.

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But Ballymena showed some great strength and determination and pressed for an equaliser. Thomas McKitterick started an excellent mazy run laying the ball of to Cameron Moag who pulled it back to Kyle Apsley who’s shot was put over the bar.

The Bannsiders started the second half strongly but Scott Marcus, Jack Heron and Ryan Fleming all stood strong to keep the scorline down.

Coleraine scored a second goal but the wee Sky Blues came back into the game for the remaining 20 mins.

United piled on the pressure and were rewarded when Jonathan McCammond used his pace to sweep past the defence and lay of to Liam Wilson who calmly brought the scorline to a deserved 2-1 but they couldn’t force an equaliser.

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BUYA Development 2, Glentoran 4: These two development sides put on a brilliant game in Lisburn on Saturday as the Belfast boys edged home in the end.

CRusaders 4, BUYA 1: Played on the excellent Grove United pitch on the Shore Road, United started this game knowing they were six points clear with two games remaining in the league.

Despite encouraging words beforehand, this seemed to play on the boys’ minds as they started on the back foot against a hungry and eager Crusaders side.

The red and blacks went two nil up and Sky Blue coaching staff rang the changes as the Braid boys finally began to settle.

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A free kick was awarded and fired home in excellent fashion from 20 yards by Lorenzo Dawkins. United were still under pressure, some poor defensive play led to a third goal and as the midfield again failed to track back helping their back four, another Crues goal soon followed.

Some harsh words at half time and a much improved second half performance saw United as the stronger side, Stephen McColgan always looking lively rifled an effort off the post and Callum Ross impressed at the heart of the defence.

NIGHT AT RACES

The Youth Academy’s big fundraising night “A Night at the Races” is set for Saturday, April 6, at Ballymena United Social Club and the club will have futher details in the coming weeks.