Local football round-up

Local clashes on opening day

The Under-17 section of the Lisburn Junior Invitational League provides two all-local clashes on the opening day of the season tomorrow (Saturday).

Going on last season’s form Lisburn Distillery Youth should be winners against Hillsborough Boys at Ballymacoss Playing Fields, 11.15am.

Dromara Youth make the journey to Bog Road (9.30am) and this should be a closely fought affair.

There is one under-15 match on Friday night at Carrick Rangers with the local youth team playing Ballymena Utd Youth, 7.45pm kick-off.

There is only one set of midweek fixtures this season with games at under-13, under-14 and under-16 level scheduled for Monday and Wednesday nights.

The under-11 and under-12 games are all nine-a-side friendly games and not listed.

Fixtures

BARBOUR: 9.30, Carrick v Ballymena u13, Lisburn Y v Windmill u15, Carrick v Lurgan u17; 11.15, Hillsborough v Warrenpoint u13, Greenisland v N. End u15, Hillsborough v N. End u16.

MOIRA: 9.30, Chimney Corner v Windmill u13, Barcroft v Armagh u14; 11.15, Lisburn Rgs v TTBS u13; Lisburn Dist v Ox Sunnyside u14.

WALLACE PARK: 9.30, Greenisland v Willowbank u13, Lurgan v Willowbank u16, Knockbreda v Willowbank u17; 11.15, Lisburn Y v N. End u13, Loughgall v N. End u14;.

FULLERTON PARK: 9.30, Lisburn Dist v TW Braga u13; 11.15, Lisburn Rgs v Newry u16.

BALLYMACOSS: 9.30, Bloomfield v Windmill u14, Downpatrick v Shankill u14, Lisburn Y v Midway u16; 11.15, Hillsborough v Portadown u14, Donegal Celtic v Ox Sunnyside u15; Hillsborough v Lisburn Dist u17.

DRUMBO: 9.30, Lisburn Y v Ox Sunnyside Colts u14; 11.15, Hillsborough v Newry u15.

CARRICK: Friday 7.45, Carrick v Ballymena u15.

SUFFOLK: 9.30, Bloomfield v Banbridge u17; 11.15, Lisburn Dist v Mallusk u15.

CHENEY PARK: 11.15, Downpatrick v Banbridge u16.

ORANGEFIELD: 9.00, Lisburn Dist v N. Belfast u16; 11.00, Greenisland v Ridgeway u16.

HAVELOCK PARK: 9.30, Camlough v Newry u17.

BOG ROAD: 9.30, Dromara v Lower Maze u17.

Monday, 6.30pm

BALLYMACOSS: Ballymena v TW Braga u13, Carrick v TTBS u13, Banbridge v Willowbank u16.

BARBOUR: Chimney Corner v N. End u13, Bloomfield v N. End u14, Greenisland v N. End u16.

WALLACE PARK: Greenisland v Lurgan u13, Downpatrick v Lurgan u14, Downpatrick v Ridgeway u16.

MOIRA: Armagh v Ox Sunnyside u14, Barcroft v Ox Sunnyside Colts u14.

Wednesday, 6.30pm

BALLYMACOSS: Hillsborough v Lisburn Y u13, Hillsborough v Loughgall u14, Hillsborough v N. Belfast u16.

BARBOUR: Lisburn Dist v Lisburn Rgs u13, Lisburn Dist v Lisburn Y u14, Lisburn Dist v Newry u16.

HAVELOCK PARK: Windmill v Warrenpoint u13.

MOIRA: Windmill v Portadown u14.

WALLACE PARK: Lisburn Rgs v Midway u16, Lisburn Y v Lurgan u16.

SOUTH ANTRIM LEAGUE

Glaston and ‘Cash clash on opening day

Last season’s South Antrim League Premier Division runners-up, Glaston, clash with third-placed, Ballymacash YM when the new season kicks off tomorrow (Saturday).

It should be a cracking start which will give some indication how the pair will perform in the months ahead.

Champions, Warren YM, should get off to a winning start away to Lambeg Rangers and the other three games in this division are not lacking in interest.

How will Belvoir FC and Braniel YM perform this time around, FC Utd and Clonduff YM took the top two places in Division 1 last year, so their meeting in Lisburn will highlight both their credentials and First Lisburn and South Antrim also moved up a division.

Colin Valley III are back in and their Division 1 clash with relegated Bloomfield III will be interesting.

Relegated Orangefield OB III meet promoted, Braniel YM II and Village Rec, also back in the League face Victoria Athletic.

A big interest in Division 2 features Carrowdore YM, who struggled last season against the newly formed, Ballymacash Rangers III.

One first round Ironside Cup tie, Cregagh Wanderers v Sandy Row is down for decision.

Unfortunately, there have been two casualties before the season starts with Stranmillis II and Cregagh Wanderers dropping out.

The opening day games:

Premier Division: Belvoir FC v Braniel YM, FC Utd Lisburn v Clonduff YM, First Lisburn v South Antrim, Lambeg Rangers v Warren YM, Glaston v Ballymacash YM.

Division 1: Ballymacash YM II v Belvoir FC II, Clonduff YM II v FC Utd Lisburn II, Colin Valley III v Bloomfield III, Orangefield OB III v Braniel YM II, Village Rec v Victoria Athletic.

Division 2: South Antrim II v First Lisburn II, Warren YM II v Lambeg Rangers II, Carrowdore YM v Ballymacash Rangers III, Glenavy III v Clonduff YM III, Newtownforest III v Moira Albion II.

Ironside Cup, first round: Cregagh Wanderers v Sandy Row.

Ballymacash Rangers

Rangers derby joy for Ballymacash

Ballymacash Rangers travelled the short distance to Stanley Park, home of local side Lisburn Rangers, last Saturday and it was the team from Ballymacash who claimed the towns ‘bragging rights’ in this feisty derby spectacle, which saw them also progress into the next round of the prestigious Co. Antrim Steel and Sons Cup.

It was the first time that the two teams had met each other in a competitive fixture, in fact the only other meeting was a pre-season friendly between the two sides’ second strings a few seasons ago.

After the impressive scalp of Linfield Swifts in the previous round of the competition for the home side, it was them who went into the game perhaps as overwhelming favorites which the boys from Ballymacash were happy to concede, using the ‘underdog tag’ to their advantage.

The game started at a typical derby game pace, frenetic and feisty with both sides showing some nerves which took a bit of time to settle. After the initial opening 10 minutes had passed, it was Ballymacash who seemed to have settled that bit quicker than their opponents, the forwards and attacking midfield of K.Campbell, Orr, Clarke and Gibney closing down the defence and goalkeeper of Lisburn at every opportunity, causing quite a few problems for the home side. In defence, Ballymacash looked solid with the back four of Waite, Patterson, Hanna and Boyd along with keeper Woods derailing any of Lisburn’s attacks and defensive duo of Guiney and Hull stamping their authority in the middle of the park.

It was a game of few chances and although Ballymacash were the better team at this stage, it was the home side who took the lead with 35 minutes played when a cross from the right hand touch line was controlled by an unmarked Lisburn player who fired past the helpless Woods in goal. Ballymacash seemed stunned by this setback, as it was clearly against the run of play, although it could and should have been worse for Ballymacash going in at half-time as the home side missed a glorious chance to go two goals up when their centre midfielder placed his shot wide of the goal.

Ballymacash came out the second-half knowing that if they continued to play like they did in the first half, then a goal opportunity would come, and so it proved, as they forced a few corners in a continued period of pressure, and it was from one of Orr’s deliveries from a corner on the hour mark that saw Ballymacash skipper Patterson rise to head in a well deserved equaliser for ‘the Cash’.

Ballymacash were now back in the game and continued to press for the winner, sending on J. Campbell as a sub, who instantly could have been the match winner, when he jinxed his way into the box, only to send his shot into the side netting when he may have well been better to slide the ball across the six yard box for one of his onrushing teammates to knock the ball home.

It was, however, not the last that the home-side would remember the fiery attacking midfielder as it was his shot that caused confusion in the home-sides goal to allow Ballymacash their winner as J.Gibney followed up a mistake by the home keeper, the big Milltown lad smashing the ball into the roof of the net, sending the travelling away support into full voice.

Although, Lisburn tried desperately to salvage something from the final few minutes of the game, they could not breach the solid defence of the away side, the match ending 2 goals to 1 to the Rangers from Ballymacash.

The management, players and committee of Ballymacash Rangers would like to thank all at Lisburn Rangers for their tremendous hospitality and sportsmanship before, during and after the game on Saturday, and wish them all the best for the rest of their season.

They also wish to thank all who came out to support both teams on Saturday, despite the very heavy rainfall which occurred. Ballymacash Rangers have been drawn away to Championship 1 side, Larne in the next round of the Steel and Sons Cup to be played on Saturday September 13 and will be running a supporters bus for this game and welcome all support. Details of times for bus can be found in ‘The Bluebell Rooms’ in the coming days.

Next up though for Ballymacash next Saturday, is a home tie in the Mid-Ulster’s ‘Marshall Cup’ were they entertain Camlough Rovers, 2.15pm kick-off.

Wesley FC

The committee of Wesley Football Club have decided not to enter any teams in the Northern Amateur League this season.

The committee have decided to undergo a building program this season and rebuild the club.

Wesley, one of the oldest established clubs in Lisburn, felt it was in the best interest of the club not to enter the league due to poor numbers this season, but felt it was right to keep club going.

The club would like to thank all players past and present for their support throughout the years and to let them know that Wesley Football Club is still going.

Dromore Amateurs

Youth sides return after summer break

Dromore Amateurs Youth Football Club (DAYFC) is now back after the summer break with various training sessions being held throughout the week at Ferris Park, Dromore under floodlights on Astroturf.

The Club field numerous teams on a Saturday for every age group, with the younger teams being involved in the IFA Grass Roots Development Centre’s mini-soccer programme, and the 11-a-side teams all playing within the Mid-Ulster Youth League, with the exception of the U15’s who play in the South Belfast Youth League, and the U18s who play in the Mid-Ulster Juvenile League.

Tuesday nights at Ferris Park from 7pm to 8pm you will find the U10’s, U11’s, U12’s, U13’s, U14’s, U15’s and at 8pm to 9pm the U18’s.

Thursday nights at Ferris Park from 8pm to 9pm you will find the U17’s.

Friday Nights at Ferris Park you will find the younger players of the club from 7pm to 8pm.

The various groups are split up into age specific groups and the club cater from P1 to P7 age groups.

The club also have a high number of girls who attend on a Friday night for football training, with the long-term view of establishing a girl’s youth side to represent the club, however girls are also welcome to integrate into their current teams and play up to U14 level.

But DAYFC is more than just a football club. Each year the club take on ambitious projects, including collecting for and making up hampers for families in need in the Community around Christmas time.

The club also continue to do various fund raisers throughout the year to raise money for local charities whether it be; bag packing, quizzes for parents and sponsored walks.

As each year comes to the end of a season Dromore Amateurs Youth FC hold an annual fun day for their members which is a big day out and their end of year Prize Giving Ceremony where every member receives a trophy to mark the year with DAYFC.

With many kids returning year after year to play for Dromore Amateurs Youth FC there is always a warm welcome extended and an open invitation to all new players who may consider coming along.

If you turn up out of the blue you will always find a helpful committee member at the gate who will direct you to the right coach or if you require further information you can contact Coach Paul Magill on 07801534227 or by email – [email protected], and Chairman Gavin Beck on 07799344154.

Lastly you don’t have to be U18 to get involved with DAYFC, if anyone is interested in a coaching role or feel they would like to join the committee, DAYFC are always on the lookout for volunteers (all volunteers will be asked to adhere to club policy of agreeing to ACCESSNI checks) to ensure the club are always moving with the times and help ensure the club continues to successfully expand every year.