Local football round-up

Rangers off the mark after opening day victory

Ballymacash Rangers started their domestic league campaign with a hard fought 2-1 victory away to a strong Broomhill.

It was the home-side who started on the front foot, without causing too much concern for Rangers keeper Campbell and his back four.

Ballymacash grew into the game and steadily begun to put pressure on the home side with a few breaks down both flanks which caused the most concern to the County Armagh side. It was from one of these quick breaks that resulted in the first goal for Ballymacash as Magee played the dangerous Campbell into the box, where he was upended by a home defender resulting in a penalty for the Cash. Orr stepped up to calmly slot the ball home.

After the break, Rangers continued to dominate the majority of the game, with the locals desperately trying to break down the stubborn Rangers’ defence and impressive midfield, including Hull and debutant Boyd.

With the home side pushing more men forward for the equaliser, they were always open to the counter attack from the fast pace of the Rangers forwards and attacking midfielders and it was from one such attack that Rangers doubled their lead when Campbell broke down the right to cross for his team-mate Gibney to strike a firm shot past the helpless keeper.

Rangers totally dominated the game and they should have taken their chances to improve on their goal tally, but failed to capitalise on the numerous goalscoring opportunities they created, none more so than when Orr missed from a second spot-kick. To make matters worse for the Lisburn side, Broomhill scored from a break-away goal minutes after the penalty miss to set-up a tense final 10 minutes. However, Ballymacash held on to get the win and set themselves up for the season ahead.

This Saturday, Rangers travel to play Camlough Rovers in the Premier Cup, the first of four consecutive Cup competitions (kick-off 2.15pm).

Ballymacash Rangers continue to train at Laurelhill school, 7pm each Tuesday and Thursday evenings and with three teams now in operation, they seek and welcome anyone to come along and try the challenge of Intermediate football.

Rangers come out on top, by the odd goal

Ballymacash Rangers followed their away victory last Saturday with another impressive performance, this time travelling to ‘the Showgrounds’ to take on the newly promoted Newry City.

Newry City, who many fancy to win the league this year and be re-instated into Irish ‘Senior football’ after their fall from grace a few seasons ago, just couldn’t match the desire, commitment and passion that the lads from Lisburn produced.

In a tight opening start to the match, there was not much between the two teams and chances at either end were limited, with the battle really being fought in the middle of the park.

The best opening in this period came for Rangers, when Orr was found by a great pass in behind the home defence and after some great control by Orr, he just couldn’t find the accuracy with his effort on goal.

On 26 minutes, Ballymacash got the break-through, when a quick throw-in down the righthand side from K.Campbell found Gibney in the Newry penalty area, Gibney then showed great control before he was flattened by a scything tackle, giving the ref no choice but to award a penalty kick, which Orr calmly slotted away, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Newry started to provide a bit of pressure of their own, but the rearguard of Cairns, Patterson, Hanna and Waite and the tenacious Hull in the middle of the park held firm, keeping out the home side.

Unfortunately with two minutes to half-time Rangers succumbed to an equaliser, when a high-lofted cross into the box was scrambled in, after the Rangers goalkeeper appeared to be fouled by the centre-forward, the ball dropping from J. Campbell’s grasp after the home forward had bundled into him.

The second half started in much the same way as the first; fast, frenetic with full-blooded tackles, only this time the ref started to bring his cards to the spectacle.

After speaking to the tireless Clarke for a few tackles, it was full-back Waite who went in the book and with 20 minutes to go, it was Waite again who drew attention to himself, only for the ref to produce a second yellow for the full-back to give him his marching orders.

With Ballymacash down to 10 men, it seemed like it would be backs to the wall for Rangers, but to be fair, the Lisburn lads seemed to raise their game that bit more and although Newry had a lot of possession, they didn’t really create that many clear goal-scoring opportunities and in fact it was Ballymacash who probably had the best effort of the half, when Orr skipped past a few tackles in the home-sides box before shooting wide, when he would have been better laying the ball back to the unmarked duo of Hull or K. Campbell.

Ballymacash made their two subs, with S.Adams and J.Campbell replacing D.Magee and Clarke to try and give the side a much needed energy boost to help to defend the bombardment the Lisburn side were expecting in the final 10 minutes, but to their credit, it was the Lisburn side who provided the final twist on the night when an excellent delivery from a free-kick from Orr was headed superbly into the net by centre-half Hanna, sending the Rangers bench and loyal fans, who had made their way up the carriageway, into emotional delight.

Rangers sent on their final sub R.Falloon, replacing Orr to eat up a bit of time and it was only a matter of minutes later when the ref blew for full-time giving the Lisburn side a well-deserved successive three away points much to the delight of all at the club.

Lisburn Ladies

Girls in Blue - Champions!

Lisburn Ladies 8-0 Portadown Ladies

Lisburn Ladies won the league with three games to spare last week, continuing their 100% record and boy did they do it in style.

Lisburn and Portadown had already met twice this season in league and cup, Lisburn winning both but they were tough games so the girls knew that they would have to work hard to get the win.

The girls started off at a high tempo right from kick-off with quick passing and within the first few minutes, had a great opportunity to go one up when Jenny was released down the wing, put in a great cross only for Stacey H to put it wide.

It didn’t take long for Lisburn to get the first and on 10 minutes, CJ got the ball at the edge of the box and rifled a great shot into the top corner.

The pressure continued with the home team keeping the ball and showing great phases of football.

On 17 minutes, Lisburn got their second when the keeper pulled off a good save to deny Stacey H and Jenny was there to tap in from close range. Nadene had a great chance to extend the lead when she made a smart run to beat the offside trap and was one on one, but perhaps had too much time to decide what to do and ended up chipping the keeper but putting the ball over. Just before half time, she made amends and scored with a well taken shot into the bottom corner.

With the game comfortable and the back four having very little to do, Lisburn changed the formation pushing an extra player forward. This was paying off as the midfield of Lisburn bossed the entire second half with flowing football and great possession of the ball.

To Portadown’s credit, they kept battling and their keeper pulled off a few good saves to keep them in the game. Lisburn then brought on fresh legs in Christine and Courtney.

The fitness in the two teams started to show and on the 71 minutes Stacey H popped up with her first goal, hitting a shot at the edge of the box with the keeper only able to parry into the net.

Five minutes later and Stacey H got her second of the game with some quick feet, beating two players and sending the keeper the wrong way. The final 10 minutes just saw Lisburn producing attack after attack with the ball rarely getting into Lisburn’s half of the pitch.

On 83 minutes, Stacey M got herself on the score-sheet when she got onto a corner from Kerry and met it with a great header into the roof of the net. Substitute Courtney made it 7-0 on 85 minutes when a neat one two between her and Stacey saw her shooting low and into the bottom corner of the keepers net.

Then on 90 minutes, the best goal of the night, a real team goal. Jessica played the ball out from the back and Fiona passed to CJ who picked the ball up from the half way line and ran at the defence. With one bit of skill, she beat three players and sailed past them to slide the ball under the keeper and add to her tally as well.

A stunning way to round off the night and the title. Now to go unbeaten and win the Cup.

They’re through to the Divisional Cup final against Larne Ladies on Friday 5 September (kick-off 7.30pm) at Solitude.

LISBURN LADIES: Jessica P, Fiona M, Sorcha N, Chloe G, Abbie B, CJ, Kerry M, Stacey M, Jenny H (Courtney P), Nadene S (Christine C), Stacey H.

Lisburn Junior Invitational league

There is plenty to savour on Saturday mornings

The Lisburn Junior Invitational League successfully introduced nine-a-side football last season and this has been increased this coming season to include the under-12 group.

The Irish Football Association decided on this move and contacted the Lisburn League, asking them to organise it.

The games will be played at several centres, including Lisburn Recreation Centre, which hosted the games last season. The IFA will be providing equipment and their expertise in the nine-a-side game.

There has been a mammoth response to the Lisburn League request for entries with 33 teams at Under-11 level and 24 in the Under-12 section.

The IFA rule these age groups can only compete competitively in two competitions and last season it was in the Lisburn Shield and Cup.

There is a difference of opinion on the competitive aspect, but one thing is certain nine-a-side football has been a huge success in developing talent and Lisburn led the way.

Just to prove how strong the Lisburn teams are, Windmill Youth and Oxford Sunnyside Boys met in the Lisburn and Northern Ireland Cup finals within a few days of each other last season and won one each.

Why not go along and see for yourself any Saturday morning from September 6.

UNDER-11: Annalong, Antrim Rovers, Ardoyne, Carniny, Carrick, Castle Juniors, Crumlin Utd Dromara, Dungoyne, Glenavon, Greenisland (2), Hillsborough (2), Larne, Linfield, Lisburn Distillery, Lisburn Ladies, Lisburn Youth, Loughgall, Lurgan, Newhill, Oliver Plunkett, Ox Sunnyside, Portadown, Ridgeway (2), Springfield, TTBS, TW Braga, Warrenpoint, Willowbank, Windmill.

UNDER-12: Antrim Rovers, Blackstaff, Carrick, Castle Juniors (2), Cliftonville, Glentoran (2), Hillsborough (2), Lisburn Distillery, Lisburn Ladies, Lisburn Rangers, Lisburn Youth, Loughgall, Lurgan, Oliver Plunkett, Ox Sunnyside, Portadown, Ridgeway, Shankill, TW Braga, Warrenpoint, Windmill.

Whites’ Academy

Whites warm-up for debut season

Saturday saw Lisburn Distillery U-11s begin their preparation for their maiden season in the Lisburn League with a friendly game at Belvoir with Taughmona.

The Whites showed a little rustiness early on as their opponents started strongly but they soon played themselves into the game and deservedly got a goal when Conall Cunningham drove at the Taughmona defence before playing a clever ball to Kenzie Bradley. Kenzie’s first time pass found Jack Bonar who cut in from the left and fired a right foot shot low into the bottom corner.

Conall was having plenty of joy on the left wing and indeed the whole left side of the team looked strong with Bradley White also having a good game at left back.

Calum Ashby had to be replaced by James Clyde after a heavy challenge but the rhythm of the team wasn’t upset as James was neat and tidy in all aspects of his game.

Taughmona started to push forward but time and again were thwarted by the excellent Ben Gilliland whose game as came on leaps and bounds in recent months.

The South Belfast boys got a deserved equaliser just before the break and were also unlucky with a towering header from a corner.

The second half was very stop start with both sides making a few changes but the Whites got a second when Noah Kelly poked the ball home from close range after some good build up play from Spencer Maxwell. Taughmona came back again and got another goal before the moment of the match arrived courtesy of Whites keeper Xander Power.

He made an absolutely astounding point blank save from the opposition forward, the save really had to be seen to be believed. How Xander managed to get to the ball never mind show the strength to get it up and over the bar no one knows. Think Jerzy Dudek against Schevchenko in Istanbul.

All in all, it was a bit of a mixed bag from the boys but for the first game back, there were enough positives to hope that there is more to come as they embark on their first season of nine-a-side football.