Northern Ireland Intermediate League: Ballymoney United 4 Oxford United Stars 3

A tentative start to this game but Ballymoney created the first chance on 2 mins when a Stewart shot was deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing. Oxford came close on 7 mins when Healey tested Coyle in the home goal.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Mar 2016, 14:06 BST
Updated 30th Mar 2016, 14:11 BST

Stalemate at this stage of the game in atrocious conditions although Oxford done most of the attacking coming close on 24 mins when a great shot from Rainey was equally well saved by Coyle. Oxford took the lead on 26 mins when Clamer let fly from 20 yards, Coyle misjudged the flight of the ball and conceded the opening goal. Ballymoney attacked straight from the centre and were rewarded on the half hour when a Lyons shot took a wicked deflection of McCann and past Kaps in the visitors goal for the equaliser. Oxford took the lead again on 35 mins when a free kick by Clamer was knocked into his own net by Craig. Oxford had a good spell of pressure at this stage although on a breakaway Lyons fed Stewart a great ball but the striker scuffed his shot. Ballymoney regained composure and a half chance was turned into a goal when Mark Gillan robbed Duman and continued his run converting the equaliser.

Half Time: Ballymoney United 2 Oxford United Stars 2

The second half started at a furious pace and on 53 mins Gerald Gillan put Lyons down the left and his resulting cross found the head of Gillan who had continued his run to head past Kaps in the visitors goal. Ballymoney continued to press and came close again on 62 mins when McClelland let fly with a rasping shot just wide of the visitors goal. A Clamer cross on 67 mins was headed goalward by Healey saved by Coyle and cleared only for Ballymoney to concede a silly free kick in a dangerous position, Clamer stepped up and blasted a dangerous free kick for Coyle to pull of a fantastic save. The long clearance by the keeper was picked up by McClelland who put in Lyons to shoot, again his effort was deflected just past the post with Kaps beaten in the Oxford goal. On 86 mins Duman crossed to the back post finding Doherty unmarked to dispatch the ball into back of the home goal to equalise. With time running out Ballymoney mounted a final attack Gerald Gillan putting in McLaughlin whose jink wrong footed the Oxford defence to cross putting the ball on to the head of McClelland to give Ballyimoney the lead with a well positioned header wide of Kaps in the Oxford goal.

Final Score: Ballymoney United 4 Oxford United Stars 3

Ballymoney United: Coyle, Coyles, Gault, Craig, Con Og Boyle, Dempsey, Gerald Gillan, Allen, Stewart, Mark Gillan, Lyons.

Subs: McAuley, Magee, Dickson, McClelland, McLaughlin.

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