Under 11s hammer nine past Maiden City

U9s 1-5 Oak Athletic

Ballymoneys good start to the season came to an abrupt end when they were well beaten by an impressive Oak Athletic side.

A much big and stronger Oak team started on the front foot, and if it hadn’t been for some good goalkeeping and last ditch defending they would have been well head before Ballymoney scored against the run of play through a fine Andy Stinson strike.

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Oak again piled on the pressure and held together at the back where Leon Patton who had been called into action as sweeper was particularly impressive.

Ballymoneys luck ran out though as Oak equalised in injury time.

Oak went 2 1 up early in second half, but Ballymoney didn’t give up, and played their best football of the game. They were hit with a double strike with five mins remaining.

Oak bagged their fifth with a minute to go.

This was a disappointing result after the way the season has started, but hopefully lessons will be learned and they can bounce back next week.

Man of Match: Leon Patton

U10s 5-0 North End

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Ballymoney were straight on the attack from the referee’s whistle with only seven passes and 13 seconds gone, Max Lowry tucked the ball into North Ends goal.

It was a superb team goal for ‘the Toon’ bringing applause from both sets of supporters. It was time for Ballymoney to defend as North End were pressing hard for their equaliser, but there was no way past Matthew Drain and a very impressive Conall McGothigan .

Ballymoney broke out of defence and after another great passing move saw Joshua Morrison racing through to make it 2-0 at half-time.

The second half was a close affair. The midfield of Finn McLaughlin, Padraig Kelly and Morrison had to work hard as North End were pushing hard to get back into the game.

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Matthew McNeill was only on the pitch three minutes when he hit a shot from 18 yards at an acute angle into the top corner of the net to hit home a stunning goal.

This settled the boys nerves as they were now attacking at every chance, with Morrison an outlet every time.

Subtitutes Declan Convery and Mark Faulkner were introduced and the pair were involved in the fourth goal with McLaughlin slamming the ball high into the roof of net from outside the area

Kelly was now up-front his third position of the day showing how versatile the Ballymoney player is. With only seconds remaining up popped Convery to make it 5-0.

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A big mention has to go to the goalkeeper Jude Bolton who made several fine saves to keep a clean sheet.

Man of Match: Joshua Morrison.

U10s 5-1 Institute

The U10s were this week pitted against a tough Institute side, but they were hopeful of recording their third win on the bounce.

The boys needed to be on top form for this encounter to avoid any slip ups. Ballymoney started the match with a good tempo keeping the ball well.

Ballymoney looked favourites to score first and did just that after a penetrating run down the right from Adam McComb resulting in a shot which the keeper could only manage to parry into the path of in form striker Joel Christie who slotted it home with ease.

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With their noses in front the U10s continued to press forward in search of the second. It wasn’t long before they reaped rewards with almost a carbon copy of the first, after another driving run by McComb and finish by Christie leaving the score a 2-0 at the interval.

Institute came out fighting for the second spell and Ballymoney needed to be on their guard.

Some terrific defending from Scott Gardiner, Jacob Craig and good goalkeeping from Thomas McNabb kept the score at 2-0.

McComb was substituted through injury, but Matthew McNeil came onto the right as an able replacement and supplied a low driven cross in front of goal which Arron Dallat hammered home after a well timed run into the box.

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By now the result was not in doubt. Money though continued to dominate possession and won a free-kick through the efforts of hard working Cameron Milliken who as a result also picked up an injury. The free-kick was left to Christie who expertly bent it over the wall and under the crossbar to leave the score 5-1 at the final whistle.

Well done boys on a fantastic team performance from first to last whistle.

Man of Match: Whole team.

U11s 9-4 Maiden City

The boys turned up in high spirits and in confident mood.

From the start they pinned Maiden City in their own half.

The first goal came from a goal mouth scramble, new signing P.J McAleese was there to steer it home.

The second soon followed when Mathew Knight drilled one, hitting the underside off the crossbar and crossing the line. The third came from a free kick, Conal Doherty curling the ball high into the top corner, and just before half time PJ made it 4-0.

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Maiden City had no answer to this passing and moving football, which was a joy to watch.

Ballymoney continued to dominate the second half, but it was Maiden City who struck first to make it 4-1. This goal gave Ballymoney a wakeup call, and they soon added another four, to make it 8-1.

The pick of the goals being a stunning strike from Conal Doherty to give him his hat trick. Not to be out done P.J McAleese registered a hat trick on his debut.

Ballymoney introduced all thier subs. However, they got caught and conceeded three quick goals. Just before the final whistle Stuart Walker cut in from the right and from a tight angle smashed the ball high into the roof of the net, to round off a superb display of football.

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Man of the Match: CONAL DOHERTY 4 goals. P.J McAleese hat trick on his debut!

U12s 2-4 Limavady

Ballymoney faced a difficult away game to Limavady on Saturday.

Ballymoney started on the front foot with some early attacking play, but they were unable to break down the Limavady defense.

From a quickly taken throw Limavady were able to catch Ballymoney on the back foot to go 1 up.

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Ballymoney fought back and Ryan Brolly was able to put ‘the toon’ level. An expertly taken free by Joseph Steele caused problems for Limavady allowing Jude Black to head home to put Ballymoney in front.

Both sides were evenly matched but Limavady went in to the break 3-2 up. An early goal from Limavady in the second half knocked the wind out of Ballymoney.

Ballymoney had their fair share of chances in the second half but where unable to finish. The score line does not reflect the performance, the only difference between the 2 teams being the clinical finishing from Limavady.

Man of Match: Jude Black

U14 2-2 Carniny

The U14s travelled toBallymena Showgrounds for their fourth away game in five weeks.

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Ballymoney found themselves under heavey pressure from the start.

This aside Ballymoney were good value for their point when it looked like they had thrown it away.

A competitive first 30 minutes seen few efforts on goal by neither team until Ryan McCloy broke clear onto Smith’s pass only to be cleverly nudged off the ball by defender McComb.

This inspired the visitors to go on and Liam McCann arrived in the box from mid-field but his shot, from a narrow angle, was parried across goal by the keeper and Clint Bolton was first to react and headed through the opener!

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The Toon were enjoying some good possession with Smith, Kirkpatrick and Kelly doing well as half time approached and might have had a 2nd but Carniny held out.

Carniny came out all guns blazing and the visitors had trouble getting a grip on the game.

Despite the heavy pressure keeper Blair wasn’t really tested.

A simple misunderstanding allowed striker Houston in on the keeper with the easy task of scoring after Smith and McCann left the ball for each other inside the box.

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Ballymoney then survived a penalty claim as Callum Howard almost caught the ball in defence when the referee was looking elsewhere.

The home supporters were soon celebrating as Jordan Hasson’s deep cross from mid-field bounced over everyone in a crowded penalty area for a lead they never deserved.

A quick response seen the visitors level when Timmy Hanna’s clever ball split the defence and Ryan McCloy fired home from 12 yards for 2-2 and earned him the Man of the Match award.

Man of Match: Ryan McCloy