United U-16s’ ‘derby’ victory marred by leg-break incident

The Northend player sustained a double leg fracture of his right leg in the closing minutes and everyone at Ballymena United wish Thomas a speedy recovery.

Earlier, Northend, playing with the wind in the first half, started off better and they denied Ballymena time on the ball as the pressed forward.

Gradually Ballymena started to get a grip of the game and they started to ask questions of the Northend defence with Michael Tolan and Jordan McAuley linking up well.

Eventually the pressure paid off when Jordan McAuley crossed from the right and Harry Clarke forced a good save from the Northend keeper who could only parry his effort and John Convery was quickest to react and he blasted the ball into the net from close range.

Shortly afterwards McAuley almost doubled the Sky Blues lead when he struck the crossbar with a spectacular overhead kick.

Ballymena controlled the second half although they could not break down the Northend defence until ten minutes from time when Convery found Michael Tolan with a clever pass and his shot from just outside the box beat the Northend keeper to seal the victory.

United U-16: A Tolan, D Halliday, P Rodgers, K Crawford, D Woods, J McAuley, J Convery, J Heaney, R Agnew, M Tolan, H Clarke. Subs: D Carlisle, J Cummings, S McMath.