Hockey men record great win against promotion favourites

Ballymena Hockey Club men’s First XI produced an outstanding display on Saturday to win 2-1 against a Portrush team tipped for promotion.
Ballymena 2nds player Ashley Harbison passes the ball out of danger. INBT40-250ACBallymena 2nds player Ashley Harbison passes the ball out of danger. INBT40-250AC
Ballymena 2nds player Ashley Harbison passes the ball out of danger. INBT40-250AC

On a beautiful autumnal afternoon, Ballymena started at a hectic pace, attempting to out-flank and lessen the impact of the skilful Portrush team. Wave upon wave of fine hockey was cancelled out around the middle third with few chances afforded to either side. The individual skills of a number of Portrush players could not better the gargantuan effort deployed by the rotating 11 outfield Ballymena players.

Following a swift Portrush break, around the 20 minute mark, the ball was lifted into the Ballymena “D” by a mazy run from the Portrush midfielder and a messy goal was converted by their forward.

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This goal however ignited Ballymena’s play and just rewards were received 5 minutes before the half-time whistle when a Shields shot rebounded and the second attempt, from veteran Crooks, rebounded again leaving it to young Mark Montieth to supply the final touch.

Ballymena’s players continued to bust a gut to be the first to every ball in the second half and the reward was collected on 55 minutes with a textbook goal. Bell squared to Fulton just inside the Portrush “D” and an unstoppable bottom corner strike was unleashed, giving the advancing ‘keeper no chance 2-1.

Portrush responded in search of an equaliser and in the final 10 minutes of the game, veteran keeper Hampton pulled off a number of miraculous saves to maintain the single goal advantage.

Ballymena: Hampton, Bell, Hogg, Crooks, Shields, Fulton, Orr, McKelvey, Allison, Montieth, Lowry, O’Neill.

SECONDS

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Ballymena II 2, North Down V 3: Ballymena Men’s 2nd XI travelled to Ards Leisure Centre to play North Down 5th XI on Saturday, hoping to emulate their first victory of the season, against Portrush.

Ballymena’s first half pressure eventually led to the first goal, courtesy of a blistering run and through ball from Aaron Murphy which Andy Boyd slotted home with a ‘no nonsense’ strike.

North Down responded at the start of the second half and snatched an equaliser within minutes, to level the score at 1-1.

A short time later an opportunity presented itself to the Ballymena forwards and Moody was on hand to make the most of it and restore the visitors’ lead with a slick deflection into the back of the Down net.

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Ballymena’s euphoria was short lived however and despite the best efforts of defenders Ethan Archer and newcomer David Wenban a goal mouth scramble led to an equaliser when the ball bounced over the outstretched pad of Ballymena keeper Birrel.

A nail biting final 10 minutes saw Ballymena try valiantly to hold out for the draw and, they would have managed it but for a moment of outstanding play from a lone Down midfielder. A mazy run that beat 4 tackles in the circle resulted in and agonising third goal for the host’s to see them take the game 3-2 in the final minute!

Seconds: J Birrell(GK) A Donald, D Bradley, E Archer, A Hanna(C) D Wenban, A Murphy, W Barr, K Murphy, P Moody, A Boyd.

LADIES

Banbridge 1, Ballymena 3: Ballymena claimed full points with a deserved victory at newly-promoted Banbridge.

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AFter initially struggling slightly to get to grips with the unfamiliar water-based surface, Ballymena gained the upper hand and took the lead after a blistering run by Grace McBurney up right side of pitch, from a defensive position. She laid the ball off to Steph Storey in right corner who found Becky Reynolds eagerly awaiting the pass to offer up a pile driver of a shot.

A short time later Ballymena were awarded a penalty corner and the initial strikefrom Susanne Morrison was deflected in by Reynolds again to give the visitors a comfortable cushion at half time.

Ballymena aimed to pick up where they had left off, on top of their game, and the visitors’ captain Clare Gillespie soon made it three when she drove home the rebound from her first attempt, which had been saved by the keeper to make it 3-0.

Banbridge scored a consolation goal near the end but Ballymena were deserving winners.

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Ballymena: Emma Leslie, Susanne Morrison, Grace McBurney, Sara Allen, Zoe Dickson, Jessica Duncan, Sarah Jane Goodrich, Anne Hempsey, Vicky Hogg, Becky Reynolds, Clare Gillespie (captain), Stephanie storey, Coach Mary Glass,

Player of the match Becky Reynolds

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