Ladies in for the Keel in Plate tie

After a tense match the week before, the Ballymena ladies didn't know what to expect travelling down with only 11 players available.

However, they were determined to come away with another win. Ballymena started with most of the play focused in the Kilkeel half.

Unfortunately, Ballymena weren't able to capitalise on any of their chances. They continued to drive forward for the goal with good runs between, player of the match Susanne Bell and Sarah Gage.

Kilkeel made the most of their time on the ball hitting Ballymena on the counter-attack but strong defending from Mary Glass, Susanne Bell, Jayne Allen and Sarah-Jane Goodrich stopped them from entering Ballymena's defensive circle.

Ballymena continued to attack at every opportunity and made some good runs up the right side of the pitch with Sarah-Jane Goodrich, Rebekah Reynolds and Naomi Harkness working well together.

Stalwart Sally Roddy was continuously making good runs up front to create space for the mid-field and allowing long passes to penetrate up the pitch. Unfortunately, Ballymena couldn't get the ball into the back of the net in the first half but were happy with the possession they maintained.

During the half time team talk the team were determined to get that goal they felt they deserved. Ballymena continued to stay tight in defence but Kilkeel broke through and were able to get the shot away but good goal-keeping from Emma Leslie kept the visitors in the game.

Ballymena decided they needed to apply more pressure with Sarah Gage and Susanne Bell with lots of space in the centre of the pitch to attack with pace.

Winning a number penalty corners, Ballymena thought the goal was coming but good defending and goal keeping left the Ballymena ladies wondering how they were going to get the ball in the back of the net.

With minutes left in the match it was Ballymena who eventually managed to break the deadlock from open play. Through a combination of passes from defence to mid field it was Sarah Gage who ran the ball into the Kilkeel 23m area firing the ball into the circle where Kerry Aiken was well positioned to deflect the ball into the back of the net to take Ballymena into the next round of the competition.

Ballymena: E Leslie, M Glass, S Bell, J Allen, S-J Goodrich, R Reynolds, S Gage, B Kernohan, N Harkness, S Roddy, K Aiken.

MEN

Larne 1, Ballymena 0: In a change from the regular Saturday fixture, Ballymena travelled to Mossley on Friday night for a clash with local rivals Larne.

It was Ballymena's first match in nearly six weeks given the Christmas break, freak weather conditions and a free week in the league.

With the absence of Captain Andrew Crooks, resting due to injury, the armband was given to Ulster Junior player Chris Hogg.

As expected Ballymena took time from the beginning to regain their touch exchanging shots with the opposition. Chances for Holmes and Bell fell just short of the killer touch to push the ball goalwards in the early minutes.

Larne succeeded in the opening minutes by forcing the game on Ballymena, using quick one-two passes to attempt to break down the visitors defence. However, defensive stalwart David McDonald returning to the back line proved he had lost none of the skill in playing in the position, mopping up the Larne attacks with Chris Hogg.

Few words were spoken at half time as little changes were needed as the team were working well and creating the space that allowed Orr, Bell and McKeown to press forward for scoring opportunities.

Yet it was shortly after half time that the deadlock was broken as a defensive error allowed Larne to attack the visitors goal and put the ball under the advancing 'keeper.

Ballymena kept composure and applied pressure on the home side for the remaining time. Simon Law took the game from midfield to the attack on numerous occasions creating opportunities for himself as well as his supporting team-mates.

The Braidsiders were unable to capitalise on their chances and eventually fell to a 1-0 defeat when really they should have won the game by a comfortable margin.

Ballymena: G Shaw, R Smyth, C Hogg, D McDonald, G Tumilson, S Law, P McKeown, M Johnson, A Bell, D Holmes, V Orr, J Gibson, M Corbett, T Alexander.

North Down V 0, Ballymena II 2: Ballymena Men's Second XI travelled to Comber on Saturday to play North Down Fifths in a thrilling display of hockey, that gave the Seconds' league campaign another three point boost with a very satisfying win.

In the first half North Down were definitely the side with more pace, but Ballymena were tactically supreme, a combination that led to an action-packed half.

Ballymena were regimented in their defence, getting close to the North Down players and spoiling and forcing errors, which they then capitalised on by passing the ball around the pitch, holding possession until opportunities arose.

Jackson, McDonald and Johnston linked together well on the right, providing chances for Holmes and Corbett, but the final touch proved elusive. Equally Shields, Gibson and McKeown were proving difficult to handle for Down, who continued to hold firm in their defence, assisted on occasions by their keeper.

Eventually a goalless first half drew to a close, with Ballymena very pleased with their movement and tactics, which they needed to continue with, into the second half.

Midway through the half, just as Down were starting to control the game, McKeown pushed into the home sides defensive line winning a free hit. With no forwards showing he dropped the ball back to Hanna, who drilled it into the D for Matt Corbett to deflect the ball into the goal for his third in two games.

This was the boost Ballymena needed and Down seemed deflated after so much effort up to that point. However they worked their way back into the game and almost claimed an equaliser, but for Keeper Gibson to save a goal bound shot which the defence cleared.

Late in the half Ballymena added their second from a short corner initially lofted by Mckeown, which the Down keeper saved only to watch Phil Moody react, cobra-like, to tap the ball into the goal.

It had been a marvellous display of action-packed hockey from both teams and Ballymena would like to thank players Moody and Holmes for umpiring.

Seconds: A Gibson, A Shields, A Hanna, D McDonald, P McKeown, P Moody, D Holmes, T Alexander, M Corbett, J Gibson, M Johnston, A Jackson, W Barr.