Ladies’ Second XI maintain title bid with point at Victorians

Having already secured promotion, the Braid ladies maintained their title push with a 1-1 draw at Victorians Seconds.

After a scoreless first period, Ballymena started the second half much stronger and tackling for every ball, however attacking play from the home side resulted in a goal midway through the second half, much to Ballymena’s disappointment!

Finally, Ballymena’s determination was rewarded with a late equaliser from Kerry Aiken, after a brilliant break and selfless pass from Aimee Logan, giving them a vital point to keep their chance of winning the league outright alive.

Seconds: L Hanna (Gk), K Kealey, A Harbinson, H Dickey, N Rea, N Greer(C), J Sutherland, L McClintock, L Logan, K Aiken, R Murphy, L Murphy, E Clarke, A Logan.

THIRDS

Mossley II 4, Ballymena III 1: Ballymena were missing several key players going into this game and knew they would be up against it taking on a Mossley side currently second in the league table.

Ballymena managed to deal with early pressure until a goal mouth scramble 10 minutes in, resulted in an opening goal for Mossley.

Ballymena found it difficult to break down the Mossley defence in the first half and where hit on the break resulting in a penalty corner and Mossley duly doubled the score 2-0.

Mossley’s third goal came on the stroke of half time from a well worked set play, giving the home side a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.

Ballymena were again caught on the break and an individual run down the right wing brought a strike on goal and a fourth for Mossley. Credit to the Ballymena team who never gave up and 5 minutes before the game ended, a sweeping move from the back resulted in a much deserved goal when Sharon Reid sent the ball thundering into the back of the goal from the top of the circle.

Thirds: K Richmond, D Lipsett, J Fulton, R Reid, L McClintock, J Lowry(C), C Law, E Johnston, S Reid, J Kernohan, J Duncan, S Montgomery.

MEN

Ballymena II 3, Omagh 1: Having lost to the same opponents earlier in the season, Ballymena found themselves a goal down early on.

The game was level with Sam Glass converting at the back post, scoring for his second game in a row.

With half time approaching up stepped Glass again to give Ballymena the lead 2-1 going into the break.

Ballymena finally sealed the victory with a scramble in front of the goal, where James Russell converted to take Ballymena’s lead to 3-1.

Seconds: E Hampton, J Birrell, A Hanna(c), A McKeown, D McDowell, M Allison, J Russell, S Glass, D Allen, W Barr, S Gordon, M O’Neill, E Archer, K Murphy, T Cole.