Portrush back to winning ways against Braidmen

It was a bright start from Portrush as within five minutes they had two short corners.

From the second corner Andy Dalzell was able to fire home a superb drag flick for an early lead. As Ballymena struggled to get out of theirown half a second was inevitable and minutes later Lewis Greene dazzled setting up Brent Smith for the second.

Midway through the half a young and ever improving Ryan Smith slotted home a third after more good work from Greene and B.Smith.

With only minutes of the first half remaining Dalzell added the fourth with a close range finish and at half time the Ports were four nil up and playing within themselves.

However Ballymena came into the game in the second half and created a few opportunities eventually finding the net with a neat reverse finish. Portrush steadied themselves and from then on maintained good possession with M.McKeeman and A.Kerr pulling working tirelessly. With ten minutes remaining Brent Smith added the fifth with a blazing reverse hit into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. Ballymena were determined to finish strongly and added a second to make it 5 – 2.

At home Portrush will prove a difficult side to beat if they can maintain this type of performance. Man of the match Lewis Greene added “for me good hockey is like good sex, both are once a week and over much too soon”.

G.McAlister, T.Cartmel, M.McKeeman, P.McMullan, A.Kerr, M.Huey, L.Greene, R.Smith, A.Dalzell, B.Smith, R.McNabb (Cpt), J.Kirkpatrick, A.Kirkpatrick, S.McConaghie.