Ballymena Third XI maintain impressive start to season

Ballymena ladies attack with plenty of support during Saturday's game against Knock. INBT 39-925H

in an open and free flowing first half the home-side girls took the game to Ballymoney, with strong attacking play from midfielders Kernohan, Alexander and Montgomery, but experienced defending and a little luck kept the game scoreless at half time.

Into the second half and good wing play from Smyth brought Ballymena’s best chances, but Marshall and Lorimer couldn’t beat the Ballymoney keeper.

As the game moved towards the final stages, Ballymena’s patience was finally rewarded as Julie Kernohan seized a chance on the edge of the circle and drilled the ball home with power, to take the win. The team would like to thank Joanne Davis for umpiring.

Ballymena: D Thomson(GK), G Weir, C Lorimer, G McCready, L McClintock, L Logan, E Alexander, A Marshall, S Smyth, J Kernohan, J Kennedy, S Montgomery

MEN

Ballynahinch II 2, Ballymena II 2: Ballymena Men’s 2nds battled their way to a draw, away to Ballynahinch 2nds on Friday night at St Colman’s High school.

In a torrid first half for Ballymena, the home side opened the scoring from a penalty flick, awarded for a body block on a goal bound shot, that Birrell was desperately unlucky not to save.

However, ‘Hinch’s indiscipline allowed Ballymena back into the game, as Hanna, Hogg and Archer combined in a 3-touch move that saw Ethan Archer beat the keeper low into the corner, for his first Club goal.

Just before the break the home side struck from another short corner strike to take a 2-1 lead.

Ballymena continued to push for the equaliser and with only minutes on the clock, a well created move rebounded into the path of Eddie Hampton who volleyed the ball home to make it 2-2.

Ballymena: J Birrell, A Hanna (C), E Archer, J Grimasson, S Glass, C Hogg, D McDowell, S Gordon, W Barr, E Hampton, P Nicholl, K Murphy.