United Youth Academy extend charitable effort to Uganda

Ballymena United Youth Academy have a charitable tradition of donating previous season’s kits and it continued last week.
Some of the youngsters who took part in the first day of the Ballymena United Mini Soccer School.Some of the youngsters who took part in the first day of the Ballymena United Mini Soccer School.
Some of the youngsters who took part in the first day of the Ballymena United Mini Soccer School.

Children from Kiwoko in Uganda were over the moon to receive their sky blue rigs.

This time around the club would like to thank Coaching for Christ for delivering the kits to the Ugandan children with special thanks to Youth Academy parent and ex coach Jan Louw.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Dutch native,now residing in Clough is an enthusiastic supporter of the Sky blues club as well as a coach at CFC. Jan has two sons at the Academy, Danny and Conor.

Back home it was goals galore on Saturday at the Academy. On their debut day in the Lisburn league the new look Academy under 13 side impressed with an accomplished performance.

At the Showgrounds their compatriots in the Subway National Youth League showed their class once again as they put in a brilliant perforance against neighbours Ballymoney. Up in the North west the u14s were involved in a tight game in the premier league and lost out to a hard working Derry Colts side, despite a hat-trick from ace marksman Sean McKay.

The 12s played a quality Portadown side in an entertaining game on Friday night while the United Mini Soccer school commenced on Saturday,on a sunny autumn morning.

UNDER-12

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

United under-12s took on Craigavon cup winners Portadown at the Forum in the Subway National Youth League.

Conor Louw was back in the sky blue line up and was showing excellent form along with Clough lad Jordan McMullan taking no prisoners in the midfield battle. United settled down and McMullan fired an effort on target with good play also from wide man Robbie Gilchrist creating chances.Adam Steel settled down and was calm at the back along with another impressive outing for Joshua Kirkpatrick. United did show better form against the Crues on Sunday but this was a talented Ports side and the Skies will learn from their evening’s efforts.

UNDER-13

BUYA 8, Ballymoney 1: The sky blues first home match at the Showgrounds produced another three points with a strong performance and some excellent attacking play.

The home team fell behind against the run of play.

After fine wing play by Max Davison the ball dropped to Ross McCausland who made no mistake with a left footed drive.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The second half introduction of Sean McAllister, David Heaney and Cameron Bailles inspired Ballymena straight from the off and Lewis Mearns quickly helped himself to two goals, showing good footwork before hitting the net from outside the box for his first.

Matthew Lorimer then finished well after two good saves from the Ballymoney keeper before Bobby Rainey was rewarded for his perseverance and got the goal his efforts deserved.

Lewis Mearns then got his 3rd goal of the game with a finish from inside the box then a excellent team goal after good passing and super flick from Matthew Lorimer midfielder Cameron Bailles finished in style.

The eighth and final goal came after a Ross McCausland shot was saved and Matthew Lorimer headed home his second of the day.

UNDER-14

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Derry Colts 4, BUYA 4: Derry Colts made the breakthrough with a move that appeared to start with a hand ball.

Pat Shivers saw his flicked header from a corner hit the bar before Ballymena equalised when Sean McKay lashed the ball into the net after Danny Louw’s effort had been blocked.

Ballymena took the lead on 32 minutes when Aodh︠an Gillen sent in a wicked cross for Pat Shivers to connect, the ball was cleared to Sean McKay who fired in a cannonball shot straight into the net.

Derry made the pressure count with another goal early in the second half to level the scores and then scored twice more to go 4-2 ahead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ballymena to their credit did not let the heads go down and McKay struck again with a good finish under the keeper.

UNDER-13

BUYA 12, Carrick Rangers 2: In this Lisburn Youth League game, debutant Dylan Robinson fired United ahead, the first of a hat-trick.

Another new sigining from Carniny Jude Currie, grabbed himself a debut hat trick to kick start his season in style. Matthew Patterson got in on the action as well with a debut goal as well as a great performance throughout the game. Colby Barr and James McClean, two more debutants put in a great shift and were rewarded with a goal each.

Jamie Neeson got himself two goals as a reward for a great performance down the right wing. Jacob Logan was the other player to top off the scoring.

Related topics: