Kirsten does the '˜trick' as ladies plunder six goals at Cookstown

Photographed last week at the Ballymena Academy hockey pitches were Mary Glass, mini co-ordination and Alister Hanna, secretary Ballymena Club hockey coaches and Alastair McKay, Ballymena Academy. The club has unveiled a new sponsorship sign at the pitches. INBT 07-802H

Ballymena pressurised the Cookstown defence and were rewarded with an early goal when Holly Taggart set up Ellen King for a reverse sweep shot and a 1-0 lead.

Ballymena worked hard in and out of possession and soon a second goal followed with Clare Gillespie beating the keeper one on one to slot the ball home.

It was clear to see that Ballymena’s team work coupled with quick passing and movement off the ball created chances on goal, when Taggart assisted again for Kirsten Young to deflect into the goal for 3-0, before the break.

Into the second half and a confident Ballymena soon added a fourth as Jessica Duncan crossed a ball in for Aimee Logan to find the net effortlessly.

Strong defending and quick attacks on the Cookstown goal saw Gillespie turn provider for Young to net her second of the day and Ballymena’s fifth!

Cookstown were on the ropes into the final minutes, where desperate defending led to a Ballymena penalty corner, where Susanne Morrison drilled a shot on target, which was deflected by Kirsten Young to give the Ballymena forward her hat-trick and all 3 points.

Ballymena: J. Davis(GK), S. Morrison, E. Gillespie, G. McBurney, C. McCracken, J. Sutherland, H. Taggart, J. Duncan, C. Gillespie, E. King, K. Young, A. Logan.

SECONDS

Randalstown II 2, Ballymena II 2: Ballymena 2nds travelled to the Antrim Forum on Saturday in another battle for points between both teams in the bottom four in the league.

The first half saw a strong start from Ballymena and Emily Alexander dropped the ball to Emma Clarke at centre, who accurately hit a long ball into the circle where Natalie Rea calmly controlled the ball on her reverse and scored.

However just before the break Randalstown forced their way into the Ballymena circle and levelled the game at one apiece.

Into the second half, despite Ballymena’s strong defensive efforts Randalstown eventually went up 2- 1, however, Ballymena won a penalty corner. Nichola Greer took a perfectly straight strike at goal and on deflection Lyndsey McClintock skilfully scored the equalizer to level the game 2-2.

Seconds: L. Hanna(GK), N. Greer, S. Montgomery, E. Alexander, K. Aiken(C), L. Murphy, G. McCready, S. Nicholl, H. Dickey, E. Clarke, N. Rea, L. McClintock, A. Logan, E. Anderson, S. Storey..

THIRDS

Annadale II 0, Ballymena III 1: The ladies thirds travelled to Lagan College to take on Annadale, with both teams fielding a mix of youth and experience.

Annadale spurned some chances to go ahead and the decisive blow was struck by Ballymena when Sarah Montgomery seized upon a loose pass inside her own half and set out on a fast, mazy run, toward goal. After beating a number of players, she drilled the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the “D” for what proved the only goal.

Ballymena: R. Jones(GK), L. Burrows, R. Reid, J. Lowry, A. Harbinson, S. Smyth, R. Barr, S. Montgomery, N. Sloan, L. Logan, G. Mann

MEN

Ballymena 4, Mossley 0: The opening goal came ten minutes into the first half from some great individual work from Ballymena’s Andy Linford, who beat a couple of defenders inside the opposition D before slotting the ball in past the Mossley keeper.

Ballymena’s effort came to fruition when a sloppy clearance hit was picked up at the edge of the D by Alex McKeown who didn’t hesitate to put the ball in the back of the net for Ballymena’s second of the day.

In the second half, a lapse in concentration from the Mossley sweeper allowed Davis to utilise his speed to tap the ball into goal while the sweeper was on his backswing.

The final goal came from Victor Orr who received the ball in a wide position before sweetly striking the ball into the bottom right corner leaving the goalie no chance of stopping it.

Ballymena: A. Linford, J. Birrell(GK), C. Hogg, D. McDonald, R. Jess, A. Bell, V. Orr,

A. McKeown, A. Lorimer, C. Davis, A. Crooks, D. Hamill, C. Davis, A. McKelvey.

Instonians V 0, Ballymena II 1: The Men’s 2nds returned to Belfast for their third match against this team this season with still another league encounter to follow and managed to upstage their opponents again with strength, determination and excellent teamwork.

The all-important goal came in the second period when Ben Mills stepped in front of the keeper to deflect the ball in off the post.

Ballymena: K. McConaghie, J. Grimason, D. McDowell, A. Hanna(C), S. Gordon, P. Nicholl, W. Barr, K. Murphy, P. Moody, B. Mills, S. Glass.