Ballymena ladies book return to top flight of Ulster hockey

Ballymena Hockey Club ladies’ First XI will be back playing in the top flight of Ulster Hockey next season after securing promotion at the weekend.
A Ballymena player break forward as an Armagh opponent stumbles during Saturday's match at the Showgrounds. INBT 12-916HA Ballymena player break forward as an Armagh opponent stumbles during Saturday's match at the Showgrounds. INBT 12-916H
A Ballymena player break forward as an Armagh opponent stumbles during Saturday's match at the Showgrounds. INBT 12-916H

Saturday’s 2-1 win over Victorians means the Braid ladies are assured of a top four finish and one of the promotion places.

Vic’s started quickly, attacking the Ballymena circle within seconds and winning successive penalty corners where they opened the scoring from a left post deflection to give Logan no chance.

Ballymena finally settled and were soon level when a free hit from Reynolds found Kirsten Young’s well placed stick to deflect the ball into the corner of the net for 1-1.

Ballymena defended solidly in the second half, while still providing their own forwards with plenty of opportunities and the pressure paid off as Storey converted with a powerful finish for what proved to be the promotion-clinching goal.

Ballymena: J Logan(GK), S Morrison, A Logan, G McBurney, A Logan, H Taggart, E Gillespie, C Gillespie (C), S Storey, C McCracken, N Greer, E King, K Young, V Hogg, R Reynolds.

SECONDS

Dromore II 0, Ballymena II 2: Ballymena travelled to Dromore needing 3 points to secure promotion to Junior 1.

Ballymena started confidently and were rewarded midway through the first half with a superb goal from Aimee Logan.

Ballymena absorbed some pressure and with quick counter-attacks Lorna Murphy scored a second goal with a pinpoint pass from Logan.

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

THIRDS

Ballymena III 1, Ards IV 4: Ards’ experience proved too much for Ballymena, despite a well-taken goal by Sarah Montgomery.

Thirds: K Richmond (GK), R Reid, D Lipsett, L McClintock, S Montgomery, J Lowry(c), J Duncan. E Johnston, R McPeake, C Lorimer, J Kernohan, N Sloane.

MEN

Result: Ballymena 2, Armagh 2.

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