United U-16s in good form ahead of cup final

Nigel Law's side take on Crusaders on Saturday, April 3, in a rearranged game from January 2 which had to be postponed owing to the poor weather in the winter.

SOUTH BELFAST YOUTH LEAGUE

United U10 4, St Oliver Plunketts U10 2: United returned to the top of the South Belfast League with this hard earned victory.

Star striker Mark Cochrane was on fire early on as he raced through to lash the ball home. The Maghera lad made it two soon after but a strong Plunkett side lifted their game and pulled two excellent goals back. Ballymena immediately countered and won a penalty, coolly converted by captain Andrew Heaney.

The second half was a real battle as United faced their toughest oppenents of the season so far. A long range Allison effort was finally parried by the Plunkett goalkeeper and Lee O'Brien nipped to finish.

LISBURN INVITATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE

United U-11 1, Portadown U-11 4: Ballymena went into this game bereft of players through injury and sickness and Portadown opened the scoring with a goal which was disputed by the United officials for offside .

United started the second half well and their determination was rewarded on 33 minutes when Jordan Hassan scored a lovely goal to level the score.

The match at this stage could have gone either way but Portadown took the advantage with a well worked goal.

Ballymena to their credit fought back but with men committed forward, Portadown scored twice more.

United U-12 6, Seagoe U-12 1: Captain Michael Hagan gave the wee sky blues the lead when he reacted to a through ball to poke past the keeper.

The second came after another pass from Hagan was superbly finished first time by Christopher Rock.

Another cross from Hagan was finished by Rock to make it three and Ballymena added a fourth when Stan Pulko fired in from the edge of the box after being supplied by Benji Agnew.

On the stroke off half time Seagoe scored with a free kick from the edge of the box that Shane Gibson could do nothing about.

Ballymena continued to create chance after change and went 5-1 up when Agnew finished well from inside the box. Ballymena got their sixth when Hagan expertly picked out the head of Pulko who made no mistake.

Rock completed the scoring and took home the match ball when he nodded in his hat trick.

United U-16 3, Lurgan Town U-16 0: After a scoreless first half, Ballymena took the lead when Jay Hamilton got in behind to finish across goal.

Aaron McGreggor doubled the lead before Hamilton scored his second of the day to seal a convincing win for the Sky Blues ahead of their top two clash with Lisburn Distillery next Saturday.

United U-17 2, Loughgall U-17 3: This game came to life in the last ten minutes when Ballymena were 3-0 behind but scored twice through Neil Lowry and Jamie Davidson to set up a thrilling finish to the game but couldn't quite force an equaliser.

IFA YOUTH LEAGUE

United Thirds 1, Linfield Rangers 0: Blaine McKenna's goal – firing the ball home when it broke to him – was enough to give Melvyn Logan's side a hard-fought but deserved win.