Ladies continue to dominate against Civil Service

Protecting the ball at Ballymena Showgrounds was this Ballymena ladies 1sts player. INBT 08-859H

With the home advantage then Ballymena got off to a strong start and managed to create a few goal scoring opportunities early on.

With Susanne Morrison, in the centre, taking charge for the hosts in defence, ably assisted by the expertise of Emma Leslie, any threat which the visitors’ forwards might have posed was easily contained. Catherine McCracken, Grace McBurney and Vicky Hogg were competent in the centre and provided much needed support to Ballymena’s defensive strategy.

Ballymena didn’t have long to wait before they broke the deadlock. An inch perfect pass from Grace McBurney was scooped up by forward Becky Reynolds who, following a blistering run, laid the ball off across the goal mouth for Sarah Jayne Goodrich to slip it past a helpless NICS goalie.

Ballymena’s second goal owed much to the composure of Becky Reynolds, with support from Clare Gillespie and Lauren Kennedy as the ball was lobbed over the goalie for a two-goal cushion with half time approaching.

A slight lack of concentration on the hosts part afforded the visitors the opportunity to claw one back as the half played out 2-1.

In the second half, Ballymena looked on form and were very much in control although they failed to cash in their numerous opportunities, in particular, those from several penalty corners.

Ballymena did manage a third and final goal from a well rehearsed set piece courtesy of Becky Reynolds who skilfully deflected the initial strike from Susanne Morrison into the back of the Civil Service net for her second to finish off the scoring.

Ballymena: E Leslie, G McBurney, S Morrison, V Hogg, C McCracken, J Duncan, Z Dickson, S Goodrich, A Hempsey, R Reynolds, C Gillespie, L Kennedy.

MEN

Ballymena II 7, Raphoe II 0: Ballymena’s match calendar has been devastated in recent weeks due to the weather so they were keen to get back into the swing of things.

Late in the first half Nicholl’s attempt at goal rebounded off the keepers pads to afford Moody the opportunity to lift the ball high into the back of the Raphoe net to break the deadlock.

In the second half Ballymena got back to basics with quick sharp passing and it soon paid off! Ballymena’s second goal came from a cross ball from Barr which Murphy touched towards goal and where Phil Nicholl was ideally placed to nudge across the line.

Ballymena gained their third goal when Moody capitalised on another Phil Nicholl rebound.

The fourth came from a foot on the line leading to a penalty flick which Moody slotted home with a matter of fact strike to complete is hat trick.

Ballymena’s fifth soon followed from Moody again and Murphy grabbed their sixth, an excellent goal following a brilliant cross from Barr. Ballymena’s final goal was again the result of a rebound from the keeper’s pads with Moody doing the honours again.

The men have thanked Grace McBurney, Davey Lorimer and Debbie for umpiring!

Ballymena: James Birrell, Paul McDowell, Eddie Hampton, David McDowell, Alister Hanna (Capt), William Barr, Mark Monteith, Ben Martin, Phil Nicholl, Jamie Grimasson, Ken Murphy, Philip Moody.