Second XI ladies advance in Plate after high-scoring victory

Ballymena started strongly, but against the run of play it was Quin’s who took the lead.

Ballymena fought back to get on level terms with a strong run from Emily Anderson who slipped the pass to Natalie Rea to make it 1-1.

However, another lapse in the Ballymena defence saw Quins again take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

At the restart Ballymena again took charge and equalised again as Grace McCready pushed down the right flank to slip the ball to Lorna Murphy to make it two-a-piece.

Growing in confidence Ballymena created space and further chances, which Lynsey McClintock latched onto for Ballymena’s third.

Ballymena continued to press the game and the Quin’s defence forcing the turnover which lead to two further goals from Stephanie Storey, one from open play and a second converted on the final whistle at a penalty corner.

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

MEN

NICS III 1, Ballymena 2: Ballymena Men’s 1sts kept their lead of Junior 5 with this away win.

Ballymena were the first to convert when a well worked counter attack led to Matt O’Neill getting the ball past the keeper and across the face of goal for Mark Monteith to hit it in at chest height from a yard out.

Civil Service continued to push for a goal and following a spell when Ballymena lost their structure, in the end they got an equaliser from a quick reverse shot.

With time running out, Matt O’Neill struck a wonderful shot high at goal from very close to the right side touch line and Andy Linford was in the right place to touch it mid-air past the keeper.

Ballymena: J Birrell, R Jess, D McDonald, A Linford, M Monteith, A Crooks, C Fulton, A Lorimer, A McKeown, M. O’Neill, E. Archer, A. Bell.

Ballymena II 0, Bangor IV 1: Ballymena might have gone ahead in the first haf when they were awarded a penalty flick. Phil Moody stepped up but was denied by the keeper with an outstretched leg pad. Bangor struck the decisive goal with 10 minutes left.

Ballymena: K. McConnaghie(GK), J. Grimason, D. McDowell, E. Hampton, A. Hanna(C), D. Hamill, P. Moody, S. Glass, T. Cole, B. Mills, P. Nicholl, M. Allison, C. Davis, W. Barr.