FC Ballynure 5

HAVING lost the first leg of this Linda Welshman Cup at Ballynure the week before, Moyola Park Olympic were given a stiff task of trying to overturn the aggregate score in the return fixture staged in Castledawson last Saturday afternoon.

And, despite a great second half fight back, the home side were eventually ousted from the competition by the opposing side.

Early stages of the tie saw play very even with neither creating any clear scoring chances.

The match was confined mostly to midfield as both tried to find a breakthrough. For Moyola, fullbacks Wilson and Clarke were defending stoutly while up front, Stewart and Kerr tried hard to find a way through.

Despite this, it was Ballynure who took the lead in the 15th minute and they doubled their tally shortly after with another well worked goal.

To their credit, the home team continued to battle and in the 35th minute, Kerr held off the challenge of two defenders and shot low to the net to reduce the leeway at 1-2 by the interval.

A slow start to the second half by Olympic saw them concede a third goal. However, with Niblock and Fulton ever prompting, Moyola had their best spell of the game and began to create a number of chances.

Midway through the half, a good ball by Kerr saw Niblock through on goal, rounding the keeper and calmly slotting home for 2-3.

This lifted the Moyola side and, in the 71st minute, Waddell was on hand to score a fine goal to leave the teams level at 3-3. Indeed, moments later, the same player found himself through but chipped the ball over the advancing Ballynure keeper but wide of the target as a good opportunity missed.

Both Kerr and Niblock had shots on target, but the visitors were always dangerous on the break and twice they brought fine stops from the Moyola keeper before notching two late scores to run out 5-3 winners on the day.

It was a valiant effort by the Castledawson team ,particularly in the second half, but FC Ballynure progress in this Ballymena Junior League knockout cup competition.