Middleton has starring role in Holywood

Goals from Ross Middleton and Terry Lyness secured the 2-0 win at Seapark, but with the scorecard still blank at the break, the County Down men were still in with a chance.

Following a fine performance against Ballyclare Comrades the previous week, Gary Burns’s lads dominated the opening exchanges; goalkeeper Lee Singleton was scarcely tested.

The best two scoring chances of the first half were created by the visitors, with the home custodian tipping a Ronnie Burns effort over the bar.

Michael Duff, who celebrated the birth of a son the previous day, was influential in midfield, and he played Burns in behind the defence, but his finish was too high.

Middleton broke the deadlock just after the hour with his first goal for the club since his move from Mallusk Athletic when he beat two opponents and blasted past the keeper.

Lyness doubled the lead when he got on the end of a close-range pass from Sammy Duff and flicked home.

“This was another solid performance, and with two senior players - Stuart Galbraith and Mark Curlett - still to come in to the team, we are quietly confident we can make our mark in the Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate Division this season.”

Ballynure OB: L Singleton; Penny, Robinson, Gibson, McGreevy; Middleton, M Duff, Leckey, S Duff; Burns, Lyness. Subs: C Singleton, Hall, McFarland, McIlroy.

Meanwhile, Angus Henry’s youthful 2nd XI suffered a 5-0 defeat by Ballymena-based Raglan Homers in the first round of the IFA Junior Cup at The Diamond.