United lose on the road to Banbridge

Banbridge Town could not be asked to do anything more as they retained their 100% home record this season with an emphatic 3 - 0 win over a strong Ballymoney Utd side at Crystal Park on Saturday. Town made a promising start in treacherous underfoot conditions with McParland and Pedlow looking dangerous down the left with a couple of dangerous forays into the Ballymoney area. They forced a couple of early corners from which O’Neill headed wide and Kernoghan chipped just over the visitors bar. Pedlow forced a fine save from Ballymoney ‘keeper Moore but presented the visitors with their first real chance after he got himself dispossessed 20 yards from his own goal. However his ever alert defence cleared the danger as Ballymoney’s McAuley lurked. The Ballymoney men had worked their way into the game and threatened with a few surges on the home goal. It was then that the home rearguard came to the fore with McParland and Waddell especially dominant. On 17 minutes the hardworking Jones won the ball and found McCartan in space McCarton in turn threaded a ball through to Boyle and the big striker made no mistake to put Banbridge 1 -0 in front. Ballymoney quickly counter attacked and Gillan’s inviting cross into the home box only needed a touch which fortunately for the home team didn’t come. On 25 minutes Boyle got his head to a Kernoghan cross but was narrowly off target. Jones, McCartan and Pedlow combined in a great move shortly afterwards which the visitors cleared at full stretch. It was a joy to watch some of home teams movement in midfield and after 30 minutes Kernoghan fired a 22 yard volley straight at Moore. However Ballymoney remained threatening and only a magnificent save from Cairnduff minutes later prevented an equaliser. McGarry raced goal-wards and fired a goal-bound effort only for Cairnduff to stretch and tip his volley onto the bar and away for a fruitless corner. A great peace of covering from Waddell after 38 minutes stopped another dangerous situation after McAuley had got the better of Buchanan in front of goal.

Ballymoney conceded two more in the second half.

Ballymoney Utd: Bryan Moore, Stephen Dooey, Paul Keane, Hugh Og Boyle, Declan McGarry, Lee McClelland, Gerald Gillan, Ciaran Og Kane, Dairmaid Larkin, Pearse McAuley, Conor McKinley.