Premier champions given a game by Ballymacash

The locals gave their opponents a run for their money in an entertaining second round fixture in the Steel and Sons Cup.

Right from the off the ‘Cash’ matched the Championship side in every area, forcing their opponents into misplaced passes or wild shots therefore conceding possession.

Rangers had decided to pack their midfield with five players, leaving one sole striker up front, in order to stop the Championship outfit and the tactic worked to a treat with the midfield of Friars, Patterson, Cummins, Orr and Shanks closing down space with striker Gibney working tirelessly upfront.

The back four of Hull, Guiney, Hanna, Waite and keeper Campbell also played their part keeping their rivals at bay, with nothing a major concern in the opening 30 minutes.

The home side were relying mainly on counter-attacking football and possibly setplays for an opening and it was from a counter-attack which forced a corner which then resulted in the opening goal for the home side.

Orr whipped the corner-kick in with skipper Cummins heading back across goal at the far post to Friars who nodded in the opening goal after 38 minutes played.

The goal was well deserved for their sheer hard work in a tight affair, and it may have been so different if they could have held onto that lead for half time.

However it wasnt to be, as after a bad clearance from the back, Rangers conceded a free-kick in stoppage time and the away striker gave keeper Campbell no chance as he rifled in an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net.

There was more action to come in the first half as the referee somehow found six minutes added time and again Rangers were sloppy defensively, allowing Newington to score again, sending them in at half time 2-1, much to everyone’s surprise.

After this setback for the home side, many teams would maybe have been feeling sorry for themselves and caved in, especially to a so called superior outfit, but no-one told the Ballymacash players this as they again worked tirelessly and created more than a few decent chances to claw themselves level.

At this stage it was hard to predict what way the match would go and in deed which team was the Championship side as both teams matched each other all over the park.

Unfortunately for the home support it was another error which could have been dealt with which gifted the next goal to the away side giving them a two goal advantage and therefore sealing their passage to the next round, although Rangers continued to battle until the end.

Overall this was a tremendous effort from the Ballymacash side and a performance they can take confidence in for the rest of the season.

Ballymacash Rangers’ next fixture is this Saturday in an Irish Cup tie away to another amateur team in Premier side Killyleagh.

The club will be putting on a bus for anyone looking to cheer on the local side departing the Bluebell at 11.30am this Saturday.