Ardglass proved too strong for visitors Ballynahinch Town in Bobby Dalzell Cup quarter final
Newcastle and District Amateur Football League.
Bobby Dalzell Cup quarter final.
Final Score: Ardglass FC 7 Ballynahinch Town 0. Attempts by Ballynahinch Town to make an impact on this one-sided quarter final proved futile as Ardglass carved their way into a semi-final spot in the Bobby Dalzell Cup. Shea Dorian played an impressive game for Ardglass scoring a hat-trick making mark on the game. writes Jim Masson.
Ardglass goalkeeper for the day Chris Taggart held the ball well in an early Ballynahinch attack stamping his authority on the front line from his first touch in a game that he did not have much to do.
On 6 minutes, Shea Dorian slipped the ball to Neil Taggart who opened the scoring for Ardglass hitting the middle of the net.
But Ballynahinch tried to push back to redress the early goal with Rafferty, Turley, Lowery and Travers in the fray.
Despite the visitors’ best efforts Ardglass were not having any of it and made several strong attacks. Ardglass striker Beattie took an excellent volley from inside the box but it was well held by keeper Crawley.
As the Ardglass assault mounted, Neil Taggart was taken down in the box and a penalty awarded which was converted by Dorian to inside the left hand post.
The Ardglass defence looked much in control with a solid back line of Ryan and Lee McEvoy, Shane Taggart and Malachy Crangle.
From the whistle Ardglass on their home turf at The Meadow pressurised Ballynahinch but after a shakey start Ballynahinch fought back and won a corner.
Then Beattie knocked the ball in for Ardglass during an attack from the Ballynahinch goal mouth to put his side 3 up and looking at a probable place in the semi-final.
Megoran made an excellent volley for the visitors but Taggart made an equally solid save.
At 22 minutes Dorian shot a volley and won a corner taken by Beattie. The ball drifted across the Ballynahinch almost in slow motion, then in the ensuing scramble it was Dorian who got his toe to the ball to make it 4-0 for Ardglass.
Despite the goal difference and powerful Ardglass performance, the visitors remained unflapped and continued to try and press ahead when they got a chance. Travers was particularly effective in keeping his side moving forward and trying to set up goal opportunities.
Then another coffin nail was hammered in by Ardglass as Kearney rocketed a volley from the back of the box through a forest of defenders to score on 40 minutes making the score 5-0 at half-time.
The second period started like the first with Ardglass attacking earning an early goal as Kearney turned in the box and lashed a low ball beating Crawley.
As the final result was now never in question, the game settled down to attacks to and from from both teams s Ardglass took the foot off the pedal. Beattie almost scored again with a fierce shot just over the bar.
Despite the crushing scoreline, Ballynahinch came out to play football and continued to press forward when they could. They won a corner for their efforts by keeper Taggart had the ball well under control quickly.
The scoreline could have gone up again for Ardglass as sub Ross O’Shea just went wide of the post.
Ardglass defender Ryan McEvoy having a good game made an excellent pass to sub Morgan playing up front who broke through the Ballynahinch defence but just lost control of the ball in the wind close to goal.
Then the final cut was made by Dorian again who made certain of the goal with 11 minutes left to the whistle.
Dorian tried a glancing header just minutes after which was just over the bar. Then as Ardglass still looke dfor more goals, Rooney headed over the bar from an O’Shea corner.
Despite this, Ballynahinch made a final attack on the Ardglass goal and Travers hit the top crossbar.
Overall, it was a convincing win by Ardglass who await to see who they are playing in the semi-final.
Ardglass FC: Chris Taggart, Ryan McEvoy, Lee McEvoy, Shane Taggart, Malachy Crangle, Matthew Rooney, Conor Kearney, Sean Paul Halpen, Shea Dorian, Neil Taggart, John Beattie. Subs: Ross O’Shea, Flinn Morgan.
Ballynahinch Town: Ryan Crawley, Thomas Rodgers, Mark Maclean, Niall McGlew, Christien Anderson, Simon Marmion, Sean Rafferty, Gary Wilson, Paul Turley, Brian Lowery, Damien Travers. Subs: Tiernan Megoran, Joshua Fennell, Michael Rice.
