Ballynagross FC through to next stage of Bobby Dalzell Cup after win over Downpatrick
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
Bobby Dalzell Cup Round 2,
Venue: Dunleath Park, Saturday 28th September 2024,
Downpatrick FC 1 v 2 Ballynagross.
Downpatrick welcomed near neighbours Ballynagross to Dunleath Park for this Bobby Dalzell second round cup tie fully expectant of progressing in the competition only to find that Ballynagross had other ideas and it was the visitors who left victorious writes Cyril McKinney.
It was a solid start from both sides in the early stages, but as the first half progressed Ballynagross seemed sharper, quicker to react to situations and started to ask serious questions of the Downpatrick back line.
In the early exchanges Downpatick number 9 and ex-Gross man Declan Dowie was high and wide from the edge of the box on 4 minutes whilst at the other end Ballynagross number 10 Luke Shields fired over the bar after 8 minutes.
On 13 minutes Downpatrick number 11 Nathan McAllister had a great chance when sent clear but he missed the target as Ballynagross keeper Arnold advanced of his line.
Then Ballynagross appeared to take control of the game with Luke shields being the preferred outball down the right channel supported by the hard working Daniel Taggart, and it was no real surprise that the visitors went ahead on 32 minutes from a left wing corner through a thumping header from Ballynagross’s number 4 Johnny Collins who found himself free six yards out and gave Downpatrick keeper Taylor Beattie no chance.
Ballynagross harried and chased every ball, closed down the opposition and prevented Downpatrick having time on the ball.
Downpatrick on the other hand played numerous misplaced passes and appeared to be on the back foot and closed down in the one-to-one battles.
Whatever the Downpatrick management said at half time seemed to have the desired response and went at Ballynagross from the word go and were on level terms in the 48th minute through Nathan McAlister who got on the end of a left wing cross, rounded the keeper to smartly slot home past a defender on the line.
Ballynagross responded immediately through Oran Cunningham who was sent clear on the left but he blazed his shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat on 50 minutes.
However on 65 minutes Cunningham made amends for that miss with a rasping shot which hit the net via the underside of the bar from inside the box to regain the lead for the visitors.
Downpatrick rallied without success. A mix of good defending, some good saves from Ballynagross keeper Arnold and misses from first of all Josh Montgomery on 73 minutes after being set up by McAlister, then Carson blazed over the bar on 88 minutes and in the final stages a Dowie shot was smothered by Arnold leaving the final score 2-1 for Ballynagross.
The visitors were worthy winners overall.
Downpatrick did not do themselves justice on the day but Ballynagross will take heart from this performance and look to take this form into the league campaign ahead.
Downpatrick FC: Taylor Beattie, Ryan Cassidy, Ben Hynds, Caolain Logue, Connor Campbell, Andrew McCoubrey, Morgan Fitzpatrick, Con Farrell, Declan Dowie, Nathan McShane, Nathan McAlister. Subs: Anthony Carson for Morgan Fitzpatrick, Morgan McCoubrey for Ryan Cassidy, Josh Montgomery for Con Farrell, Harry McCarthy for , Sean Conway
Ballynagross FC: Cathail  Arnold, Darragh Higgins, Luke Cunningham, Johnny Collins, Luka Carew, Tom Savage, Oran Cunningham, Ethan Brown, Daniel Taggart, Luke Shields, Darragh Gordon. Subs: Corey Davis, Connor Morrison David McKinley.
