The Newcastle and District Amateur Football Leaguie, Division 1,
Venue: Pigeon Hill,
League Match, Saturday 18 January,
Final score: Saintfield III 3 1 Ballynagross II.
Having visited Ballynagross in their last match on 14 December, Saintfield United III hosted the Saul side at Pigeon Hill in the reverse fixture on Saturday.
As evidenced in the 1-1 draw the last time the two sides met, the teams were evenly match and chances were at a premium throughout the return game.
The visitors took the lead after half an hour, when Lee Young parried a header from a set piece and Conor Morrison tapped in the rebound.
The home side responded quickly, when Gareth McDowell tapped a free-kick short to Adam Sofley, who unleashed an unstoppable strike from thirty yards to restore parity.
Ballynagross shaded possession in the second half, without creating many clear chances, and Young was equal to their best attempt when he tipped Morrison’s low shot around the post.
Instead, it was the Saints who took the lead on the hour, as McDowell picked out Matthew Alexander with a long pass, and the striker composed himself before curling beyond Holland.
Ballynagross pressed for an equaliser, but were unable to break down the home defence, and the home team remained a threat on the break, as Davis and McDowell both went close.
The three points were sealed late in the game, as substitute Philip Alexander latched onto a clearance and sent Eoin Mullan clear to coolly slot into the bottom corner.
