Saturday 22
November 2.30pm Kick off at Holm Park
Armagh City 0 v
Ballymoney United 0
This was a very hard fought game played in Artic conditions at Holm Park with both teams dishing up a treat of football for the small crowd of spectators.
The first 20 minutes was end to end with neither team creating a clear cut chance.
It was Ballymoney who came closest on 23 minutes when after Kearney was fouled McLernon curled a free kick just wide of the back post.
The home team piled on the pressure and came close when Forker was challenged by Surgenor but managed to get a cross in to bring an excellent save from Smyth in the visitor’s goal tipping the ball of Campbells head at the back post.
On the half hour a great ball from McLernon found McKinney who wasted no time in slipping an accurate pass into the path of Kearney to home in on the Armagh goal and shoot straight at McFredrick who fumbled his save and nearly gifted Nicholl with a goal from the rebound.
It was all Ballymoney at this stage and again McLernon found McKinney who took on and rounded Walker took the ball into the box, pulled his pass back for Nicholl who nine times out of ten buries these chances from six yards however not on this occasion as his effort hit a diving McFredrick
who had not a clue where the ball was, glorious chance for the
opener squandered. As half time approached Kearney took on the home
defence took the ball wide of the keeper and could only look on in
disbelief as his shot was cleared of the line by McDonald.
Ballymoney started the second half as they had finished the first in attack with a McKinney effort scrambled round the post by McFredrick straight from kick off.
Armagh showed the physical side of their game committing a series of dirty fouls with little response from the referee.
However from a Surgenor free kick on 55 mins. found McKinney who controlled on his chest under pressure from Alexander and McDonald and got a shot in just over from close range.
The game settled into a pattern of attack and counter attack with no team getting that vital break for the opener.
Armagh nearly snatched a goal on 70 mins. when a rare lapse of concentration in the visitors defence let in Campbell for a free header just over when he should have scored.
Ballymoney piled on the pressure in the last 15 mins earning a succession of corners but found McFredrick in great form. When it looked like both teams were settling for a draw Ballymoney nearly spoiled the party in the last minute when McFredrick failed to hold a fierce shot from McLaughlin and could only watch as his defence dealt with the ensuing goalmouth scramble.
9
YELLOW CARDS 
RED CARDS 
GOALS
SCORED
