Saturday 28
February 2.30pm Kick off at Cookstown Sports Centre
Killymoon Rangers 0 v
Ballymoney United 2
The game started at a lively pace on the 3G pitch and Killymoon nearly caught the visitor’s defence napping in the first minute when Young rattled the crossbar with a great shot.
Ballymoney responded positively and should have scored through McKinney in the next attack.
Both teams were struggling to control the ball a combination of the pitch and high winds.
On 15 mins McLernon pass under pressure found Surgenor who fought of a challenge from Ferguson to cross to the back post where McKinney and Nicholl got into each others way and nothing came of it.
Ballymoney had all the play at this stage but it took a Hill long throw on 26 mins to the front post finding David Gage on a well timed run to head past a hapless McGuire for the opener.
Killymoon rarely troubled the visitors defence although a head on by McMullan found Smyth who volleyed into the advancing body of Smyth in the Ballymoney goal.
Another long throw from Hill on 35 mins again found David Gage who this time headed across goal to the back post where Gilmore controlled and rifled a thunderous shot into the roof of the net giving McGuire no chance.
Killymoon attacked on 40 mins and Smyth put in Ferguson who wasted a chance with a cross come shot just over well covered by Smyth.
With half time looming a McLernon free kick was headed just wide at the back post by Hill.
The last chance of the first half fell to Nicholl who had the home defence in all sorts of trouble until they managed to scramble the ball clear.
Half Time. Killymoon Rangers 0 Ballymoney United 2
Ballymoney continued to press with the wind in their faces and this half were more in control of the ball.
After an hour of play McLaughlin came on and his first touch found Nicholl who waited for the bounce to volley a rasping shot past McGuire giving him no chance from 18 yards.
Ballymoney came close again on 70 mins when an O’Kane screamer went just wide with McGuire well beaten.
Kearney could have created another goal for the visitors on 80 mins when he broke from defence and went on a great run down the right but carried the ball too far and ran out of options with help from Surgenor and McLaughlin inside.
With time running out Surgenor intercepted a poor defensive pass and brought an excellent save from McGuire in the home goal tipping the ball over for a corner.
From the corner the ball fell to McLernon whose goal bound effort was again well saved by McGuire.
With full time approaching a great Ballymoney move down the right by Kearney this time getting in a cross which eluded the home defence and found Surgenor unmarked at the back post with only McGuire to beat, words can not describe what he did next but it has to be the howler of the year, we’ll wait for the end of season awards to see what comes of that.
Final Score Killymoon Rangers 0 Ballymoney United 3
(David Gage. Gilmore. Nichol.)
Ballymoney United Smyth. Hadden. Hill. Denver Gage. David Gage. Gilmore. O’Kane. McLernon. Nicholl. McKinney.Surgenor. Subs: McLaughlin. Gordan. Kearney.
6
YELLOW CARDS 
RED CARDS 
