Bryansburn Exit Steel & Sons

Bryansburn travelled to face UUJ in Round 2 of the Steel & Sons Cup at Nortel but made the long journey home with their tail between their legs after a footballing lesson and a 5-0 thrashing.
This was never going to be an easy encounter against 1A opposition and with so many players unavailable the manager re-shuffled to give Tolson, Parkes & Gray their first starts of the season. On paper, with A.Cooling & McMullan restored to their full-back roles and Coard & Tyson in the centre of midfield, the team looked stronger than recent weeks but it was quickly clear that ‘Burn were going to struggle against their faster, stronger, fitter and more skilful opposition.
As early as the third minute Gray had to stretch to clear a dangerous low cross and with Bryansburn slow to settle the home side continued to press until a bad bounce cleared the defence to allow their No11 to make it 1-0 with ten minutes played. Bryansburn rallied with Tolson and Morrison having repeated success down the left but a string of crosses and corners failed to find a touch in the box and UUJ repeatedly cleared to launch another attack. A loud penalty claim, following Tolson’s up-ending in the box, fell on deaf ears; a speculative Morrison shot cleared the bar and a C.Cooling free-kick went wide but it was UUJ who found the netting with a 30- yard screamer following a corner clearance. 2-0 down after twenty-five minutes, Bryansburn had to work tirelessly and rely on a couple of good saves from Moore and poor UUJ finishing to scrape into the interval with no further loss.
The restart allowed ‘Burn to catch their breath and initially they gave as good as they got. Coard pulled the strings in mid-field; sub MacLeod, Cooling, Parkes and McMullan looked solid at the back with Tyson, C.Cooling and Tolson providing additional cover and Mitchell & Morrison fighting for every loose ball but UUJ always seemed to have six or seven men behind the ball whether defending or on the offensive. Disaster struck before the hour mark when ‘Burn conceded a third and the match was effectively over when, three minutes later, a penalty took it to 4-0. Higginson and Kehoe replaced C.Cooling and Tolson but their opponents were now cruising and when the 5th goal went in it suddenly looked like the final twenty minutes could see a complete rout. In fairness to a dispirited Bryansburn they fought hard to avoid further loss and could take some pride in escaping with only a 5-0 score-line.
Probably a match best viewed as a “good work-out” with impressive showings from Tolson, Morrison, A.Cooling and Coard.

The 2nds completed their preseason hosting near neighbours Bangor Swifts ll and ‘Burn hit back to win 6-3 despite trailing 3-1 at the break.
The visitors hit two early goals but Bryansburn fought back to half the deficit with Kehoe scoring from the spot. Swifts restored their two goal cushion when their striker raced onto a long ball and slotted home. HT 1-3.
Despite being behind, ‘Burn were playing some good football and were rewarded when Ballantine was upended in the box and Kehoe again beat the swifts’ keeper from the spot to equalise. With twenty minutes to go, the floodgates opened. Ballantine knocked in two after good work down the left wing by Patterson while Hanna and Tolson both finished their respective chances to give a final score-line of 6-3 to Bryansburn.



The 3rds went down 4-2 to a very strong Ards Rangers lll side at Ballywooley. The visitors dominated the opening half hour and sloppy defensive play gifted Ards two goals with forwards played in to beat Steventon from close range. When an excellent chip made it 3-0 it looked like a heavy defeat was on the cards but Bryansburn fought back to take the game to their opponents in the last fifteen minutes of the half and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit with a number of efforts before the break.
Early in the second half, the game burst into life as the home side scored two goals in the space of three minutes to pull the score back to 3-2. Cardwell touched the ball into the path of Dempster and he volleyed into the top corner from just outside the box. Then Ballantine went on a mazy run before slipping the ball through for Cardwell to swivel and score. Briefly the visitors’ were on the rack but they then increased their lead to 4-2 on the counter-attack although the strike looked well offside.
Bryansburn took off a defender for a forward and switched to a 3-4-3 formation and threw everything at Ards for the remainder of the match but were unable to rescue a point. At the other end Ards Rangers also had chances as gaps opened up and Steventon pulled off a couple of fine saves to keep his team in contention to the end.
Creditable performance from Bryansburn to make such a good game of it after trailing 3-0 after half an hour.

With their season one week away the 4ths entertained Bangor Rangers IV in their penultimate friendly and in an entertaining game they emerged victorious winning by four goals to three.
In a competitive yet good spirited game a few new faces made their debuts for Bryansburn and naturally they took time to settle in. Bangor took the lead from the spot before Dickinson equalised from a corner. The visitors then swept into a 3-1 lead at the interval albeit the home side had created a number of chances.
Keeper Black made a number of excellent saves early in the second half to keep the home side in the game before Armstrong pulled one back with a tight angled shot and, Stone equalised. Bryansburn’s second half performance was rewarded when Armstrong pounced for his second of the game to make it 4-3 for what proved to be the winner.

In midweek the 3rd XI had a tremendous 3-1 win over a strong Queens Grads lll side. Bryansburn had keeper Close to thank for a number of top drawer saves in the first half as ‘Burn managed to keep the game goal-less despite being under pressure for most of the half.
In the second half Queens continued to have the better of the exchanges in terms of possession, territorial advantage and chances created. However Bryansburn were superior in one department – finishing. Cardwell was brought down in the box after a good run from Ballantine and he picked himself up to score form the spot. Then Ballantine burst through and lifted the ball over the head of the advancing keeper to double the lead and minutes later substitute Tolson scored a well-taken individual goal to kill the game off at 3-0.
At the other end Queens continued to make chances but a combination of Close and poor finishing meant that they were unable to get back in the game. Bryansburn worked very hard throughout the team to close the game out for a superb victory. The only blemish came six minutes from time when Queens finally got a deserved consolation goal but it was too little too late.


On Tuesday the 4th XI completed their pre-season programme with a friendly away to Donaghadee.

Tonight (Thur) and also Tuesday training is as normal at Ballywooley, 7pm, for all four teams.

On Saturday the 1st XI make the long trip to Roe Rovers in the 1st Round of the Irish Cup while the 2nd XI commence their league programme with a home game against Colinvalley ll. In the Down Area League the 3rd XI are away to Newtown Forest and the 4th XI entertain Ravenhill YM ll.

Players are reminded that annual subs are now due and must be paid in full by the end of September.

Alan Dempster is currently taking names for the Club’s Christmas Dinner at the Stormont Hotel and also the Annual Club Trip at the end of the season, which this year will be to Newcastle. If interested please give him a shout for details.

Finally tickets are now on sale for Flash Harry, a fundraiser we are holding in conjunction with NOW and Jointz. Venue is the Stormont Hotel on Saturday 12th October and tickets (£20) are currently on sale from Alan Dempster. All members are asked to come along a support their Club at this event.