‘Burn Squander Three Points

No fewer than fourteen 1^st and 2^nd team players were on the injured list on Saturday with the knock-on effect being felt throughout the Club as all four senior teams fielded vastly under-strength line-ups for their respective fixtures.

The 1^st XI’s recent Irish and Border Cup heroics were quickly forgotten in a disappointing 5-4 defeat away to League newcomers Colin Valley. A slow start, (which could have seen ‘Burn 3-0 down), was followed by a strong fifty minutes, (turning a 1-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead), before a final collapse saw the three points disappear without trace. Somewhere along the way there were also three disallowed goals, two penalties and two own-goals in a remarkably entertaining game!

A brief, bright opening saw a Morrison shot saved but Colin Valley responded, pouncing on a missed tackle to blast home from eighteen yards for a 9^th minute lead. Two minutes later a goalmouth scramble saw the home side find the net again but, thankfully, the referee spotted the offside. Bryansburn were still riding their luck and only a great save from Moore prevented further loss and while a pin-point McGreevy cross found Morrison the Valley keeper was able to collect the header and launch another attack down ‘Burns left flank. This time a powerful headed effort went inches over the bar and seconds later a free kick from the same position flew across the ‘Burn six yard box failing to find a touch.

Bryansburn’s three man backline of MacLeod, Gray and Hannion began to find their feet and with Tyson, Cooling and Scott making more of an impact in midfield Bryansburn began to create openings. McGreevy & Coard combined down the left to set-up Tolson but his effort went wide before the striker turned provider for Cooling to slot home from the edge of the box for 1-1 on twenty minutes. Colin Valley still looked dangerous on the break but ‘Burn were creating more chances. Coard and Cooling saw shots go wide, Scott had an effort blocked in the box, Tolson’s tap-in at the back post was disallowed for offside and it took a full twenty minutes before Morrison turned their dominance into a 2-1 lead. Thirty-eight minutes gone, with Valley clearly tiring, things looked hopeful but this was Bryansburn and a 42nd minute handball gifted the opposition a penalty and a 2-2 score-line. ‘Burn re-applied the pressure and with seconds on the clock Tolson met a Coard corner to snatch a 3-2 lead just before the half-time whistle.

The early gift of a Colin Valley own goal had Bryansburn 4-2 up within five minutes of the re-start and G.McMullan made a welcome return from injury replacing MacLeod . With Morrison going inches wide with a turn & shot and a Tolson header saved it looked like ‘Burn could extend their lead further but an un-challenged header from a free-kick brought Valley back into the match at 4-3 after sixty-five minutes and only another disallowed effort prevented the scores being level with twenty to go. Bryansburn again pressed the self-destruct button with a rash tackle on the edge of the box and found themselves at 4-4, with fifteen minutes to play, as Colin Valley converted the penalty.

Stannex replaced McGreevy as ‘Burn went to 4-4-2 but casual defending saw the home side go close twice before the unlucky Hannion deflected a vicious cross into his own goal for 5-4 to the home side. Now desperate for an equaliser, or better, ‘Burn brought on Hanna for Scott but the resulting offensive failed and the match was lost.   

Manager Paul Moore would like to thank Lynda Moore, Head Teacher at Pauline Walker School of Dancing for the donation of a match ball for the first team. 

Also, a big thank you to the Burn Supporter for the kind purchase of training balls for the first team.

Along with the number of injuries resulting in so many players being called up to the 1^st team, the 2nds also had to contend with three players cup-tied as they fielded a patched up side for their Junior Shield 1^st Round tie at home to Bangor Swifts ll. This included outfield player Gilmer in goal and Centre-forward Tyson having to play at Centre-half, with two injured goal-keepers on the bench. All in all it proved too much for the young ‘Burn side who battled hard before succumbing to a 4-0 defeat.

 The 1^st half was even enough, with only one goal separating the teams. That arrived early in the half when ex-‘Burn player McKee evaded his marker and volleyed in from a corner. While Swifts had chances to extend their lead, ‘Burn also had chances to equalise. Ballantine was proving the most fruitful outlet for home attacks and saw several shots go narrowly wide.  Then Crawley had a great chance to shoot when put through one-on-one with the keeper but tried to play Ballantine in instead. 

The visitors’ turned the screw in the second half and scored three more goals to seal the game, and it could have been worse for the home team had it not been for a fine defensive display from Jones, Cole, who made several last ditch tackles and Dickson who cleared off the line.

The 3^rd XI competed well for seventy minutes before going down 5-2 at home to Bangor YM lll.

They too felt the knock-on effect from injuries further up the Club but still fielded a team capable of giving the visitors’ a game. In fact Bryansburn were by far the better side for the first half hour of the game. Chances fell to King, Higginson, Dickinson and Wallace as some great attacking play from ‘Burn should have resulted in an advantage. At the other end keeper Steventon was a virtual spectator. Finally the breakthrough came on the half hour mark as King swiveled in the box to fire home.

However, having worked so hard to get in front, Bryansburn then switched off twice in the space of five minutes just before halftime as Bangor YM took the lead. ‘Burn were guilty of allowing YM to get into shooting positions but to be fair both finishes were clinical giving Steventon no chance. Certainly on the balance of play Bryansburn did not deserve to be behind at the break.

‘Burn proceeded to concede again two minutes into the second half and from then on they were up against it. A change of formation to 3-4-3 initially had the desired effect as Dickinson pounced to make it 3-2. However a fourth YM goal all but killed the game as a contest when the visitors’ broke from a Bryansburn corner to race up the pitch and score. So from pushing for an equaliser ‘Burn found themselves two goals down. The final twenty minutes were poor from Bryansburn and Steventon made several good stops as Bangor YM threatened to score more. As it was they just added a final strike in the last couple of minutes.

The 4^th XI returned to winning ways with a fine performance away to Oakfield Breda ll winning 3-2.

‘Burn started brightly with the lively Stone creating a few chances culminating in two excellent saves by the home custodian.

Against the run of play the hosts took the lead with a disputed offside goal and with no official referee it was never easy for ' the man in the middle' to see the offence. Burn equalised almost immediately from a close range tap in and took the deserved lead five minutes before the break.

With six minutes gone in the second period McNeill fired home an unstoppable 25 yarder into the top corner much to his own delight.

Oakfield pushed hard looking to get back into the game and keeper Black made three fantastic saves to keep the two goal lead until he was finally beaten with fifteen minutes remaining. Despite Gardiner having three good efforts on target all saved majestically by the home keeper the visitors could not kill the game off and Bryansburn were glad to hear the final whistle go for a 3-2 win. A better performance than the previous week.

Training continues tonight (Thur) at Bangor Sportsplex, 7 – 8pm, and on Tuesday 8 – 9.30pm.

On Saturday the 1^st XI entertain Dromore Amateurs while the 2^nd XI travel to Greencastle Rovers ll. In the Down Area League the 3^rd XI are away to Ravenhill YM in the Sittlington Cup and the 4^th XI have a home game against Comber YM  ll which has been moved to Bloomfield due to the 1^st team having a home fixture..

Players are reminded that annual subs are now due and must be paid in full by the end of September. Players who have just joined the club have one month from the date of signing.

A number of those booked in for the Club Christmas Dinner at the Stormont Hotel on Saturday 21^st December have still not paid their deposits. Money is also being taken for the Club Trip to Newcastle. Current price is £100 for return flights to Newcastle and three nights in a Travelodge Hotel. Places will be booked as payment up front is received. Please note that the current price will rise as more people book on. Please see Alan Dempster regarding both events.

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 next Saturday 12^th 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.