League 1C: Bryansburn Rangers 2 Groomsport 0

Tuesday 16^th saw 1^sts run out 2-0 winners over local rivals Groomsport to continue their impressive run with 4 wins from 4 and a 3^rd consecutive clean sheet. Absences through injury and unavailability meant that manager Mellon had to once again shuffle the squad & line-up but ‘Burn always looked  slight favourites in the tightly-fought encounter at a windy & cold Ballywooley.

A solid defence denied Groomsport any real chances in the first half with Coard in midfield and Tolson up front torturing the visitor’s defence before the two combined to find Mallon who slotted home after 16 minutes to make it 1-0. Morrison went close with a free-kick and a 35 yard effort but bad-luck struck when goal-scorer Mallon limped off to be replaced by Higginson. Close pulled off a finger-tip save to thwart Groomsport just after the half hour mark and with both sides struggling to work with the swirling wind there were few chances until a 44^th minute free-kick floated just over the Bryansburn bar with keeper & defence watching with fingers crossed. Half-time 1-0.  

Groomsport re-doubled their efforts at the re-start and Ballantyne, Coard and C. Cooling had a real battle in midfield with A. Cooling, Gray, Morrison and McMullan manning the pumps at the rear. With the opposition pressing hard breakaways fell to Stannex, whose shot just rose over the bar and Higginson, adjudged off-side after his break and found the woodwork. Close was again called into action punting a panicked back-pass out of the car-park and for a while nerves jangled as the visitors looked the more likely to score. Parks replaced the injured Morrison, a Groomsport header just missed the post and Bryansburn couldn’t find the right weight of ball to feed their strikers in a deserted Groomsport half. Bryansburn finally hauled themselves to safety with a fine run from Tolson to the bye-line and a cross which C. Cooling lashed home for a final 2-0 final score.

Best for ‘Burn: Coard, always influential in midfield with notable performances from Tolson, both Coolings and Gray.