League 1C: Bryansburn Rangers 4 Newington 0

1sts final match of the campaign ended with an impressive 4-0 victory over Newington securing them 6^th place in league 1C.

Despite missing 4 regulars ‘Burn were pleased to welcome back G. McMullan after a bad injury and hopes were high for a chance to overturn an earlier defeat to the Co-Antrim side.

 An un-promising start saw ‘Burn unable to get a grip on the game and they repeatedly invited trouble with over-elaborate passing across their own penalty area. Newington spurned three clear chances to score before ‘Burn threatened the visitor’s goal but the home side slowly got into the game with strong running from Tolson providing chances for Mallon and McGreevy. The half hour mark came with Mallon narrowing missing with a diving header from a Coard cross but within a minute Bryansburn again looked rattled as Newington capitalised on a loose pass only to blast over the bar. Nerves were finally settled just before the whistle when Morrison coolly waited for a looping deflection to drop before lashing in a 15yd volley in for welcome 1-0 half-time lead.

‘Burn were a different side after the break. Higginson, Kehoe (replacing A. McMullan), A. Cooling and Thompson broke down every attack and delivered telling balls into midfield where Coard and G. McMullan began to exert total control. Newington had one chance when a free-kick went wide and keeper Beattie twice made comfortable saves but Bryansburn were in command. Mallon’s tireless running was torturing the Newington defence and after forcing a corner he pounced to make it 2-0 from Coard’s delivery while efforts from Tolson and McMullan were only inches wide. Kehoe was equally effective on the right and provided the 76th minute cross for Morrison to head home for 3-0 and with Patterson and Stannex adding to the offensive it was suddenly one-way traffic. A Coard cross found Morrison in the 82^nd and the striker made no mistake in controlling and slotting home to make it 4-0, another hat-trick, and 36 goals from 36 games. G. McMullan, Coard, and Stannex tried their luck in the remaining minutes but a relaxed ‘Burn couldn’t add to their tally.

            This was a fitting end to a tough season with the final gruelling 12 matches in 29 days yielding 24 points from a possible 36 to move the team to a respectable league position. Great to see “new” faces making impressive debuts and strong performances from all the “regulars” (even after the arduous run-in) but it was the “veterans” Mallon, Coard and Morrison who stole the show on the night…