Bryansburn hosted fellow 1B side Rathfriland Rangers in the 1st round of the Border Cup on Saturday and eased into the 2nd round with an emphatic 7-1 victory.
Bryansburn started the game on fire and were 2-0 up within seven minutes. Two well taken headed goals, firstly from Culbert who rose well to guide his header into the top corner of the net and then from the prolific Thompson with his late run into the box connected to a cross from McGimpsey and it rocketed past the keeper.
Unfortunately for Thompson he took a blow to the side of the head for his troubles and was clearly dazed by it.
After the restart Rathfriland were on the attack and straight away were rewarded with a corner. With Thompson clearly struggling with a slight bout of concussion ‘Burn were trying to make a substitution however amidst the confusion the corner was quickly taken and the home defence failed to react and the ball was headed in at the back post to put Rathfriland back in the game.
With Thompson reluctantly being replaced by Peeples, ‘Burn started to settle and get a stranglehold of the game again.
Malomo-Paris, continuing his great start to the season, added a 3rd when he latched onto a long throw into the box and with the faintest of touches he glanced it into the net.
The impressive McConkey scored the 4th goal. He played a one two with Culbert and his left footed shot was low and hard into the corner of the net.
The 5th was quickly followed when Cooling, down the right, skipped past two players to deliver a deep cross that floated over the keeper and found itself into the net via the help of the post and possibly poaching Malomo-Paris getting the final touch. Cooling no doubt will claim it but quite possibly Malomo-Paris will have something to say about it.
The half drew to a close with a 5-1 score line and it was looking very ominous for the visiting team.
The 2nd half started like the first with ‘Burn taking the game to their opponents. Bryansburn looked like they could score at will but although there were fewer chances in the 2nd half the football at times as regards possession was pleasing on the eye.
With the introduction of Edwards and Morrison it was the ideal opportunity for them to shine.
Culbert had a great chance to make it six when he was picked out with a great cross but his sliding shot unfortunately found the other side of the post.
The 6th goal eventually came when closely marked McConkey was still able to do a neat turn in the box and unleash an unstoppable shot across the keeper
The rout was complete when Culbert was on the score sheet again. A cross from the left was flicked on by Edwards and Culbert caught it on the half volley and fired it low across the keeper.
No doubt the management team were pleased with the result today but more pleasing to see was that the goals today were spread amongst the team and the actual finishing was of the highest quality.
Young Morrison, a developed player from the youth structure at Bryansburn, was terrific when he came on today and he gives other players within the club that added incentive to work hard and progress to the first team.
The 2nds played their last pre-season friendly before league action begins next week and recorded a 2-0 win against Willowbank.
An unfamiliar side took the field and the visitors capitalised on this, dominating the first twenty minutes until Bryansburn settled. After this initial period and playing against a strong cross wind, ‘Burn had few chances in the 1st half but defended well to reduce the visitors’ to long-range efforts that were well saved by Gilmer. At the other end, Geddis had a golden opportunity to give ‘Burn the lead, but failed to hit the target from close range. HT 0-0.
The hosts got into the game more forceably in the 2nd half and matched the physical side of their opponents’ game. They started to create several chances, the best of which fell to Owens who fired narrowly wide. ‘Burn took the lead with fifteen minutes to go with a freak goal from McCullough. Taking a free-kick from his own 18-yard box, he smacked the ball up the field and saw it bounce over the keepers’ head. ‘Burn doubled their lead when Bowman shot home after a scramble in the box. The visitors tried to get back into the game but ‘Burn held out for the win and an excellent clean sheet. FT 2-0.
The 3rd XI suffered their first defeat since moving up to the Down Area Premier Division. However there is certainly no disgrace in losing 2-1 to an impressive Moat Park Rangers side who will be title challengers this season.
‘Burn spent most of the match on the back foot but despite their dominance in terms of possession the home side only forced ‘Burn keeper Gardner to make a couple of saves outside of the goals in the entire match.
Moat Park were on top from the start as ‘Burn struggled to get out of their half and they deservedly took the lead after fifteen minutes when a home player just nicked a corner a fraction ahead of Shaw and the ball nestled in the bottom corner. As the half wore on Bryansburn came more into the game, working hard to win the bottle and then keeping possession to frustrate the home side.
Ten minutes before the break Bryansburn equalised when Dempster threaded a through ball to Cardwell who made no mistake for his sixth goal of the season
In the second half the pattern remained the same with Moat Park in control but rarely looking like scoring and ‘Burn relying on the break. The Bryansburn back four of Cole, Shaw, McComb and Storey were outstanding as they soaked up a lot of pressure. Just when it seemed as though ‘Burn would hold on for an unlikely point an absolute wonder strike gave Gardner no chance fifteen minutes from time to seal victory for the home side. Late on Thompson was denied an equaliser when the keeper tipped his effort over.
“Man of the Match” was Shaw who was excellent at the heart of defence.
The 4th XI’s game at Greenwell Star ll did not take place after a misunderstanding over the pitch booking.
In midweek the 3rd XI put in their best performance of the season to win 5-1 at Oakfield Breda.
The home side started well and had several half-chances to open the scoring but once ‘Burn settled the result was never in doubt. With Murphy and Thompson running the midfield and the possession football and movement proving too much for the home side, ‘Burn were in total control. Dempster split the Oakfield defence with an excellent ball and Cardwell rounded the keeper to open the scoring. Then Full-back Cole popped up to stab home a second goal before the break
The only problem with the Bryansburn performance was that they took to long to get the third goal in the second half to kill the game off. Cardwell (twice) and Dempster were denied by the keeper before Beattie burst through the middle but put his shot over the bar. Finally the long-awaited goal came. In a carbon copy of the first, Dempster split the defence and Cardwell rounded the keeper to score. Beattie then set up Kehoe to make it 4-0 before the goal of the game. Six players were involved in the build-up and when Thompson fired in a superb cross from the right Dempster scored with a diving header.
Unfortunately Bryansburn could not hang on to the clean sheet they deserved when Oakfield grabbed a consolation two minutes from time.
Fixtures this Saturday: 1st XI V Bloomfield (a), 2nd XI V Dunmurry YM ll (h), 3rd XI V Corrymeela (a) and 4th XI V Moat Park Rangers ll (h)
