Bryansburn Rangers FC

DEADLY DUO STRIKE AGAIN

The Billy Neill Intermediate ground in Dundonald has never been a happy hunting ground for Bryansburn 1^st XI and the first half of this match was no exception. However ‘Burn stuck to their task and were rewarded as two late goals gave them all three points.

The comparison between the sides in the first half was stark; Dundonald, bigger sharper and faster and Bryansburn collectively struck down with leaden feet and wooden legs. ‘Burn survived some early scares until twenty-two minutes into the game when a Dundonald forward popped up marginally offside and lobbed the ball over ‘keeper Steventon. To make matters worse first Moore limped off with a reoccurrence of a recent injury and then a nasty challenge on Cooling left him also having to be carried from the pitch. Dundonald continued to outplay ‘Burn in the centre of the park with the ‘Burn midfield failing to get anywhere near their opponents. The ‘Burn defence under intense pressure managed to see out the half and went in at the break just 1-0 down.

Bryansburn courageously changed their formation to 3-4-3, started the half on fire and in their first attack a Shanks drive from eighteen yards was smothered at the base of the post and, a few minutes later, Malomo-Paris looked as if he was upended by the home ‘keeper but no penalty was given. With Keenan and McGimpsey now in control of the midfield battle this allowed for Coard and Mallon to strut their stuff.

The previous week Coard set up two goals for Culbert and scored one himself and guess what? A repeat performance! Coard took off with a dancing run from the halfway line ending with a powerful shot arrowed across the keeper to bring the scores level. Unfortunately, this relief was short lived when, midway through the half the normally reliable Thompson mistimed a high ball in the swirling wind and left a Dundonald forward clear in on goal to poke the ball into the net from close range.

Bryansburn again rallied and on the 75 minute mark had a stonewall penalty turned down for handball in the six yard box. Dundonald, against the run of play, nearly sealed the win when they hit the post but this seemed to spur Bryansburn on and the 2^nd equaliser of the game eventually came. Coard sent in a corner and Culbert the two goal hero from the previous week was first to react and hooked a drive past the ‘keeper.

Dundonald by now were out on their feet and there was only one team in the game. With two minutes of the ninety remaining, dead ball expert Coard took a free kick thirty-five yards out and again hot shot Culbert fired in a lobbing volley for the winner. Despite almost six minutes of added time, a shell-shocked Dundonald were unable to respond.

HOME VICTORY FOR BRYANSBURN

Bryansburn 1^st XI gained a welcome and well merited, if narrow, 3-2 win over visiting Newcastle at Ballywooley in an Amateur Intermediate League match.

The home side were prominent right from the start with Lemon, Coard and Moore on the right causing mayhem to the Newcastle left flank. It came as no surprise when, after five minutes a sweeping raid on the right wing saw Coard lob a neat ball to the feet of ex Abbey Villa man Culbert lurking just inside the box and his crisp first time volley left the ‘keeper with no chance. Then, three minutes later, Coard jinked space for himself on the right and again found Culbert for his second. Bryansburn continued to dominate through the half and had chances to go further ahead but were held at bay with some blinding saves from the visiting ‘keeper. With Moore limping off after half an hour Bryansburn lost some of their right wing threat and Newcastle were no dummies and twice pulled the best out of Steventon in the ‘Burn goal before they latched on to a long through ball just before the break to reduce the deficit.

Ten minutes into the second half, a tremendous run by Coard saw him round the twin centre half’s, then round the ‘keeper to restore Bryansburn’s two goal lead. Although Bryansburn continued to make chances and Culbert was unlucky on several occasions not to get his hat-trick, the next strike belonged to Newcastle. A free-kick, naughtily taken at least ten yards into a more advantageous position was brought under control by a Newcastle forward and he shot on the turn into a corner to give Steventon no chance.

Bryansburn pressed hard to restore their two goal buffer but as the minutes ticked away, nerves began to take effect. A powerful Culbert header clattered the crossbar in the dying minutes and twice debutant Owens buried powerful drives in to the ‘keeper’s mid-drift.

Although the win was narrow, it was thoroughly well deserved with a lot of promise for the future. There was a lot of potency upfront and on the flanks and assured performances from Magee and particularly Thompson in his new role at centre half – dominant in the air and sure-footed on the ground.