The 2nd XI returned to League action and hosted Lisburn Rangers ll at Ballywooley recording an impressive 3-1 win.
Both teams tried to play football and created a few half chances. ‘Burn’s best chance of the half came after twenty minutes when Cole dispossessed the Lisburn right back but saw his shot go narrowly wide. The Lisburn attack looked most threatening from set pieces but ‘Burn defended well to keep visiting chances to a minimum and Brady was alert to come off his line to thwart any danger. H-T 0-0.
The second half started in the same vein as the first, but the visitors made the breakthrough on the hour mark. Their number nine ran through on to a long punt upfield and took it past Brady to tap home. In response, ‘Burn stepped up a gear. Cole thought he had equalised when he fired past the keeper but the ref adjudged him to be offside. However, Bryansburn levelled five minutes later when debutant Mercer hit a ferocious drive that the keeper could only parry and Corr followed up to slot home. Bryansburn took confidence from this and scored a second soon after. A fine McCullough corner was met by S McAllister who rose above his marker to powerfully head the ball into the back of the net. Lisburn tried to get back into the game but ‘Burn defended resolutely. The visitors’ best chance came with a curler towards the top corner of the net but Brady made a brilliant save to deny them. The home team looked more likely to score a third with sub Flynn looking lively from his introduction. The decisive third goal came when Malomo-Paris jinked his way past two defenders and the keeper and squared the ball to Watson for an easy finish and his debut goal for the club. This rounded of an excellent and well deserved win for the seconds, who will hope to build on this in the coming weeks. F-T 3-1.
Although never at their best the 3rd XI defeated Stranmillis 37th OB 5-3 to extend their lead at the top of the League.
‘Burn controlled the entire first half without creating too many chances. Too often good approach work was ruined by a poor final ball. Edwards and J.McAllister saw a lot of the ball on the flanks but service to the front two was limited. The deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark when Cardwell latched on to a defence-splitting ball to finish. Although ‘Burn only had the one goal to show for their efforts the visitors never threatened and the lead was always comfortable. Then in the final minute of the half Williamson launched into a needless tackle in the box and 37th equalised from the resultant penalty.
Worse was to come in the opening minutes of the half when Williamson conceded possession and a superb strike put Stranmillis 2-1 in front. ‘Burn finally lifted their game and for the next fifteen minutes threw everything into attack. The keeper made a terrific save from a Dempster volley but despite a succession of corners and so much pressure the equaliser failed to come. Finally Cardwell headed home a Beattie corner and two minutes later Dempster released Edwards and he rifled the ball home to put ‘Burn 3-2 in front and turn the whole game on its head. However Bryansburn were all over the place at the back and keeper Kennedy had to make two excellent saves to keep them in front.
When Cardwell danced round the keeper to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-2 the points seemed safe. However a direct free-kick scored by the visitors’ three minutes from time set up a grandstand finish. Any nerves were dispelled within a minute as Gallagher powered down the left flank and crossed low for Cardwell to tap in at the back post.
Not a great performance from the 3rd XI but still five goals scored and three more points.
The 4th XI were beaten 3-2 at Stranmillis 37th OB ll in a game they were disappointed not to win.
In a fairly even first half ‘Burn took the lead through a fine strike from Jeffers only for Stranmillis to equalise ten minutes from halftime when their Centre-back rose unchallenged at a corner to score with a firm header.
Midway through the second half debutant Toogood won the ball in midfield and fed the ball to Patterson on the left wing whose cross was fired home by Morrison to give ‘Burn the lead. Bryansburn thought they had a penalty when the home goalkeeper upended Patterson but the referee failed to blow. This proved to be a turning point as shortly afterwards another corner caused problems for the ‘Burn defence and the ball was bundled home from close range. Despite claims that the ball had not crossed the line the goal stood. Worse was to come ten minutes from the end when keeper Magennis could not hold a sharp shot and the rebound was poked home to give Stranmillis the lead. Even then ‘Burn could have salvaged a point when dead ball specialist Morrison curled a free kick over the defensive wall only to see it rebound off the post.
A disappointing result for Bryansburn especially when they seemed at one stage to be coasting to a win.
