Bryansburn Rangers FC

Bryansburn Rangers lll, newly promoted to the Down Area League Premier Division, made an unbeaten start to the new season.

Last Wednesday Comber Rec lll were the visitors to Ballywooley and an amazing fightback by the home side salvaged an unlikely point for ‘Burn.

Comber dominated totally in a one-sided first half. Bryansburn were limited to the odd breakaway from an attacking point of view and the visitors were camped in the Bryansburn half for virtually the entire forty-five minutes as the home side looked out of their depth. It took only five minutes for Comber to open the scoring when a shot from outside the box went in off the underside of the bar. Keeper Brady then proceeded to make two great saves before a forward lobbed him to make it 2-0. Shortly after the visitors were awarded a penalty but Brady kept his side in the game with a superb save from the spot kick. The Bryansburn midfield were being over-run and the defence stretched and when Comber scored a well-worked third goal the game seemed over as a contest.

In the early stages of the second half Bryansburn somehow managed to get a foothold in the game and managed to create a few half chances. Midway through the half Cardwell scored a header, which at the time was deemed no more than a consolation. However the goal clearly rattled the visitors and ‘Burn started to get the ball down and pass it with Murphy, and Thompson instrumental. With fifteen minutes remaining Thompson fired home from just inside the box and suddenly it was 3-2 and game on. Bryansburn were now in total control and it came as no surprise when Murphy slipped in substitute Edwards to fire home the equaliser four minutes from time. Bearing in mind the dominance of Comber in the first half it was amazing to see them holding on in the closing minutes to take a point.

This was an amazing game of two halves with Bryansburn totally outclassed in the first half but making a quite sensational comeback in the second to take a point.

On Saturday the 3^rd XI travelled to Comber Star and won 6-4 in what was an entertaining encounter.

Comber started well as missed several decent chances as well as hitting the bar yet it was Bryansburn who opened the scoring with their first chance of note. Cardwell latched on to a McComb free-kick and slotted the ball home. Minutes later the advantage was doubled when Cardwell scored a quite sensational solo goal. Comber plugged away and were awarded a penalty when the referee harshly adjudged Beckett to have handled and they made no mistake from the spot. The home side then equalised when Brady seemed to have the ball in his hands before it was scrambled home. Shortly before halftime a ‘Burn attack was stopped before a long ball caught them out and the home side took the lead.

Bryansburn could not have made a better start to the second half equalising in the opening minute. Dempster fed Gallagher at the by-line, his cross came back off the bar and the keeper clawed out Cardwell’s effort only for Thompson to knock home the rebound. Then Gallagher took central stage scoring twice to put Bryansburn 5-3 up during a spell when he was virtually unplayable. ‘Burn were now in total control and several good chances went begging to kill the game off.

Bryansburn could have paid the price when Gallagher conceded a penalty but it bounced off the bar. Comber Star did pull a goal back but any hope of a comeback was short-lived when Storey scored a sixth goal from outside the box. Bryansburn could have added more goals in the closing minutes including from one amazing bout of pinball in the six yard box but had the end of the day ‘Burn were delighted with the second half performance and three points.

The 4^th XI travelled to Newtown Forest ll and drew 1-1 in a friendly. It is believed that a home player suffered a bad injury and we wish him a speedy recovery.

This Saturday: 1^st XI V Rathfriland Rangers (h), 2^nd XI – Friendly (a), 3^rd XI V Moat Park Rangers (a) and 4^th XI V Greenwell Star ll (a)

Bryansburn moved into second place in Division 1B on Tuesday night with a hard fought 1-0 win over visiting Civil Service. The victory means that ‘Burn are now the only side in the Division with a 100% record. A good start giving grounds for optimism regarding the season ahead.

‘Burn took to the field with no fewer than five regulars missing and knew that they faced a tough task to take all three points. Civil service battled hard in the first half and were unfortunate not to be in front at the break. Firstly keeper Wallace made a superb save with Magee clearing the rebound off the line and minutes later it was Graham who was well positioned to clear another effort off the line. At the other end Barr had the best of the Bryansburn opportunities but in general there was little to choose between the teams.

After the break Bryansburn began to exert more pressure and it was the turn of the visitors to twice clear off the line. Despite most of the play being in the Service half ‘Burn failed to create too many clear-cut chances although at the other end the visitors goal threat was virtually non-existent.

‘Burn suffered a blow when top scorer Culbert limped from the fray and as time ticked away they were in danger of dropping two points. Fifteen minutes from time Civil Service had a man sent off for a second bookable offence and they then proceeded to pull every man behind the ball to try and hang on for a draw. Then seven minutes from time Malomo-Paris burst through the middle and showed terrific composure to round the keeper and slot the ball home for what turned out to be the only goal of the game. ‘Burn could have added a second late on before Service were reduced to nine men with two minutes on the clock.

Not one of Bryansburn’s better performances this season but with so many players missing and not playing particularly well the side showed tremendous character to grind out a win which was well deserved in the end.

On Saturday the 1^st XI travelled to NAFL Premier League side Dromara Village in the 1^st Round of the Steel & Sons Cup. ‘Burn competed well for ninety minutes and actually edged the play regarding chances created. Certainly the very least the side deserved was to take the game into extra time but it was not to be as the home side pounced in the last minute of normal time to scrape a 1-0 win. Still, the fact that ‘Burn did not look out of place against a team two divisions higher than them was encouraging.

The 2nds hosted Distillery Under 19s in a pre-season friendly and it was the visitors who got off to the better start. They played some neat, flowing football and created a number of chances before scoring on the half hour mark. ‘Burn were holding a high line and were successful on the whole, but their goal was breached again when the ball fell kindly to the left winger who made no mistake from twelve yards to double the lead. At the other end, ‘Burn created a couple of half chances but failed to convert. HT 0-2

The hosts made several changes at half time and started to get into gear. They pulled a goal back through a neat finish from Barr and pressed for the equaliser. Distillery continued to play excellent football and were always dangerous when in possession. However ‘Burn battled hard and their efforts were rewarded ten minutes from time when J McAllister scored from close range. A few minutes later, Burn were denied what looked like a cast-iron penalty and right at the death Distillery had a golden opportunity to snatch the win, but an excellent game ended with honours even.

FT 2-2

The 3^rd XI travelled to Newton Forest for their final friendly match and recorded a comfortable 5-2 win.

‘Burn took an early lead when Dempster headed home a Beattie corner but all credit to the home side who battled back well to equalise and then take the lead. Both times keeper Brady, making his comeback from injury, was given no chance. The home keeper then saved well from Dempster who also put an easy chance over the bar after a good run and cross from Gallagher. Cardwell was then pulled down on the edge of the box after bursting through the middle while Thompson volleyed wide from an excellent chance. Finally the equaliser came when a Dempster header from a Beattie corner was blocked on the line and Peeples hammered home the rebound.

In the second half Bryansburn took the lead when Cardwell latched on to a through ball and finished superbly. Minutes later Corr produced an equally sublime finish to make it 4-2 and kill the game as a contest. Cole then burst through from Right-back and lobbed the keeper only to see his effort bounce off the bar.

Five minutes from time Bryansburn pieced together the move of the match. No fewer than five players were involved in one touch approach play before a blistering finish from Cardwell saw the ball fly into the top corner like a rocket.

The 3^rd XI opened their Down Area Premier League campaign last night (Wed) at home to Comber Rec lll and visit Comber Star on Saturday.

Also on Saturday the 4^th XI travel to face Newtown Forest ll at Henry Jones.