Bryansburn Rangers FC

After the heavy overnight rain last Friday only the 3^rd XI trip to title favourites Rosemount Rec survived. The home side were unbeaten in the League this season with just two points dropped and only ten goals conceded and so ‘Burn were hoping to avoid a heavy loss. However, in an amazing game, Bryansburn inflicted a 5-0 defeat on their hosts with the veteran strike force of Cardwell and Dempster helping themselves to four goals between them to take their combined competitive total this season to thirty.

As expected Rosemount started on top and the opening exchanges were all in the Bryansburn half. However with bodies behind the ball ‘Burn were able to cope comfortably enough and then stunned the home side by opening the scoring with their first attack of note. The ball was played up to Cardwell and he produced a sublime finish from the corner of the box as his low effort went in off the far post. Normal service was resumed with Rosemount pinning ‘Burn back again but despite all their dominance and possession keeper Steventon did not have much to do with the few decent chances created failing to hit the target.

On the half hour mark Bryansburn doubled their lead with what was actually only their second shot. It came from the unlikely source of Beckett who strode forward from Left-back, combined with Beattie and Cardwell before rifling home a right foot shot from the edge of the box. The home side did not seem to know how to react to this set-back, unaccustomed to being behind at all this season, whereas ‘Burn raised their game now having something substantial to protect. With McComb and Hardy immense at the heart of the defence and Murphy and Thompson on top in midfield ‘Burn continued to defend well and catch their opponents on the break. Twice the home side lived dangerously. First when Beattie put Cardwell through only for the striker to be harshly ruled offside and then when Cardwell got through a second time the keeper managed to grab the ball as he tried to round him. It did not matter because minutes later Cardwell got another chance and lifted the ball over the keepers head to make it 3-0.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first with Rosemount dominating possession and territory but lacking a cutting edge as ‘Burn were happy to get bodies behind the ball, defend and try and catch them on the break. To their credit Rosemount did play a lot more like potential champions in the second half and carved out a number of good opportunities but as they continued to squander them there was a general feeling around the ground that it was going to be one of those days. ‘Burn caught them several times and Dempster put a close range effort over the bar before having a header well saved.

Midway through the half Bryansburn killed the game off. Beattie delivered an excellent corner and Dempster headed home his 12^th goal of the season. At 4-0 down even the Rosemount players knew they were not coming back. They did not give up but their shooting accuracy did not improve as Steventon still had little to do in the visitors’ goal. In the final minute the cap was put on an amazing performance with a 5^th Bryansburn goal. The home keeper parried a shot straight to the feet of Cardwell and he duly completed his hat-trick and 18^th goal of the season.

This was one of those days when everything went for ‘Burn. Nine times out of ten Rosemount would win this contest and win well but the beauty of football is that every now and again the underdog wins. “Man of the Match” was Cardwell for his hat-trick and overall performance. His finishing was definitely the difference between the teams.

Bryansburn 1^st XI host Oxford United Stars this Saturday in the 4^th Round of the Irish Cup, kick-off 1.30pm. It is a tough fixture for ‘Burn but there can be no bigger incentive for winning than a place in the 5^th Round when all the Irish League Premier sides, including Linfield and Glentoran, join the competition.

We trust we will have the support of everyone connected to Bryansburn Rangers FC as the side try to make a bit of history.

Other fixtures: 2^nd XI V East Belfast ll (a), 3^rd XI V Corrymeela (h) and 4^th XI V Corrymeela ll (a).

Training continues at Ward Park tonight (Thur) at 6.30pm and on Tuesday 8pm at Bangor Sportsplex.

The Christmas Dinner is at the Stormont Hotel on Saturday 19^th December. All places have now been filled.

All players are reminded that annual subscriptions are now overdue. Could those who have not yet paid please do so this Saturday.

The Grand Christmas Draw will take place next Saturday 19^th December. Would all players please note that they will be still be charged even if they fail to sell their quota.

After the postponement of lasts weeks’ scheduled fixture, Bryansburn Rangers finally hosted Dungiven FC from the NI Intermediate League and recorded an emphatic 3-1 victory to progress into the 4^th Round of the Irish Cup.

Bryansburn, just as they did against Lisburn Rangers in their previous game, came out of the blocks right from the first whistle and the visitors did not know what had hit them as within fifteen explosive minutes they found themselves 3-0 down and basically out of the contest.

In the 6^th minute Shaw, making his long awaited return to the 1^st team after many years, played a great ball to Tumelty and with great precision he split the Dungiven defence and sent Barr charging into the box only for him to be upended for an easy decision for the referee to make and he duly obliged by pointing to the spot. After numerous misses from twelve yards from various players this year, up stepped Tumelty who made no mistake and rifled it into the net.

On nine minutes, after great play from Barr & McGimpsey, Barr was once again fouled halfway into the Dungiven half. Maguire delivered a deep free kick to the back post where Culbert was on hand to smash a volley goalwards only for the keeper to save it with his legs but fortunately for Culbert the ball came back to him and with quick reactions he poked the ball home for the 2^nd.

The 3^rd and decisive goal came in the 14^th minute when great play down the right from Murray found Tumelty eighteen yards out and he flicked the ball up with his right foot and smashed it with his left foot sending it wide of the outstretched hand of the keeper into the corner of the net for what was a great individual goal.

Dungiven now began to settle and started to come back into the game and in particular their right sided player Boyle who at times was giving Shaw a headache. Although Boyle danced past him a couple of times the tricky winger’s final ball into the box was easily cleared by the home defence.

The ‘Burn attack consisting of Culbert, Tumelty and Barr continued to look very dangerous and had the Dungiven defence in turmoil. McGimpsey and Murray once again were inspirational and the impressive Maguire with his creative passing was a joy to watch.

At the other end the visitors were trying to get back into the game and the home side had to endure a few uncomfortable situations. One in particular were Kane clearly barged the Dungiven player in the box but the referee who had a great view of it deemed it fair and play carried on.

The game was certainly stretched with end-to-end action but the visitors were reduced to long-range efforts and the half finished without anymore scoring. HT 3-0

Dungiven started the 2^nd half as if they meant business. After only one minute and great work once again down the right, the ball was fizzed low across the edge of the box, and after two dummied attacks the midfield player found himself in front of goal but his shot went well wide of the target.

Certainly a wake up call the home team needed but ‘Burn with the cushion of the 3-0 found it difficult to keep the ball as it was the visitors who had all the momentum.

Dungiven now were on top and playing a nice passing game and as Bryansburn struggled for possession this allowed the visitors to camp themselves in the ‘Burn half. However, the Bryansburn defence, well marshalled by Graham, stood up to everything they through at them.

The turning point of the game was when Doran pulled off two tremendous saves, one when he was at full stretch to his left with a strong hand to turn the ball round the post and the 2^nd one equally as impressive as he saved it with his legs.
Maybe if one of those chances had gone in the game may have got that little bit nervier for the home side.

As Dungiven pressed to get back into the game, the pitch clearly was taking its toll and this allowed for the ‘Burn attacks to be more frequent.

Tumelty, Culbert and Barr as they did most of the afternoon, looked dangerous in every flow of attack and but for lack of composure and poor finishing the score line could have been more impressive.

On 82 minutes after a goal mouth scramble where the ball come back off the post, Dungiven finally got a consolation goal their efforts fully deserved but it was Bryansburn who held out to progress to the 4^th Round of the Irish Cup where they will play another NI Intermediate League team Oxford Utd Stars on the 12^th December at Ballywooley with the winners going into the hat with the chance of a big draw against an Irish League Club such as Linfield or Glentoran.

Bryansburn host top Championship Side Donegal Celtic this Saturday in the Intermediate Cup, which will be a mammoth task for the players but a game they should all enjoy.

We trust we will have the support of everyone connected to Bryansburn Rangers FC and as we all know football sometimes can cause upsets and just maybe this weekend at Ballywooley we could record one of the biggest upsets in the clubs history.

The 2nds played only their 2nd game in six weeks, hosting Park View in the 3^rd Round of the Junior Cup and were well beaten.

The lack of match practice showed with Bryansburn taking time to get into the game. The visitors created three chances in the opening twenty minutes and took all of them to open up a significant lead. Bryansburn started to get into the game and Edwards had a couple of excellent chances before he did pull one back, firing into the roof of the net after a brilliant through ball from midfield. However Park View were excellent in attack and took every chance that fell to them to open up their lead further and leave Bryansburn to play for pride.

The hosts put in a good effort during the opening of the second half. Morrison, J McAllister and S McAllister had chances to give the score-line some respectability but were thwarted by good goalkeeping and goal-line clearances. The game went from bad to worse for ‘Burn when the visiting striker netted himself a couple more goals and the game ended with a very comfortable victory for Park View.

This was a mixture of a very good performance from Parkview and a very poor performance from Bryansburn, who will want to get back to League action and put things right.

The 3^rd XI had to draft in no fewer than four players from the 4^th team into the starting line-up for their Sittlington Cup tie at Comber Star and were knocked out of the competition going down 3-1.

The home side had the better of the first half exchanges yet rarely troubled Steventon in the Bryansburn goal thanks to some poor finishing and some trouble keeping on side. At the other end ‘Burn rarely threatened although McComb stabbed the ball against the crossbar from a corner while another corner from Murphy was cleared off the line. The only goal of the half went to Comber when a long free-kick into the box deceived everybody and nestled in the corner of the net.

Bryansburn made a better show of it in the second half with Cardwell testing the keeper from distance and J.Geddis twice being denied by the keeper. The introduction of Henderson also helped as he produced a stream of dangerous crosses from the right. At the other end Comber also looked more threatening but failed to find that crucial second goal. The goal finally came and ironically from a ‘Burn corner as the home side counter-attacked, working the ball to the by-line before pulling it back for an excellent finish. In the 81^st minute the tie was then killed off when Steventon was unsighted for a shot from the edge of the box. He did then make an excellent one-on-one save before Patterson drilled home a consolation strike with seven minutes left.

Bryansburn could have made the final score closer in the closing minutes when, in a bout of sustained pressure, three good chances were put over the bar from close range. However it was too little too late as over the ninety minutes Comber Star thoroughly deserved their victory.

Bryansburn 4^th XI sent a patched up team to Rosemount Rec ll on Saturday due to the loss of four players called up to the third team. Veterans Pinion and Campbell were drafted in, White made his debut and there were recalls for Speers and Crawley allowing ‘Burn to field a team with no substitutes. However the side put in a good showing before finally going down 3-1.

In the early stages ‘Burn took the game to Rosemount and created several chances. Their early dominance was rewarded after fifteen minutes when Turnbull rose well to head home a corner. Gilmer went close to extending the lead before Rosemount rallied with Pinion making one great reaction save and White making a last ditch saving tackle. Their pressure was rewarded after 35 minutes when a poor clearance was lashed past Pinion into the top corner from 25 yards to make the score 1-1. ‘Burn steadied and saw out the half with no addition to the score.

Bryansburn again started the 2nd half brightly with Gilmer and the lively Turnbull causing problems for the home defence. However disaster struck ten minutes in when Gilmer fell awkwardly damaging his ankle ligaments and had to be helped off. The ten remaining men fought a gallant rear guard action relying on breaks out of defence. Crawley had some success down the left and the home defence was kept on its toes. However, as legs tired, Rosemount applied more pressure. Armstrong blocked at close range and Pinion made another fine save before the home team scored midway through the half with a header after the goalkeeper misjudged a cross. A third goal followed soon after when a left wing cross was powerfully headed home. Rosemount had a chance to put a rather flattering slant to the score when they were awarded a late penalty but the kick was fired wide leaving the final score 3 to 1.

Overall ‘Burn produced a brave battling display in difficult circumstances with everyone deserving praise but special mention goes to Turnbull who worked his socks off throughout, especially after losing his striking partner.

Training continues at Ward Park tonight (Thur) at 6.30pm and on Tuesday 8pm at Bangor Sportsplex.

The Christmas Dinner is at the Stormont Hotel on Saturday 19^th December. All outstanding money must be paid this Saturday.

All players are reminded that annual subscriptions are now due. Could those who have not yet paid please do so this Saturday.

Christmas Draw tickets are now available from the respective Managers. Would all players please note that they are expected to sell their quota.

This Saturday: 1^st XI V Donegal Celtic (h), 2^nd XI V Downpatrick ll (h), 3^rd XI V Rosemount Rec (a) and 4^th XI V Queens Grads IV (h)