Bryansburn Rangers FC

Bryansburn 1^st XI earned a trip to either Rosario YC or Lisburn Rangers in the 3^rd Round of the Clarence Cup with a narrow 2-1 victory over Bangor Rangers at Clandeboye Park on Tuesday night.

‘Burn put in a rather jaded performance with their recent Cup exploits seemingly having taken a toll whereas the home side looked brighter and more up for the game throughout but Bryansburn are in the next round and that is the most important thing.

The first half was a bit of a non-event with the two sides mustering just one shot on target between them. That came courtesy of a Graham header from a Mayne free-kick in the 9^th minute which Bryansburn keeper Steventon tipped over the bar. Bryansburn shaded the early exchanges passing the ball about well without really creating much. Tumelty made a good run down the inside right channel and his cross somehow eluded everyone in the middle. S.Barr played a ball over the top to put R.Barr in the clear but he lobbed over both the advancing keeper and the bar while a minute later Tumelty went close from long-range.

In the 29^th minute Bryansburn’s S.Barr and Mayne of Bangor Rangers clashed and Mayne kicked out leaving the referee little choice but to brandish a straight red card. However despite the man advantage the Bryansburn play still lacked a sense of urgency and they only managed to carve out two more chances before the break both of which fell to Tumelty. Firstly he latched on to a four man move but shot over and then when Cooling found him with a superb ball he turned his man well but again shot over. Bangor had a chance at the other end in the 42^nd minute when Drew burst into the box but his low effort went wide. HT 0-0

Nine minutes into the second half ‘Burn at last threatened the home goal. A long diagonal ball from Graham found S.Barr wide on the left and his cross was met by R.Barr but the keeper saved well and then reacted swiftly to deny McGimpsey from the rebound. A minute later a tame McKee shot was fumbled by Steventon for a corner before ‘Burn made their first change bringing on Kane for Thompson with Graham moving into midfield. On the hour the deadlock was broken. Cooling surged down the right and found R.Barr at the near post. He turned his marker and crossed low to the back post where Tumelty pounced to score. Bangor Rangers looked to have equalised from a corner in the 66^th minute but the ball was somehow kept out in a goalmouth scramble. Young Morrison replaced McGimpsey in the 71^st minute and five minutes later ‘Burn should have doubled their advantage. Graham chipped the ball forward to Culbert and he held the ball up well before back-heeling to Tumelty but his shot was saved.

The closing stages were totally dominated by Bangor Rangers. In the 78^th minute Maguire chopped a Bangor player on the edge of the box. The resultant free-kick hit the wall but seconds later Maguire received a second yellow card for handball and he was given his marching orders. Then a Kane foul on the edge of the box stopped another powerful run and he too went into the book. This time the free-kick sailed over the bar.

The home side stepped up the pressure and forced several corners in succession while Steventon tipped a low drive round the post. Finally Bangor Rangers got the equaliser they deserved in the 87^th minute. Steventon made two superb saves before the ball was crossed in and headed home by Graham. However there was to be a twist in the tale. One minute later the ball was played up to Morrison and he held the ball up well before finding Tumelty and he drilled the ball into the bottom corner for a welcome although somewhat undeserved winner.

Malomo-Paris replaced Culbert on the ninety minutes and ‘Burn professionally run the clock down for the three minutes of injury time.

As stated not one of Bryansburn’s better performances but still another victory. Now the side need to get back on form for their long-awaited return to League action on Saturday.

On Saturday the 1^st XI’s game at League-leaders Dundonald was called off at midday due to a frozen pitch.

Bryansburn 2^nd XI notched a much needed victory away to Sirocco Works ll returning with a well-deserved 4-0 win.
’Burn were well up for this match and should of taken a 1st minute lead when Bowater was put through but his looped effort went just went over. Bryansburn kept up the pressure and had another great chance when the lively Morrison ran on to a Bowater pass but did not connect right and sent his shot wide. ‘Burn pushed hard and had a few half chances but failed to score as the 1st half ended 0-0.
The 2nd half started in the same fashion as the first with plenty of ‘Burn pressure and the visitors finally got the breakthrough on the hour mark. Bowater hit a great free-kick, which the keeper fumbled and Malomo-Paris was on hand to poke the ball home.
’Burn doubled their lead five minutes later when Morrison put in a good ball which Bowater took down with a great touch and hit on the turn giving the keeper no chance. Sirocco tried to get back into the game but never troubled the returning Galbraith in goal with Bryansburn’s midfield and defence stopping every attack they mounted.
Bryansburn made a couple of changes with Flynn and Storey coming on and they settled in right away with Flynn smashing a volley right into the top corner of the net to make it three nil and kill the game off.
With tens minutes left Cunningham replaced Kehoe as Bryansburn ran down the clock with a passing game that had Sirocco chasing shadows at times and this led to ‘Burn’s fourth goal when good closing down saw the ball come to Flynn all of thirty yards out and he fired a unstoppable drive right in the corner of the net.
This was a great team performance in a game ‘Burn controlled from start to finish without a single sirocco shot on target. It would be unfair to single anyone out, as the whole team were outstanding.

The 3^rd XI’s trip to Comber Rec lll was also called off late on Saturday morning due to a frozen pitch.

Bryansburn 4^th XI were given a football lesson by a strong Moat Park Rangers ll side at Dundonald crashing out of the Reserve Team Cup at the 2^nd Round stage.

The home side put ‘Burn under pressure from the start with their fast attacking play. Bryansburn survived a couple of near misses before Moat Park took the lead after twenty minutes when a shot was deflected to give keeper Gardner no chance. ‘Burn had to rely on occasional breaks from defence and from one of these Patterson showed good persistence to fire home for a surprise equaliser. Moat Park responded strongly with Gardner being kept busy and saving well on a number of occasions. Almost inevitably the pressure told and they worked the ball well with a deep cross being headed powerfully home.

The second half continued in much the same vein. ‘Burn defended valiantly but lost McAllister and Geddis to injury before Moat Park extended their lead. Their dominance was confirmed when a cross from the right was deflected into the net and when Gardner saved well only for the rebound to be slotted home to leave the final score 5 – 1 to Moat Park.

Training continues tonight (Thur) at Ward Park, 6pm.

Fixtures for Saturday: 1^st XI V Shorts FC (a), 2^nd XI V Wellington Rec ll (h), 3^rd XI V Comber YM (a) and 4^th XI V Moat Park Rangers ll (h).

On Saturday Bryansburn are holding a quiz night at the Club, 7.30pm. It is asked that all members make a special effort to attend. Quizmaster is David Corr.

Finally everyone connected to the Club would like to pass on their deepest sympathy to Sonya and Gary Beattie after the death of Sonya’s mother. Our thoughts are with you.

Bryansburn Rangers were beaten by Nortel after extra time and penalties in their JJB Sports Irish Cup 5^th Round replay at Clandeboye Park last Wednesday. ‘Burn looked to have booked their trip to Coleraine when they led 2-1 with thirty seconds of injury time remaining only for the Monkstown men to equalise through a bizarre own goal. Then four minutes from the end of extra time Bryansburn were awarded a penalty with the sides still locked at 2-2 but after sending off two Nortel players the referee cruelly reversed his decision on the advice of a linesman.

So to the game itself. Bryansburn were at full strength apart from Thompson and McConkey and made a bright start with all the play in the Nortel half. The first chance of the game came in the 8^th minute when McGimpsey played in R.Barr down the right, He cut in, beat his man only to see his shot deflected for a corner. Nortel began to settle a bit and Magee and Kane both made important headers to cut out the threat of danger but on the whole ‘Burn remained on top. Murray then threaded a ball through to R.Barr but the keeper was quick off his line to smother at his feet.

Nortel responded with a snap shot that flew across the face of goal and then in the 13^th minute came the best chance of the game so far. Maguire played a long ball, Culbert headed it on and R.Barr found himself clean through but the keeper deflected his effort for a corner with his legs. The same player was in on goal minutes later after good work from Maguire and Tumelty but this time he delayed and his shot was blocked for yet another corner. It was taken by S.Barr and flew across the face of goal with no-one able to get that vital touch.

In the 20^th minute Tumelty made a surging run and was hacked down by the visitors no 5, a foul that gave him the games first yellow card. S.Barr played the resulting free-kick low to Culbert who forced his sides 6^th corner. Nortel could then have taken an undeserved lead when a free-kick, harshly awarded against Maguire, bounced on top of the bar and over.

Bryansburn were well on top and their 8^th corner finally reaped dividends in the 32^nd minute. Maguire found Tumelty with it and when he flicked the ball up it was handled in the box. Culbert stepped up and made no mistake with the resultant penalty. Nortel rallied somewhat and Kane had to make a terrific block and Steventon held a long-range free-kick before a low 25yard shot beat Steventon but hit the outside of the post. HT 1-0.

Bryansburn could not have made a better start to the second half doubling their lead in the opening minute. McGimpsey played in R.Barr and although the keeper saved his first effort he made no mistake with the rebound. The game could have been over three minutes later when an S.Barr free-kick fell invitingly for Culbert but he shot over. Nortel were then given a lifeline in the 52^nd minute when Kane was adjudged to have handled in the box and they reduced the arrears from the spot with McKay on target. The goal visibly lifted the away side and Bryansburn had to defend a couple of corners before Steventon saved a low shot. On the hour Cooling replaced the injured Magee before ‘Burn nearly regained their two goal lead McGimpsey heading an S.Barr free inches wide.

As the game reached the closing stages Nortel were doing all the probing without looking like scoring and to counteract this Manager TJ Young changed the formation of the side with Malomo-Paris coming on for Captain Culbert in the 77^th minute. ‘Burn were holding the ball up well and running the clock down as that place in the 6^th round edged closer. Nortel had a decent header before S.Barr drilled a good free-kick just wide after a fracas that saw another Nortel player go in the book.

The 4^th official displayed tow minutes of injury time on his board and as the game reached the final thirty seconds it looked as though ‘Burn were through. Then disaster struck. A free-kick to the back post by Nortel reached McRoberts who lifted the ball over Steventon only for it to hit the post, come out and hit Steventon and go into the net for the most unfortunate of equalisers. FT 2-2

There were few chances in the first period of extra time. S.Barr fired a free-kick into the box and it somehow missed everyone and ended up in the keepers arms, while Tumelty wriggled through and was only denied by a last ditch tackle. At the other end Kane made a good block to thwart Nortel’s only chance of note.

Early in the second period Shaw replaced Maguire for Bryansburn’s final substitution. There was then little of note until the game exploded to life in the 126^th minute. A foul on S.Barr caused a flare-up, which had to be calmed down. As the resulting free-kick was about to be taken a linesman spotted Nortel’s Bond punching Bryansburn’s Murray in the box. The kick was cleared for a corner and then the referee spoke to the Linesman before brandishing a red card to Bond and pointing to the penalty spot. While Tumelty waited patiently to take the spot kick the Nortel players argued resulting in a second red card shown this time to Boyle for dissent. So after a delay of some five minutes Tumelty was now ready to take the penalty which was likely to send ‘Burn through with the opposition down to nine men and extra time officially up. However the same Linesman had his flag raised again and pointed out that the ball had not been in play when the incident happened and the referee subsequently changed his mind and awarded a corner. Perhaps the free-kick should have been retaken rather than a corner signalled but either way it was heartbreaking for the large Bryansburn support.

The corner was cleared off the line and ‘Burn had renewed hope when five minutes of injury time was signalled. Most of the five minutes was spent in the Nortel box although on one occasion the visitors broke three against one but fortunately a forward strayed offside.

So to the dreaded penalty shoot-out. The first seven kicks were all scored to put Nortel 4-3 in front with Graham, S.Barr and Cooling all making no mistake whereas one Nortel kick hit the post and another the bar but still went in. The unfortunate Murray then missed the target for Bryansburn and it was left to Loughran to score the decisive kick to send Nortel through.

So an amazing Irish Cup run came to an end in heart-breaking fashion. Certainly Nortel were not a better side then Bryansburn over the two games and if nothing else ‘Burn showed that if they can achieve their no1 aim this season which is to get promoted to Division 1A then they will have nothing to fear next year as Nortel are currently unbeaten League-leaders in 1A.

Our thanks go to O’Kane Food Services for sponsoring the match ball for this game. Much appreciated.