Bryansburn Rangers FC

Bryansburn Rangers travelled to fellow title challengers Newcastle on Saturday for a crucial game that will go a long way towards deciding the places at the end of the season. With Dundonald leading ‘Burn by eleven points with four games extra played and Newcastle having an extra nine points with Bryansburn three games in hand the importance of the game could not be overstated. As it was Bryansburn put in one of their best performances of the season to comprehensively outplay their hosts and deservedly return with all three points.

Kane, Murray and McConkey were all unavailable, as was the suspended S.Barr but Bryansburn have a much stronger squad this season and were still able to parade a strong lineout.

‘Burn took command from the start and Coard soon released Tumelty but the keeper saved with his legs. Minutes later Tumelty was again on target, this time from a 25-yard free-kick but the home keeper was again up to the task. Then Thompson powered a header just over the bar from a corner. The deadlock was finally broken in the 23^rd minute. Culbert sent Tumelty scampering down the left flank and after skinning the Fullback he crossed low for Malomo-Paris to turn the ball in at the back post. The goal was no more then ‘Burn had deserved and they should have doubled their lead in the 27^th minute when Magee latched on to the end of a Coard free-kick only for the keeper to save his volley with his legs. ‘Burn remained on top with Tumelty in particular causing the home defence all kinds of problems.

Then, completely against the run of play, Newcastle equalised with their first shot on goal in the 34^th minute. A long throw into the Bryansburn box was flicked up in the air and with Maitland a shade too late in closing the ball down it was volleyed home from twelve yards.

Undeterred Bryansburn continued to dominate with Maguire, Coard and Thompson instrumental in the middle of the park, continually getting the ball down and playing some great football on the deck. This was in complete contrast to their counterparts who preferred to lift hoof the ball in the air towards their front two who got no change from the back four of Cooling, Maitland, Magee and Graham all of whom were outstanding.

Malomo-Paris was unfortunate with a mazy run just before the break and the keeper smothered the ball at the second attempt but the only question being asked at halftime was how were Bryansburn not winning the game after such a dominant half. HT 1-1

Five minutes into the second period Barr replaced Malomo-Paris and this was to prove an inspired substitution as he went on to lead the Newcastle defenders a merry dance for the rest of the half as well as being brought down by fouls time and time again. Cooling made two tremendous runs down the right flank but unfortunately the final balls into the box did not match the quality of the football that preceded them.

Newcastle then put together their best attacking move of the match but young Cooling made a tremendous clearing header from under his own crossbar to put the ball out for a corner when two players were lined up at the back post looking certain to score. Cooling was having a great game at both ends of the pitch and two minutes later he was upended in the home box but the referee waved away all claims for a penalty.

What turned out to be the winning goal arrived in the 64^th minute. Graham caught Newcastle out with a quickly taken throw, Tumelty hooked the ball over his shoulder high into the box and Barr held off the challenge of a defender to head into the bottom corner.

Fifteen minutes from time Thompson headed a Coard free-kick just wide of the upright before the home side had their first attempt on goal of the second half but the ball hit the side netting. Despite not looking like scoring, Newcastle did come into the game a bit and this prompted the introduction of McGimpsey for Thompson in the 82^nd minute. Newcastle probed away but sterling work from Cooling and Graham in particular meant that there was no way through. ‘Burn should have sealed the points five minutes from the end. Cooling played Barr in down the right flank and he fired over a superb cross that Culbert headed across the face of goal. As the game entered the last couple of minutes Morrison replaced Tumelty as ‘Burn reverted to a 4-4-2 formation to see the game out.

The only criticism of Bryansburn in this game is that they failed to kill the game off despite dominating the entire ninety minutes and in the final minute they could have paid the price. The referee awarded Newcastle a dubious corner and when the ball was fired in their no8 lost his marker and powered home a header from six yards out only to see Steventon pull off an unbelievable save. That was only Newcastle’s second shot on target and testimony that the points were deservedly going to the Bangor-West side.

There was still time for one of the misses of the season three minutes into injury time. A poor back-pass put the Newcastle keeper under pressure and he kicked the ball against the incoming Culbert. It hit him on the chest and rebounded back past the keeper leaving Culbert with an open goal but somehow he rolled the ball wide. Fortunately it did not matter as the final whistle went seconds later to give Bryansburn’s title challenge a deserved boost.

This was a great team performance with every man playing his part. There were sterling performances from Cooling, Coard and Thompson throughout, a blistering first half from Tumelty and an equally inspired second half from Barr. Special mention to keeper Steventon who, despite having virtually nothing to do all game, pulled off a wonder save when it really mattered at the end.

This Saturday Bryansburn will be in action in the 3^rd Round of the Clarence Cup but all eyes will be on the Billy Neil PF where Dundonald entertain Newcastle in Division 1B meaning that at least one and possibly both of ‘Burn’s rivals will drop points.

Fixtures this Saturday: 1^st XI V Lisburn Rangers (a), 2^nd XI V Sirocco Works ll (h), 3^rd XI V Ravenhill YM (a) and 4^th XI V Agape ll (h).

Bryansburn Rangers hosted Bloomfield at Ballywooley on Saturday looking to bounce back from their first League defeat of the season the previous week and they got back on track running out comfortable 4-0 winners.

‘Burn made a sluggish start and allowed the visitors’ to settle early on and it was Bloomfield who had the first real attack on goal when they broke down the right and delivered a whipped cross into the box which had Graham on the back foot. However Steventon courageously came out and smothered it whilst taking a blow to his head for his efforts from the oncoming striker

After a brief spell with both teams cancelling each other out Bryansburn burst into life and within a twenty minute period ran Bloomfield ragged creating numerous chances.

First chance fell to Coard after a well-worked corner routine but his shot went high over the bar. This was quickly followed by a long-range effort from Culbert, which was comfortably dealt with by the keeper.

Malomo-Paris, with his customary turn and dart into the space, found himself clear but the visiting defence cleared his pullback to the penalty spot.

‘Burn continued to press and the opening goal eventually came after great work down the left by Coard and he delivered a great ball to Malomo-Paris who chested it down and poked it into the net under the advancing keeper from six yards.

‘Burn now had the bit between their teeth as they went in search of a second goal with a great solo effort by Graham. He picked the ball up just inside his own half and running at the Bloomfield defence, he played a neat one-two and as he entered the box he unleashed a great effort, which was dually matched by a terrific save low down to the right by the visitors’ keeper. Tumelty then nearly found himself on the score sheet as he rifled a great shot on the turn that had the keeper well beaten but unfortunately for him it went inches the wrong side of the post.

However Bryansburn were not going to be denied that 2nd goal and after a cracking tackle by Thompson in the central midfield area the ball fell to Tumelty who slightly over hit his forward pass to Coard. However, his endeavour paid off because as the defender was trying to shepherd the ball out of play Coard was able to nick the ball off him and chip the ball to Culbert at the edge of the box who took one touch to set it up and half volleyed it across the keeper for a great team goal.

Culbert was denied his 2^nd goal after a mammoth throw in from Maitland which landed at the back post for a simple header but the referee somehow came to the conclusion that the goalkeeper was impeded by Coard who never moved to get out of the way from the keeper attacking the ball.

‘Burn took their foot off the gas after that and tried to slow the play down and play possession football but this seemed to work in Bloomfield’s favour as they slowly began to creep into the game again. As half time drew close Bloomfield had a strong penalty appeal waved away when Maitland seemed to handle the ball in the area but the referee, who was in a great position, adjudged it to come off the chest and out for a corner, much to the dismay of the Bloomfield players and supporters. HT 2-0.

The visitors’, at the start of the 2^nd half, changed their formation to 3-5-2 to try and salvage something from the game and to be fair they did start the more brightly but the back four for ‘Burn were immense as they thwarted any sniff of a chance that Bloomfield tried to conjure.

Thompson and Coard, back in the team after their recent injury setbacks, started to take the initiative in central midfield and once they started to get on the ball more the team started to play some great possession football. Barr was also impressive at Left-back as he started a fair share of the ‘Burn attacks deep in defence.

Kane replaced Maitland on 70 minutes and Kane during his first defensive run felt an immediate twinge to his hamstring and he was off the pitch straight away. Hopefully the injury does not turn out to be too serious. In turn McGimpsey replaced him while Maguire gave way to teenager Morrison. The youngster gave the game the lift it needed making an immediate impact with his direct running and superb delivery into the box, which had Bloomfield stretched.

The home side extended their lead when Morrison’s great cross was well met by Talisman Thompson who thundered the ball home with his head from close range.

Bloomfield by now were out on their feet and were offering nothing in attack as ‘Burn continued to pass the ball from back to front at will looking as if they could score more if they wanted.

Tumelty, who all afternoon had been out of luck despite his constant running at the Bloomfield rearguard, was not going to be denied and deep into injury time he skipped past a weary Bloomfield defender and hit a left footed shot low across the keeper to finish off a great solo effort and put the better reflection on the score line that the performance merited.

This was a great response from the players following the disappointing defeat at Dundonald the previous week. ‘Burn at times today blew hot and cold and they have to get that out of their game. When they find themselves on top during games they need to be more ruthless in attack and not allow teams to get back into the game so easily. Special mention must go to Morrison as his introduction to the game rounded off a great team performance and it shows the youth system at Bryansburn is clearly benefiting the Club. Four goals and more importantly a clean sheet sets the side up well for the long trip to title favourites Newcastle this Saturday.

Bryansburn 2nds travelled to 18th Newtownabbey and returned with a comfortable 4-1 win. Bryansburn were by far the better team start to finish and should have returned with a bigger victory against a side who lost their discipline late on and finished the game with eight men after three red cards.
’Burn started the game well and had 18th pegged back from the start with the back four and midfield in total control and the front line working hard. Bryansburn should have opened the scoring on several occasions but failed to do so and the half finished 0-0.

The visitors’ remained on top in the second period but without many shots on target.
Flynn replaced the injured Bowater and his pace had 18th troubled straight away as he raced to the by-line and crossed for Kehoe to hammer home from close range. Within five minutes 18th were back in it when a long ball over the top fall straight to a forward who equalised with their first shot of the game.
Player-Manager Edwards then replaced Corr and within ten minutes found the net when he followed in a Storey shot that the keeper had fumbled and rounded the keeper for a tap in. Flynn was now running the back four all over the place and when he got upended in the box up stepped Edwards to scuff the resulting penalty wide. However ‘Burn got a deserved third goal when Flynn again made the line and crossed for the incoming Storey to slide the ball home. The fourth and final goal came when Edwards made a great run to beat the offside trap and then sold the keeper a “Ronaldo stepover” before rolling the ball into the empty net.

Good performance from the 2nds with the Bryansburn passing just too good on the day for the home team.

The 3^rd XI had a hard fought 2-1 win at Vision Athletic with both goals coming from Cardwell who took his season tally to twenty goals.

Cardwell should actually have opened the scoring in the opening minute when Gallagher’s flick put him clean through with just the keeper to beat but he put his shot wide. The home side came into the game well and forced one good save from Andrews while missing a couple of other chances. On fourteen minutes ‘Burn opened the scoring. Dempster headed Lemon’s corner back across goal for Cardwell to head home. ‘Burn forced a series of corners during the half, all of which caused the home side problems but it was Vision who carved out the better opportunities but they failed to hit the target.

Bryansburn had a major escape in the opening minute of the second half when the home side rattled the crossbar but although Vision remained on top they the standard of their finishing failed to match some decent approach play. ‘Burn resorted to the counter-attack and nearly caught their hosts a couple of times before they did extend their lead midway through the half. Murphy was the provider as he released Cardwell and he held off a defender before finishing well into the bottom corner.

Vision maintained the balance of play but Bryansburn looked like holding out comfortably enough until the 82^nd minute. Murphy sold Jones short with a short pass and as the teenager tried to rescue the situation he caught an attacker. Even then the foul was outside the area but the referee deemed otherwise and the home side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Vision tried in vain for an equaliser but Bryansburn used all their experience to make sure that the three points were kept in the bag.

The 4^th XI suffered a heavy defeat at a very good Moat Park Rangers ll side that have now put themselves in contention for the title.

‘Burn made the worst possible start falling a goal behind after only four minutes against their in-form hosts. Their forward lost his marker to be allowed a free header from six yards, which gave keeper Gardner no chance. ‘Burn were relying on quick breaks and from one of these J Geddis played Turnbull through and he showed great persistence to hold off a couple of challenges and round the keeper to score an equaliser in the 21^st minute. The continuous pressure told however and another header from close range restored Moat Park’s lead. ‘Burn reached the half way point quite pleased to be just one goal behind and with hopes of causing an upset.

These hopes were dashed ten minutes into the second half when a poor goal kick went straight to a Moat Park forward who ran through to finish easily. The game was over as a contest five minutes later when a mix up with a back pass led to the fourth goal. Bryansburn battled well and created a couple of half chances but it was Moat Park who went on to extend their lead. A visibly tiring ‘Burn side then went on to concede a further two late goals which made the final score 7 – 1 to Moat Park.

Fixtures this Saturday: 1^st XI V Newcastle (a), 2^nd XI V Larne Tech OB ll (h), 3^rd XI V Comber YM (h) and 4^th XI V Comber YM ll (h).

Everyone connected with Bryansburn Rangers FC was saddened to hear of the death of Gordon Matchett’s mother. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time. The funeral is at 9.30am on Saturday at Bangor Abbey.