Younger United Academy teams again impress

Ballymena United under-10s in action against Institute on Saturday in the Coleraine and North West League.

The hugely popular Coleraine and North West League is up and running once more and United had under 9 and under 10 sides in action on Saturday at Coleraine university.

United’s under 11s progressed to the quarter finals of the National Plate keeping up their good form with an away win at Banbridge. The under 12’s also recorded league a victory in Lisburn on Saturday, while back in Ballymena the 13’s lost out in last gasp fashion to Sion while the 14’s lost to late goals at Portadown. The 16’s recorded a morale boosting win against second placed Ballinamallard.

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Banbridge 2, BUYA 3: United trailed by two goals before a corner kick was met by the head of William Francy and it flew past the keeper into the top corner of the net then 5 mins later a great shot from distance from Matthew Miller made it 2-2 at half time.

Callum Douglas put Ballymena ahead in the second half before a last minute penalty save from keeper Mason Hume ensured victory for the Sky Blues.

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TTBS 2, BUYA 4: Joshua Balmer broke the deadlock with a superb individual goal before Adam Millar doubled the lead.

Balmers quick feet put Ballymena three up in the second half but 2 quickfire goals from TTBS left the game finely balanced before Ben Dallas added a deserved fourth to win the match.

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BUYA 3, Sion Swifts 4: On a glupot of a pitch at Connor, Taylor Adger put United ahead before Sion equalised.

Harry Foster converted Kyle Neill’s cross to regain the lead for Ballymena but the Tyrone side scored twice to go ahead.

A Blake Douglas penalty levelled the score at 3-3 but with the last action of the game, Sion scrambled home from a corner.

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Portadown Youth 5, BUYA 1: Three late goals put an unfortunate slant on the scoreline here, a game were United held their own for long periods and looked dangerous themselves. The United goal came from Aiden Scullion.

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Ballymena United 4, Ballinamallard 3: With the elements in their favour Lorenzo Dawkins put United ahead with a long range effort which squirmed under the keeper. United doubled their advantage as a corner from Dawkins looped in again with help from the elements. Back came the Fermanagh boys, their frontman found himself unmarked in the box and turned to finish well. United were against the wind in the second half but went further ahead with a penalty from Andrew Smyth and Josh Galloway. The Mallards came back into the game well and suddenly it was 4-3 but United held on.