League

Newcastleton
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Ballygrant's Stewart Tarrill started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. A sloppy throw-in by Ciaran Reoch in the 3rd minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Ballygrant's Douglas McLiver. 10 minutes into the game, Dougal McKellaig cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Roddie McSimon was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After 13 played minutes Ballygrant got a freekick which was hit by Douglas McLiver. Roddie McSimon made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Dougal McKellaig sent off a good shot on target. A collision led to Newcastleton getting a freekick after 18 minutes play. Tommy McDiarmid hit a great ball. If Stewart Tarrill had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ballygrant's Hugh Crossley got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Stewart Tarrill fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without John McIlduy having to interfere. 40 minutes into the match, Raymond Elliott notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of Ballygrant's Roddie McSimon. Roddie McSimon was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 44 minutes into the game, Ciaran Reoch threw the ball into play from the sideline. Ballygrant's Douglas McLiver quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Ballygrant's Roddie McSimon proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 48th minute of the match, managed to save Ballygrant from getting a goal against them. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Dougal McKellaig made a kick off. 56 minutes into the game, Newcastleton's Dougal McKellaig nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Roddie McSimon made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. John McIlduy made an important save on a dangerous shot by Stewart Tarrill in the 62nd minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Stewart Tarrill managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ballygrant's supporters rose to their feet, but Stewart Tarrill was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. John McIlduy breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 78th match minute, Ballygrant was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Theo McDonald to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the Ballygrant defense, James McBean kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Roddie McSimon. The Ballygrant fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Roddie McSimon should have stopped the shot. Ballygrant's Douglas McLiver quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Ciaran Reoch, made in the 86th minute of the game. 86 minutes into the match, Hugh Crossley had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of John McIlduy. Newcastleton's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Hugh Crossley was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. When Tommy McDiarmid fell near the penalty area in the 92nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Newcastleton's protests and gave Tommy McDiarmid a yellow card for diving instead. In the 92nd minute, Tommy McDiarmid hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Many of Ballygrant's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Ballygrant may have spent more time on the ball, but Newcastleton were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.