Winning Championship start for Ballymoney
Thursday, 7 August 2008
- BALLYMONEY Manager Joe McCall was delighted to kick off the season with a 2-0 win in the IFA Championship away to Coach United, reports Andrew Gilchrist.
"It was a great performance by the lads we worked and played extremely hard throughout the full 90 minutes and felt we deserved to win the game having played the better football," said Jope.
“The first goal game in the second half when Gavin Gilmore picked out Gareth McLaughlin who was left 1on 1 with the keeper and he made no mistake with the finish by slotting it in the bottom corner.
“The second goal came towards to end of the match when Gareth McLaughlin was again involved in the action was able pick out Substitute David Nicholl with a great cross for him to score at the near post to help seal an impressive win for us.
“I felt that having watched both sides are fitness was much better and the way we passed the ball about the park at times was great to see for being so early in the season. We now face a tough home game against Larne on Tuesday night which will be tough as it will be are second game in a number of days and it will be their first match of the season and they will be looking to get there season off to a good start as well.
“I'm missing a few starting players due to the league starting so early this season - a few of my players are off on holiday but that gives other players a chance to show me what they can do when giving then opportunity."
Ballymoney Team: 1. S.Smyth, 2.M.Patton, 3.D.Gordan, 4.D.Gage, 5.D.Gage, 6.S.Tully, 7.A.o'Kane, 8.G.Gilmore, 9.G.McLaughlin, 10.G.Burnside, 11.A.McKinney. Subs: 14.D.Nicholl, 15.O.Hudson, 16.L.McClelland
