UlsterNet.co.uk

United bang on the ‘money’

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Ballymoney United players celebrate with the Toon Bear and their supporters after their 4-2 win over Bangor at Clandeboye Park on Saturday in the fifth round of the JJB Sports Irish Cup. Paul Gaston’s charges now face Newry City at home in the last 16 of

BALLYMONEY United boss Paul Gaston is still on cloud nine after seeing his side dump Bangor out of the Irish Cup and qualify for the last 16 of the prestigious competition for the first time in 27 years. The Toon were 2-0 up before Championship One side Bangor could break breath at Clandeboye Park thanks to an own goal and a Francis McKenna 25 yard free kick in the first 20 minutes, although the home side did manage to pull one back before half-time. But Ballymoney continued to rally in the second half and substitute Liam Kearney, introduced just minutes earlier, made it 3-1 grabbing the game's vital fourth goal on 65 minutes. Gareth McLaughlin got his second of the day for Bangor to make it 3-2 and as they threw caution to the wind in search of the equaliser, up popped Ian Christie, for his third goal in three games, to seal a remarkable and fully deserved win for the Championship Two side.
The victory set up a sixth round home tie for Ballymoney against Championship One Newry City at Riada Stadium on Saturday, February 11.
“I'm still over the moon. It was a fantastic day for the players, the club and the supporters. There's a huge buzz around Ballymoney now," Gaston told Chronicle Sport on Monday.
“We showed Bangor what we could do. I said last week that there was nothing between the two leagues and we proved that. When we went 2-0 up after 20 minutes I couldn't believe it. We didn't give Bangor a chance to get into the game in the first 20 minutes. They certainly weren't expecting us to come out and play the way we did.
“The boys were up for it. They had nothing to fear. What they have achieved is fantastic to get this far. We are now just one game away from a place in the quarter-finals.
“We're in the last 16. No-one would have thought that we'd still be here at the start of it. It was a great team performance."
Now it's the turn of Newry City in just under a month's time and like against Bangor at the weekend, Ballymoney have nothing to fear, and indeed with home advantage, who knows what could happen.
“We got the home draw we wanted, and okay we could have had one of the Premiership teams but we feel we have a chance against Newry. They won't like having to come to us. Everyone wants to get an Irish Cup tie at home. We got Newry and we have a chance against them. They will be expected to win, just like Bangor, but we've nothing to fear and nothing to lose.
“We have an excellent chance here.
“To do what we have done, Ballymoney are in the last 16 of the Irish Cup, what an achievement that is for the players and the club and we've got a chance to get to the last eight. No-one could have predicted it."

Subscribe to read full newspaper »

Send this page to a friend »