View From the Braid

You just cant beat a comeback...

2006-09-24T23:24:00.000+01:00

BALLYMENA UNITED 4-2 GLENAVON
(Carnegie Premier League; 23rd September 2006)
Ballymena United: P Murphy, Callaghan, Boyd, Scates (sub Patrick 81), Albert Watson, Simms, Picking (sub Friel 87), Aidan Watson, Brown, D Murphy (sub Rosbotham 77).
Glenavon: Rice, McDonnell, Mallon, Black, Charles, C Walsh, McMahon (sub P Walsh 52), Hawthorne (sub McAlorum 63), McVeigh, McConnell (sub McKnight 69), Hunter.
Referee: Hugh Carvill (Belfast).

3.20pm at the Showgrounds and it was a very somber mood in the air. 2-0 down and not looking good, but then a trademark Nigel Boyd run through the Glenavon backline brought a penalty for the sky blues. Shining light Kelbie stepped up, only for the the worst sound in football, the ping of leather upon metal, as the upright denied the Scot. It was going to be one of those games. Every game has a defining moment of the point you realise it wont be your day, and I thought that was it. But no, 41 minuites and Darren Murphy put in an excellent cross from the left and met by the head of midfielded Scates. Could it be a comeback? To be honest I didnt expect it with our form this season. But no I was proved wrong. United came out for the second half and looked up for it. The next goal would be vital, either Glenavon would retake the 2 goal lead and surly go on to pick up the 3 points or United would grab an equliser to make a game of it. On 67 mins Darren Murphy recieved the ball from The Big Easy Paul Brown, turned and lifted the ball over the Glenavon keeper from 18 yards out. 2-2 game on. And within 5 mins United took the lead as As Kelbie grabbed a goal. Darren Murphy (again) whipped the ball in and Kelbie struck the back of the net. Unbeliveably a 4th goal for the Sky Blues came! Summer signing Mark Picking got on the end of another cross to bundel the ball over the line. Glenavon defender Mallon was shown red after throwing Austin Friel to the ground as he was through on goal to finish another 6 goal thriller at the Showgrounds.

I cant remember the last time we scored 4 goals in a game, but the back line is a worry, especially with the East Belfast Glens up next.

Just around the Corner

2006-09-21T23:06:00.000+01:00

So were one trophy down having failed to qualify from the CIS League Cup, so its down to the Irish Cup or County Antrim Shield. Or we might have to settle for the league. If Tommy fails to bring any silverwear in this season the pressure will definatly be on. But I reckon a place in the Setanta Cup will keep the fans happy. With the league season startingthis week it's fair to say that Kevin Kelbie will be an important factor in United success (or lack of) this season. If he can preform as good as he did in the later half of last season, and we can keep it tight at the back, we should (hopefully) end our wait for glory.

Local Football

2006-09-20T00:22:00.000+01:00

Do you ever wonder sometimes why you bother? I mean, how easy would it be to forsake the local version of the beautiful game for the warm and cosy alternative offered courtesy of your satellite dish?
You've got your numerous camera angles, expert analysis, build-ups, post mortems and all manner of gadgets and gizmos at the other end of a wee red button.

Hard to beat, isn't it? Irish League football doesn't really stand a chance. So why do we bother?

Maybe it's something to do with a sense of belonging, a sense of pride in your own community. Your local club, well, they're YOUR team.
You know the players - and they're ordinary blokes like yourself.
You pass the ground on a regular basis, you've seen it develop over the years - the lights, the new stand.

You've maybe went down on a winter's morning to help clear snow so the match that afternoon can go ahead, maybe turned up in the summer months to give the old place a much needed lick of paint.
You sell programmes, raffle tickets, attend club dinners, sponsor a player, buy a brick. You do your bit.

Then there's the match itself. That feeling when things go right on the pitch. The last minute winner enjoyed in the company of your mates not forgetting the despair during the bad times. You're all in this together.
After the game, walking home, getting stopped in the street, queuing at the corner shop for the Pink, "How'd they do today?". You're a real supporter, a true fan. You're recognised as such. There's something in that.

And woe betide anyone who dares rubbish your team, especially some 'expert' who claims to support some bunch of overpaid prima donna's they'll only ever see on the box.

What do they care? It won't ruin their weekend if 'their' team loses or make it if they pick up those precious three points.
Leave them to their replica shirts and their once a season trip over to scoff their prawn sandwiches. They're not fans, they're customers.
With you it's different. It matters. It matters a lot.

By Martin Harris

After reading Martin Harris' article on local football, I decided to put my (limited) Move Maker skills into use and finally came up with this, set to Will Young's All Time Love

AWAY KIT LAUNCHED

2006-09-19T23:11:00.000+01:00

AWAY KIT LAUNCHED

BALLYMENA United's much anticipated new away kit has been launched and will be available for purchase from this Saturday (23rd).

Priced at £35 (adults) and £30 (youths) the shirt - again produced by Italian firm Macron - will also be available online via the club shop for our overseas fans.

It is also expected that the shirt will be worn by the players for the first time during United's visit to The Oval on September 30th.

The top is pictured here modelled by players Kevin Kelbie and Paul Brown ably accompanied by two members of the Ballymena United All-Stars ladies team.

From ballymenaunitedfc.com

Personally I quite like the new away kit, and its definitely better than the rather non fetcing yellow kit of seasons past.

1 criticismsm would be the red on the sky blue shorts, There's just something not quite right about it.

Anyway

The Futures bright, the futures sky blue