Ballynahinch United...........1

Drumaness Mills.................2

THIS Intermediate Cup first round tie at the Millbridge hinged on a “goal” that wasn’t given.

United’s Mark Hanna, who had earlier cancelled out Gavin McEvoy’s opener with an equaliser in the 30th minute, was robbed of further glory two minutes later.

The big midfielder let one rip from 30 yards out and his stinging strike flew through Michael Watson’s outstretched reach, struck the crossbar and apparently bounced over the line.

I was in no position to make a call one way or the other, but several Ballynahinch United supporters, neutrals and even some Drumaness Mills supporters agreed that the ball was a good two feet over the line.

However, some of the Mills players, who were also well placed, believed the ball bounced on the line and the fact that the referee didn’t award a goal said it all.

This was rough justice on United who, despite being down to 10 men after Michael Mousely was harshly red carded after only 20 minutes, gave as good as they got in a rather tame derby.

Tamely

Both sides were far from being at full strength and it showed and it took a full 19 minutes before either side created an opening, but Ballynahinch’s Gareth McMullan shot tamely at Watson from a good position.

Less than 60 seconds later Mousely was sent for an early bath. His tackle on Gavin McEvoy was a bit late, but it was far from being malicious and perhaps only merited a yellow card instead of the red he received.

Three minutes later, a rare slip by Aidy Kelly left McMullan with only Watson to beat, but he blasted the ball over the bar from a great position when it looked easier to score.

United paid for this miss in the 30th minute when Philip Rogan clipped a Kyle Rogan free back into the danger zone and McEvoy was able to head home at the back post.

With 32 minutes gone a nice move between McEvoy and Casey created an opening for Philip Rogan, but Casey’s final didn’t give the Mills dangerman much to work with.

United then hit back with a vengeance. A Johnny Stevenson cross from the right evaded everyone in the box and fell perfectly for Hanna at the back stick and he poked the ball home via the opposite post to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later Hanna’s screamer had “goal” written all over it, but it wasn’t given, much to the disgust of the Ballynahinch camp. United certainly had their tails up at this stage of the game, but the sides went in level at the break.

The second half was full of honest endeavour with Philip Rogan and McMullan exchanging shots in the opening exchanges before the Mills started to take a stranglehold on the game. However, superb defending from Michael Jones and Scott Brashaw, my joint men of the match, kept the Mills at bay.

Neither side looked like breaking the deadlock until tragedy returned to haunt United in the 75th minute. They failed to clear their lines following a corner and when the bal rebounded off Kevin Kew’s legs, Neil Walsh was on hand to steer the ball past Bryan McMullan.

In the dying stages of the game, Drumaness’ Paddy McDonald almost made it 3-1, while at the other end Hanna almost sent the game to added time, but he shot wide from eight yards out.

Ballynahinch United: B. McMullan, G. Walsh, A. Patterson, S. Brashaw, M. JOnes, M. Hanna, M. Mousely, B. Gourley, A. Walsh, J. Stevenson, G. McMullan, Subs: J. Jones, M. Shaw, K. Kew, A. Coburn.

Drumaness Mills: M. Watson, P. McDonald, K. Rogan, A. Kelly, P. McCargo, J. Marner, K. Gorman, P. Walsh, P. Rogan, G. McEvoy, P. Casey. Subs: C. Deegan, N. Walsh, C. Savage.