Newry Town (City) 0
Ballymena 1
League (Irish League)

Match Report

It is possibly the case that Ballymena looked on Newry Town as 'a soft thing', and in a measure they might well be forgiven, because the form of Newry, even at home, has been very poor.

But it must be said that whatever honours there were in Saturday's game certainly went to the Frontier Town team. They put up a really good fight, and had they divided the points I don't think even the most devoted followers of Ballymena could have begrudged them that pleasure.

The fact that David Nelson, who made his first appearance of the season for the Braid club in the half-back line, scored the only goal of the game is a distinct tribute to the Newry defence, who simply would not let the usually fine front rank of Ballymena get into a settled game.

Kilpatrick was still an absentee from the outside right, and Dalrymple was played there. The former Distillery man is quite a versatile player, and has filled many places on the team, and usually with success. All the same, the services of Kilpatrick have been missed.

Shiels came on again and centre, and did very well, but, as I have already said, they were up against a defence which gave nothing away. A new goalkeeper, called Sterritt, gave a really good display, and was well supported by his backs.

Jackson is a tower of strength, while in the middle line Spiner and Hobbs, the former in particular, did good work., The attack was just as good as that of Ballymena, but in each case the defences were always superior to the attacks. I may say Black is doing well in goal for Ballymena.

Match report written by Newsletter (6 October 1930)