Ballymacash Rangers 0
Ballymena United 6
County Antrim Shield (Round 1)

Match Report

Ballymena United cruised into the final eight of the ToalsBet Co. Antrim Shield with a comprehensive 6-0 routing of Ballymacash Rangers at the Bluebell Stadium on Tuesday night.

For the first knockout football of the campaign, Oran Kearney rang the changes for the trip to Lisburn, with seven in all from the starting XI that last played eleven days ago. Included in the starters were full debuts for Finley Thorndike, Michael Leetch, Owen Mahoney and Caoimhin McConnell.

On a horrible night weather wise, the rain was just about all there was to report in the opening twenty minutes, until United broke the deadlock with twenty-two minutes played. A dazzling run down the left from an irresistible Thorndike ended with a low ball being fired across goal and waiting for it was Michael Leetch to tap home his first goal for his boyhood club at the back post.

A minute later Thorndike almost netted himself when his free kick from distance was parried over by former Sky Blue Jordan Williamson, but three goals in ten minutes, including one from Thorndike, would see the visitors four clear by half time. On twenty-nine minutes, Finley Thorndike had his goal when he was found from the right by James Hood and the full debutant slammed the ball home.

Three minutes later, Ballymena had a third as Michael Leetch grabbed his second, once again the winger was in the right place at the right time to finish a ball into the box from close range.

Six minutes before the break Ballymena found their fourth, as Hood got himself in on the act. Again United advanced down the left and again a low ball was fizzed across, but when Success Edogun couldn't quite get on the end of it, James Hood was the grateful recipient behind him to finish into the bottom corner and have Ballymena out of sight by the break.

The rain began to thankfully clear by the start of the second half and within two minutes of the restart, United's evening brightened even further too with a fifth. Unsurprisingly, Thorndike was instrumental again and after he scooped a delightful ball over the 'Cash backline from the edge of the box to find Matthew Clarke, the skipper was denied first time round by a top Williamson save, but Clarke wasn't to be denied when he got a second bite.

Williamson was called into action again shortly after to keep out a bending Leetch effort as he chased his hattrick, before a triple change from the gaffer ten minutes into the second period saw Ben MacManus, Jake Hirthe and Chris McKee enter proceedings.

After the hour mark, McKee wasn't quite able to mark his appearance with a goal when his thunderous attempt from outside the box was well saved, but in minute sixty-six, Ballymena had their sixth when Chris McKee did score. Thorndike notched another assist when he displayed lovely feet to wriggle away from a host of opponents and when he slid McKee in, he was never missing as he coolly slotted home.

The final period of the game was one dominated further by United, with Declan Breen a virtual bystander at the other end, but the goals dried up as Ballymena settled for six, despite further efforts going close from the likes of MacManus, McKee and Sean Murray.

6-0 it finished, with Thorndike starring amongst a tidy and ruthless team performance, with Ballymena easing into the final eight of the Shield, ahead of Saturday's return to league action in Bangor.

Match report written by Philip McPeake (www.ballymenaunitedfc.com)