Hockey round-up: Six-shooting Seconds put Grosvenor to sword

Ballymena went into this game hoping to extend their lead at the top of the League and it was a quick start for Ballymena when Kerry Aiken opened the scoring from a rebound off the keeper from Laura Logan’s initial strike.

Mother and daughter pairing of Lorna and Rachel Murphy soon doubled the score with a deft touch from Lorna for 2-0.

After the break Ballymena made it 3-0 when Aimee Logan dodged her way past the Grosvenor left back to square the ball to Laura Logan.

Ballymena struck twice more from penalty corners, the first from Laura Logan and a second from Lorna Murphy.

Ballymena’s sixth and final goal came from Emma Clarke with an open play strike from the top of the circle.

MEN

Ballymena 2, Ballynahinch 1: Ballymena welcomed back a number of senior players as they hosted Ballynahinch and the home side took the lead the lead going in at half time with a calm finish by Tim Lowry.

Weather conditions threatened to disrupt the game but Ballymena doubled their lead, again through Tim Lowry, after he finished from a narrow angle.

Ballynahinch pulled one back when the Ballymena defence failed to clear their lines following a penalty corner.

Antrim III 5, Ballymena II 1: Ballymena travelled to the Forum in Antrim on Saturday to play an Antrim 3rd XI languishing at the bottom of Junior 5 in the first round of the Junior Cup.

But Antrim took command of the first half and scored three times to take the wind out of Ballymena’s sails. Highlight of the half was Hampton’s excellent save from a penalty flick to deny a fourth to the home side!

The second half saw better movement and passing from Ballymena, who still couldn’t prevent a fourth goal, before Phil Nicholl finally found the net for Ballymena to beat Antrim’s keeper. A fifth just before time though saw Antrim take the win and move into the next round.