Shock cup exit for Ballymacash

Ballymacash Rangers suffered a shock defeat last Saturday when they lost by a single goal to Mid-Ulster Division 2 side Red Star, in the first round of the Marshall Cup,

Despite a few players missing from the Rangers squad, the team that turned out at Rushmore should have been more than adequate to dispense of the lower league side. The underdogs of Red Star gradually grew in confidence and scored the only goal of the game, when a long punt up field from the away sides goalkeeper, caught out the Rangers defence, falling kindly for the Red Star striker to poke the ball home past Campbell in the Rangers goal.

Ballymacash did appear to score from James Guiney, only for the referee to wave play on, stating that ‘all of the ball’ did not go over the line, much to the annoyance of the home-side.

Rangers started the second-half in slightly better fashion, although still well below what they are capable of, looking that elusive goal to restore the teams to level terms. Chance after chance went begging for Rangers as they hit the post, then the bar followed by a few fine saves from the visiting goalkeeper.

Despite this onslaught from the home side, they just couldn’t find an equalizer to send the game into extra-time and it was the junior side whose name will be in the hat for the next round.

Rangers’ second string also were in cup action last week, going down 3-0 against St Paul’s in the Junior Cup.