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Uploaded Saturday, 8th Jul, 2023 at 19:37
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Date: Saturday, 8th July, 2023; Competition: Friendly; Attendance: N/A;
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Limavady United
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[1]
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[1]
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Ballymena United
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[2]
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[2]
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Venue: Limavady Showgrounds; Kick-Off: 14:00;
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Goals:
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[0-1] McMURRAY, Johnny (4 mins), [0-2] McMURRAY, Johnny (13 mins), [1-2] POMEROY, Alex (30 mins)
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BALLYMENA United kicked off their pre-season schedule ahead of the start of the 2023/24 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Limavady United at the Limavady Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
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On what was Jim Ervin's first game in charge of the Braidmen at the beginning of a new era for the Warden Street club, for the first half team Colin Coates played a first game in Sky Blue, whilst Johnny McMurray also started at the beginning of his second spell with the club.
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Speaking of McMurray, it was the former Crusaders man who gave himself and United a fast start to their pre-season with an opening goal just four minutes in. The forward latched onto a fine long ball, only to see his first effort denied by a fine save, but on the rebound McMurray made no mistake.
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Nine minutes later McMurray had his and Ballymena's second. Another long ball, this time via Coates, picked out Kenneth Kane perfectly, who in turn crossed for McMurray, and he guided a header home to mark a good opening thirteen minutes back with United.
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On the half hour mark the home side pulled a goal back as Alex Pomeroy netted past a Triallist goalkeeper, to make it 2-1 at the half end.
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It was a brand-new side for United in the second half, including a chance for supporters to see Alex Gawne and Donal Rocks for Ballymena for the first time.
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There was little to report for the second half with players on both sides happy to get those all-important minutes into their legs, as Ballymena ended up holding onto their 2-1 lead. The first of six pre-season encounters done and dusted for the players and new management, with now just four weeks to go until the season opener at Coleraine.
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Ballymena United travel to Riada Stadium to face Ballymoney United in their next pre-season friendly on Saturday 15th July, kicking off at 2:00pm.
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Match Report by Phillip McPeake
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Ballymena United Team:
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Trialist A, Ethan Johnston (  Jordan McMullan 46), Trialist B ( Scot Whiteside 46), Colin Coates ( Kym Nelson 46), Steven McCullough ( Sean Graham 46), George Tipton ( Lewis Tennant 46), Trialist C ( Donal Rocks 46), Michael Place ( Alex Gawne 46), Kenneth Kane ( Nathan Clarke 46), Ryan Waide ( Jordan Gibson 46), Johnny McMurray ( Conor Quigley 46).
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