3pm 2 December 2023
Northern Ireland Football League, Premier Intermediate League
Ballymacash Rangers 3 Coagh United 1 (att 100)
As it had been a couple of years since my last visit I’d got two newcomers to go to in order to recomplete the three division Northern Ireland Football League.
Lisburn-based Ballymacash were one, now are in their second season as an NIFL club. They’re doing well on the pitch, and ongoing building work at their Bluebell Stadium suggests they also progressing off it.
At present seats for spectators are limited to a small stand in a corner of the ground. There’s also a covered area near it, while the rest of the perimeter is open paved standing.
The pitch is artificial, which gave me confidence the game would go ahead despite the weather. That said, I drove though patches of freezing fog on the way from my earlier match, and was relieved to find clearer conditions when I arrived.
Coagh United, promoted back into the NIFL before the start of this season, have been struggling in the league and so I expected a comfortable home win. But, despite their lowly league position, the visitors impressed.
It was goalless at half time with little between the sides. Rangers upped their game from the start of the second half, and went in front soon after the restart.
But Coagh responded well and were soon level. Ballymacash always had the edge though, and when they went in front for a second time there was no way back for the visitors. A third home goal settled the outcome.
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