After getting the better of Connor 4-2 at home in midweek, they continued their good form on the road on Saturday with a 6-2 result in Portglenone.

Ballynure OB 4

Connor 2

For the midweek game against Connor that was played at Parkview Hockey Club grounds, manager Robert Reid made one change, bringing in Mark Leckey to replace Johnny Gracey in midfield, and this proved to be an astute move, with Paul proving to be impressive in Ballynure's engine-house dominance.

Boosted by the recent win in the Steel & Sons Cup in Hillsborough, the Ballynure lads lost no time in setting down a marker. In the 7th minute Mark Leckey opened the scoring when he nodded home Mark Moore's well placed corner, and seven minutes later the visitors were in serious trouble, when John Guy's header from a Gerry Mullan cross doubled the lead.

On the half hour Connor pulled one back when the ball was played through the heart of the defence for Colin Moore to open his side's account.

Moments before the break Mark Moore restored the home team's' two goals' advantage, when he flicked a Glen Meikle pass well wide of the keeper.

During the third quarter 'Nure continued to dictate the terms of play, but Gerry Mullan and Kenny Higgins were denied by the athleticism of the keeper, while at the opposite end Simon Hamilton was having a comparatively easy time.

In the 75th minute Gerry Mullan got his name on the scorecard, when he slotted wide of the advancing keeper after being sent clear by Leckey.

The decision to make a triple substitution ten minutes from time almost proved disastrous, when Barry Penny, Johnny Gracey and Karl Mullan replaced Meikle, Higgins and Guy.

Six minutes later Connor doubled their tally with a shot from the edge of the box that gave Hamilton no chance, and this was quickly followed by a penalty award in the 88th minute when a home forward was tripped in the box.

However as tension mounted, Simon Hamilton prevented a nervy closing few minutes when he brilliantly saved the spot kick at the base of the upright, and then recovered smartly to block the rebound as well.

Commenting club president Michael Graham said, "We were well worth this win in our first Ballymena Intermediate League fixture of the season, and if Connor had scored that late penalty, a 4-3 scoreline would certainly have flattered them. Once again our back four were superb, while mark Moore was in inspired form at left midfield."

Portglenone 2

Ballynure OB 4

The late arrival of Stuart Galbraith in Portglenone on Saturday afternoon meant that he was replaced at the heart of the defence by Stephen Taylor, while Darren Guy came in at left back for Mark Curlett who was on holiday, otherwise Ballynure were unchanged.

Portglenone never really threatened, and doubles by Kenny Higgins and Mark Leckey underpinned a comprehensive win.