A TERRY Lyness double against Cookstown Olympic earned Ballynure a joint pole position in the Ballymena Intermediate League.
This odd goal in three win, coupled with long time leaders, Mosside, dropping two crucial points to Kilbride Swifts, was all the more commendable considering that Ballynure went in to this fixture minus five regulars.
Goalkeeper Simon Hamilton had to cry off because of the illness of his child, while Lee Galbraith and skipper Steven Taylor both had work commitments, and John Guy and ace striker Ronnie Burns are on the injured list. Young Burns after having been having been rushed off to hospital last week after scoring the winner against Dunloy, was back there again later in the week to have his ankle attended to, and indeed he may not figure in too many of his side's remaining six league fixtures.
In a vastly rearranged line-up reserve keeper John McCormick took over between the posts, while Mark Leckey and Gregg Gilmore were at the heart of the defence, with Glenn Meikle and Karl Woods guarding the flanks.
Paul McAllister made a welcome return after having been out injured, and he linked up with Stuart Galbraith in the centre of the engine room, with Karl Mullan on the right and Michael Duff on the left, leaving Terry Lyness and Kenny Higgins in attack.
Higgins twice came close to opening the scoring; first he broke through but was thwarted by the goalie, who later was left exposed but the striker fired over the bar.
With defences on top the first half seemed to be heading for a blank scorecard return at the interval, but the game exploded in to life with a goal at each end within the space of four minutes.
Ballynure's opener started with Man of the Match, Stuart Galbraith, setting Kenny Higgins free. He beat his marker down the line, before sending over an inch perfect cross for Terry Lyness to ram a header in to the roof of the net the 40th minute, giving the keeper no chance.
Four minutes later the scores were level again, when Dixie Doherty slipped the cover at the near post, where he sent a glancing header well clear of John McCormick.
In the second session Nure continued to have territorial advantage, and eventually Terry Lyness secured the points when he fired in to the net, after Kenny Higgins' header had been parried by the busy keeper.
Higgins limped off ten minutes from time and was replaced by evergreen Stuart Reid, who was delighted to get the nod from his big brother.
A feature of the game was the midfield battle between former Glenavon star Conor Devine and Stuart Galbraith, with the Ballynure man coming out well on top.
Local rivals Kilbride Swifts did Ballynure a good turn by taking two points off leaders Mosside in a 2-2 draw at The Cloughan in Ballyclare. This reverse allowed Robert Reid's lads the opportunity to draw level with Mosside at the summit, but the Ballymoney lads have a much superior goal difference, that was substantially boosted with a 9-0 win against Clough Rangers Athletic in midweek.
Ballynure OB: J McCormick, G Meikle, M Leckey, G Gilmore, K Woods; K Mullan, P McAllister, S Galbraith, M Duff; K Higgins, T Lyness. Subs: S Reid, S Murray, M Graham.
It's going to be a hectic end of season programme for Ballynure with three matches a week between now and 13th May.
On Tuesday evening Ballynure entertained Dunaghy at Parkview Hockey Club grounds, and it will be the same venue tonight (Thursday) when Demesne Strollers will provide the opposition. The Nure lads will be back in Doagh again on Saturday afternoon for the visit of Desertmartin.
Commenting club President, Michael Graham, said, "We must pick up all nine points from these three home league fixtures, to keep us in the running for the title. We have a very difficult final week with the three matches being against our main rivals Mosside, Kilbride Swifts and reigning champions Raceview."