Ballyclare fall to Dundela in friendly

The home team came out on top against a Comrades side which included a number of players who were short of game time.

The tie finished 4-2 to the men from East Belfast, but Ballyclare manager David Dorrian stressed that the result was not important.

“The result was unimportant. This match was all about giving some players much needed match time to improve their fitness, and from that point of view it was a worthwhile exercise,” he said.

The Dixon Park side started promisingly when Michael O’Hanlon opened the scoring in the tenth minute.

The Duns replied strongly, with goals from Neale, Jones and Gourley who scored twice from the penalty spot. This gave them a three goal cushion.

During a disjointed second half the Reds used all seven substitutes, but all they had to show for their efforts was a consolation 76th minute strike by Peter Duffin.

Next up for the Comrades is a league game away to Ards in Bangor on Saturday, 19.

Ballyclare Comrades team from Saturday, 12: Nicholl; Doherty, McCart (C), Wharry, Woods; Simpson, McIlveen, King, O’Hanlon; Dempster, Reid. Subs: Duffin, Getty, A Hill, Dobbin, McClurg, Trussell, McQuitty.