Under-16s carry United Academy hopes in League Cup

The Under 12s lost out to table toppers Lisburn Youth in their Quarter Final whilst the Under 17s led Crusaders until the last minute before losing a nail biter after extra time.

United U-10 6, Albion Star U-10 0: In a much changed United line up, an early goal from Jack Millar started the scoring spree and Jamie Houston soon got in on the act as he fired in well after good control.

Jack O'Mahoney made a great run and then slotted the ball home with top striker Mark Cochrane soon adding a fourth. Lee O'Brien and Leon Carley came on at half time and Ballymena domination continued as each scored well taken goals.

United U-11 2, Lower Maze U-11 2: United opened the scoring after 11 mins when a Jamie Houston shot was saved and Thomas Campbell scored the rebound.

Jamie Houston's clever chip over the keeper was ruled out for offside by the referee and Lower Maze levelled just before half time in their first meaningful attack.

The second half was one way traffic with Lower Maze pinned in their own half but with United committing men forward, Maze broke away and scored their second.

Ballymena were constantly in the Maze half and drew level with a great strike from Calvin Purse.

United U-12 1, Lisburn Youth U-12 4: Lisburn went 1-0 up 20 minutes in when they drove into the roof of the net from inside the six yard box and Ballymena conceded another just on half time when Lisburn Youth fired home from the edge of the box.

Ballymena started the second half strongly when Benji Agnew hit home an unstoppable free kick from 25 yards which was harshly disallowed.

Ballymena conceded a third before a second free kick from Benji Agnew made it 3-1. While pushing forward trying to get back into the game Ballymena were caught on the counter attack which put the game out of reach.

United U-16 4, Lisburn Youth U-16 1: Ten minutes in Ballymena went 1-0 up against the run of play when Jay Hamilton drove a low free kick through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner. Almost immediately Lisburn won a corner and equalised at the back post.

For the first time in the game Ballymena settled and won another free kick 25 yards out which Corey Price rocketed into the roof of the net for 2-1.

Ballymena were awarded a second half penalty when Eoghan McElhinney was pulled down in the area and Archie Quinn stepped up to score his tenth of the season.

Changing their approach, Ballymena now started looking to keep the ball in midfield and at the back and as they sucked Lisburn out they hit them on the break as captain Dermot McAleese scored a well deserved fourth.

United U17 1, Crusaders U-17 3 (aet): Battling Ballymena took third placed Crusaders to extra time on Saturday before being narrowly defeated in their Cup Quarter Final.

The Sky Blues led right until the last minute of normal time through Jamie Davidson but were cruelly denied as the Crues pulled level then went on to win the game in extra time.

NIBFA NATIONAL LEAGUE

Result: Limavady United U-13 1, United U-13 0.

IPL YOUTH LEAGUE

Dungannon Swifts Colts 6, United Thirds 2: A poor first half from Ballymena saw them down by five goals at half time.

Ballymena came out in the second half and had a determined try, and got their goals through Lee McCaughern and Blaine McKenna but Dungannon added a sixth goal late on.