Jeffrey hails his battlers with United on cloud nine
DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP
BALLYMENA United boss David Jeffrey was coolness personified on the final blast of referee Ian McNabb’s whistle at the Warden Street Showgrounds on Saturday.
As the Sky Blue half of the ground erupted in ecstasy following the nerve-tingling win over Linfield, which resulted in grown men unashamedly hugging and waving scarves, and players back-slapping and high-fiving – all under the deafening noise of ‘Blue Moon’ being blasted out over the tannoy – Jeffrey refused to get caught up in the hype.
Instead, he took a few steps to his left to shake the hand of David Healy and the Linfield entourage in the dug-out, before acknowledging the contribution of his team’s supporters with the now traditional beating of the club badge on his chest. The enormity of the result had perhaps finally registered?
This just wasn’t any ordinary victory – it was a record-break success. As the players trooped off to a wonderful ovation, they became the first group to achieve nine consecutive wins in the famous sky blue shirt.
And, although Jeffrey refuses to admit it, those supporters
realise there is something special going on. The team had to demonstrate a determination to haul themselves off the floor when Andy Waterworth shot the visitors into a fourth minute lead, before they displayed the swagger that comes from a side that sits proudly at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership table.
Once Johnny Addis nodded home a delicious delivery from Steven McCullough early in the second half, although Roy Carroll hardly covered himself in glory, the tide turned.
Only seven minutes later, Cathair Friel slipped the ball to Leroy Millar, who turned and twisted before lashing the ball into the bottom corner.
It could have been worse as Carroll produced two outstanding saves to deny Friel and Tony Kane.
“The boys are history-makers,” beamed Jeffrey. “No Ballymena team had ever won nine consecutive games before, so that has to be acknowledged.
“But we haven’t won anything yet. They’ve written their own chapter in the record books and they’ve got another three points but that’s it. There is a long, long way to go.
“The message was, Linfield were above us in the table, so I challenged the players to get the three points to go top. They met that challenge and we deserved the points.”
Jeffrey hailed the character of his team in terms of how they responded after Waterworth’s early strike.
“I told the players at half-time they didn’t deserve to be a goal down — they were competing very well and creating chances. We were playing with confidence and courage.
“Every single one of the players made a contribution. Character, resilience and resolve are words Bryan (McLoughlin) and I have tried to embed into the players.”
Linfield boss David Healy believes his team lacked a cutting edge, particularly in the latter stages as they attempted to salvage the game.
“I think 15 or 20 minutes of naivety cost us in the second half,” said the former Northern Ireland striker. “It took the game away from us. I can’t fault the players, they hemmed Ballymena in for the last 15 minutes or so, but we didn’t do enough to force the equaliser.
“Unfortunately, we had a wobble and they took advantage of it.
“We got off to a great start, so it was frustrating we didn’t build on that. We are all disappointed. There was no need for harsh words after the game.
“We just couldn’t find that clinical finish to get us something out of the game.”