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 VORWAERTS (East Germany)
Overview | First Leg | Second Leg | "I Was There" | Competition Results BALLYMENA United's past is dotted with disappointment, but a glorious new chapter has been added to the club's pages of history with last week's magnificent and unfortgettable UEFA Cup win over FC Vorwaerts. Nearly 5,000 ecastic fans gave the Irish League part-timers a standing a stand ovation as they left the Showgrounds pitch after a famous and wholly merited victory over the East German Army side. It was, undoubtedly Ballymena's "finest hour" since the Irish Cup came to the town more than 20 years ago. Ballymena, who, some people feared, might just be 'making up the numbers', were a credit to their club and to Irish football which after the previous day's defeats of Linfield and Crusaders in Europe, was provided with a massive morale booster. "I am the proudest man in Ireland tonight," said United chairman David McKeown. "Our boys were absolutely brilliant, it's the best I've ever seen them play." Caretaker manager Ivan Murray said: "We matched the Germans for skill and showed tremendous character after being hit by an early goal that would have demoralised many other teams. "I told the lads to give it a go, and we'll do the same in the second leg. There's no point in sitting back and playing frightened football because that gets you nowhere." Skipper Graham Fox, who never put a foot wrong and whose fierce free kick led to the outstanding John Sloan heading the winner, said: "It was a smashing all round team show. When we fell behind it only made us play harder. We should have had a bigger lead for the second leg but I'm not complaining." Former Ballymena committee member, Jack Jones, who travelled from England to the game described the Light Blues' performance as 'terrific'. Jack added: "Ballymena have developed into a very fine team." As Ballymena celebrated their first win in Europe, the unsmiling Germans retreated to their hotel soon after the match was over. They must be worried about next week's second leg in Frankfurt. Vorwaerts were, frankly a big disappointment, and looked one of Europe's poorer sides. Their giant goalkeeper, Weinhold, often appeared suspect; the defence was sluggish; and in attack only centre-forward Otto, who operated mainly on the left wing, carried danger. All the stars were on the Ballymena team. Fox and his back four colleagues scarcely gave the Germans a look-in; Sloan sparkled in a busy midfield; and alarm bells sounded in the Vorwaerts defence every time Gerry Mullan got the ball. Sammy McQuiston and Paul Malone worked hard and chased everything and it was McQuiston who had the distinction of scoring Ballymena's first goal in Europe. The match was just four minutes old when Vorwaerts took the lead. Back-four player, Geyer, swept past Mullan and Davy Neill and his shot from 25 yards flashed into the corner of the net. with Brian White making no attempt to save. White, who did not let Ballymena down, said: "I was unsighted by two players and didn't see the ball until it was in the net." The goal could have been a shattering blow, but Ballymena heads didn't drop. Malone was unlucky in the 13th minute when Wienhold's legs prevented an equaliser and Mullan, the player the Germans feared most, had a header smothered at the post. United pounded the Vorwaerts defence throughout the first half forcing seven corners, but they had to wait until the 54th minute for their deserved equaliser. Report by Billy Spence - Ballymena Observer 20/09/1989 Date: Wednesday, 17th September, 1980 Competition UEFA Cup First Round First Leg
Final Score: Ballymena United 2-1 FC Vorwaerts Ballymena United: White, Beattie, Worthington, Fox, McCullough, McCall, Neill, Sloan, McQuiston, Malone, G. Mullan. Subs (not used): unknown Goals: McQuiston ('54), Sloan FC Vorwaerts: ... Goals: None Referee: F. Bastian (Luxembourg)
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