|
 |
|
 | |
 |
|
AFTER the first season of promotion and relegation, second place in the First Division was the best Alan Fraser's Ballymena United could finish. Bitter-rivals, Coleraine, steam-rolled their way to the league title and an escape back into the normality of top-flight football. United lagged behind as inconsistency and lack of goals gifted the inaugural First Division to the Bannsiders. The Sky Blues finished second in what was ultimately a disappointing season, as they somehow strung a magnificent seven league wins in a row together at the end of the season, however it was too late. Cup competitions proved to be of little success, as the Irish Cup nearly produced a major shock as Ballymena took Glentoran to a quarter-final replay, and deservedly led until an inspired Glen Little struck a hat-trick to send the East Belfast Glens through. Early exits from the Ulster Cup and Coca-Cola Floodlit Cup were only just surpassed by Second Round capitulations in the three other remaining competitions, as the big money spent by Fraser failed to pay off. Jason Allen, however, swept the board as player of the year and he made the most appearances with 44. In comparison, leading goalscorer Mark McWalter, signed at the same time from Coleraine, was a disappointment - yet finished top-goalscorer with 13 strikes in all competitions.
Click for more information... Full list of Fixtures and Results for 1995/1996 Full list of Player Appearances Full list of Goalscorers Final Smirnoff Irish League First Division table Final Ulster Cup and Gold Cup standings Honours: Irish League First Division Runners-Up 1995/96 Season Records Final League Position - 2nd (from 8) Total games played - 46
Biggest home win - 4-0 v. Larne - 24-Feb-96 (Irish Cup)
Biggest home defeat - 0-4 v. Portadown - 15-Aug-95 (League Cup); 0-4 v. Ards - 02-Sep-95 (Ulster Cup);
Total players used - 30
Leading goalscorer (all competitions) - Mark McWalter (13 goals)
|
