|
 |
|
 | |
 |
|
BALLYMENA United's first season in the new Premier League started in blistering fashion, but ended with a whimper. Alan Fraser's First Division champions found themselves surprisingly top of the league during the early stages of the season, showing their credentials by comfortably beating champions-to-be, Cliftonville, three times in the league. Fraser splashed out a club record fee of £20,000 for Crusaders striker Glenn Hunter, as he wanted a top class striker to mount a serious title challenge with - however post-Christmas United's inconsistency seen the Braidmen eventually finish sixth; missing out on a top half finish on goal difference. The cup competitions provided mixed success for Fraser as there were first round exits in the Irish Cup, Gold Cup and County Antrim Shield. However they did reach the semi-finals of the Coca-Cola Floodlit Cup, losing to Cliftonville eventually. A final appearance in the maligned cross-border Irish News Cup seen United draw the first leg of the final against Omagh Town; before losing the return leg at home to the Tyrone side. Rejuvinated striker Barry Patton ran away with the top scorer award with 26 goals and also made the most appearances during the season with 53 games.
Click for more information... Full list of Fixtures and Results for 1997/1998 Full list of Player Appearances Full list of Goalscorers Final Smirnoff Irish League Premier Division table Final Nationwide Gold Cup group table Honours: Irish News Cup Finalists 1997/98 Season Records Final League Position - 6th (from 10) Total games played - 55
Biggest home win - 6-0 v. Coleraine - 10-Feb-98 (Irish News Cup)
Biggest home defeat - 0-2 v. Larne - 23-Sep-97 (Gold Cup); 0-2 v. Linfield - 03-Jan-98 (League)
Total players used - 23
Leading goalscorer (all competitions) - Barry Patton (26 goals)
|
