Bann Ladies suffer first defeat of the year in Ballymena

Banbridge dropped to fifth in the Senior One league table on Saturday as Ballymena Ladies edged out a slender 1-0 victory.
Amy Atkinson takes the game to Ballymena during Banbridge Ladies first teams narrow defeat on Saturday afternoon. INBT 03-922HAmy Atkinson takes the game to Ballymena during Banbridge Ladies first teams narrow defeat on Saturday afternoon. INBT 03-922H
Amy Atkinson takes the game to Ballymena during Banbridge Ladies first teams narrow defeat on Saturday afternoon. INBT 03-922H

That was enough for the County Antrim side to leapfrog the Bann girls in the table as they got their own back for Bann’s 3-1 win at Havelock earlier in the season.

Banbridge were confident following last week’s performance in the credible 2-1 victory over Larne Ladies, but Ballymena showed more enthusiasm and fight and in the end end did enough to seal the narrow win and bring the Banbridge girls back to earth with a bump.

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The score line, however, does not reflect Bann’s ‘dig deeper’ attitude, as they battled the rough elements of wind, sleet, snow and surprisingly a little ray of sunshine.

A lone Ballymena 1sts played comes under double pressure from Banbridge during their weekend match. INBT 03-927HA lone Ballymena 1sts played comes under double pressure from Banbridge during their weekend match. INBT 03-927H
A lone Ballymena 1sts played comes under double pressure from Banbridge during their weekend match. INBT 03-927H

Bann demonstrated how this season’s team have gelled and how they have stepped up their game. They made some great passes, but sadly for them, it was their inability to show that flare in the final third that went against them and meant they couldn’t quite forge a rewarding route through to goal.

Bann will go away from this game with somewhat frustrated minds but with more determination than ever to end season this season on a high note.

Banbridge Ladies Firsts would like to thank those who helped them out on Saturday and braved the rather moist weather, as well as the continued support and sponsorship from AB&C insurance.