Bogey team strikes again against U17s

Banbridge Rangers U17s 1

WINDMILL Stars proved to a bogey team for Trevor McMinn's Banbridge Rangers U17 side again this year when the traveled to Newry to play their first league match of the season on Saturday past.

After two narrow defeats to last year’s runaway league winners Banbridge Rangers had a point to prove at the start of the campaign with several new additions making their debuts on Saturday.

In the opening quarter of the game Banbridge Rangers were comfortable in possesion and worked the ball well up each flank trying to integrate the runs of Stephen Copes and Lee McCullough into the channels.

There were few clear cut chances for either side but Windmill took full advantage of some static challenges around the area and their first shot of the match resulted in the opening goal. The away side were still in good spirits and almost equalised immediately when Nathan Copes got onto the end of a Jordan McCracken cross but his effort hit the top of the bar and spun out of play.

At 1-0 down Banbridge Rangers continued to press for an equaliser with their best play coming down the left hand side and from the charging runs of Jason Adamson from centre midfield.

The Windmill backline held firm and a speculative effort from 35 yards from a swift counter attack saw the ball drop agonisingly into the back of the Rangers net.

Both sides kept the game competitive and with 10 minutes to go Banbridge Rangers were handed a lifeline when McCullough was upended in the box when trying to go past his marker on the byline. The in-form striker had no hesitation stepping up from 12 yards and fired his shot into the top left hand corner of the net.

Banbridge Rangers pushed for an equaliser but clear cut chances were difficult to find as Windmill had men behind the ball at all times. A challenge from stand in centre half Ball was adjudged to be a foul on the edge of Rangers box giving the home side a respite.

The resultant free kick was perfectly placed in the top corner and all but ended any chance of a reprieve for the traveling Rangers team with only two minutes remaining of the game.

A good battling performance didn’t return any points but the U17s can look forward to a home fixture at the Tech pitch this Saturday morning at 10.30am against Sunnyside.