Derby ends in stalemate at Cheney

Banbridge Rangers 1

BANBRIDGE AFC and Banbridge Rangers met on Saturday past in the return leg of their league campaigns in Intermediate B with Rangers holding advantage after winning the earlier encounter back in August.

Neither side had played a competitive game since mid December with Rangers knowing three points would maintain their third place status.

The advantage of the home dressing room seemed to be working as AFC started the game brightest and had most of the play capitalising in the opening goal in the first quarter of the game. This was a typical derby game with both sides making late challenges with the referee failing to book but consistently stopped the game repeatedly, this being detrimental to the fluidity of the game.

Both sides had half chances before the break but the opening period belonged to AFC as they went in 1-0 up at the break.

Geordie McAllister’s side came out fired up in the second half with Scott Ward dominating the midfield as he had for most of the first half with his trademark forward runs. Ward was rewarded with his efforts four minutes into the half with a fine goal to bring Rangers back into the game with the equaliser.

Rangers controlled the next 15 minutes looking for a breakthrough but the AFC backline was compact and stood up to anything Rangers could offer.

Rangers best play came down the left hand side through the energetic Willie Frazer though the main influence on the last twenty minutes was stamina when even replacements on both sides found it difficult to make an impact.

Rangers controlled much of the possession but it was AFC who carved out the best chance to win the game heading wide from three yards out from a free kick on the halfway line. The game fizzeled out and finished 1-1 with both sides content with a draw but knowing the slightest rub of the green would have won the tie.

Banbridge Rangers would like to thank AFC for their kind hospitality and the invitation after the game and the food provided. Next Saturday Banbridge Rangers travel to Broomhedge to kick off their Alan Wilson Cup. This is a 1.30pm kick off against a side that beat table toppers Lurgan Town last week.