Derby victory for Banbridge Rangers Reserves

Banbridge Rangers

Reserves 8

Scarva Rangers Reserves 3

BANBRIDGE Rangers Reserves took on local rivals Scarva Rangers Reserves last Wednesday night at the Tech.

The pitch was still somewhat sticky after the mixed weather with both sides having to adjust their games to suit the run of the ground.

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Both teams were competitive in every tackle as you would expect from a derby game with the first goal going the way of the home side. John Thompson nodded home after being picked out at the back post by a header from Colin Harper.

This goal had settled the Rangers players but they were to be pegged back to 1-1 when an attempted clearance by Buchanan was volleyed into his own net from a corner.

This seemed to spur the Scarva team on who dominated the next 10 minutes but failed to make their territory and possession count.

Wayne McAllister scored next for Banbridge Rangers volleying in from all of 30 yards.

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The fourth goal of the half came right on the stroke of half time when Scarva converted a penalty after a Harper foul in the box to leae the score 2-2 at half time.

Scarva opened the scoring in the second half, going 3-2 in front in an enthralling match with John Thompson responding with an equaliser. Neil Wilson picked out Thompson from the right hand side with Thompson flicking the ball and volleying into the far top corner for his second of the match.

Banbridge Rangers got in front again at 4-3 when Neil Wilson prodded the ball past the Scarva keeper.

The hosts now seemed in total control of the match and hit their fifth when Aaron Buchanan rifled into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

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The home side’s fitness started to pay off and dominated the remainder of the match with goal number six coming with still 20 minutes left on the clock. A Buchanan corner was flicked on by John Thompson allowing Dan Thornton to smash home from inside the area.

The seventh goal of the evening came after a string of nine quick passes gave Neil Wilson the chance to tap home his second of the match.

The Scarva keeper was bombarded by shots for the end of the match and was beaten once more when John Thompson lobbed from the edge of the box to seal his hat trick.

This was a great team performance from Banbridge Rangers who were pushed to work for the win early on by Scarva but the win made it twelve in a row for Dan Thornton's Reserve team.

John Thompson was man of the match for his hat trick and overall work rate and composure.

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