Derby win for Bann Fourths

Newry Olympic Thirds 3

Bann Fourths 5

A NEW look Banbridge Fourths side travelled the short distance down the A1 to face the newly promoted Newry Olympic Thirds.

Bann settled the quicker and opened the scoring with goal machine Gareth ‘Milito’ Matthews finding the back of the net with a reverse effort worthy of Bann legend, Eugene Magee.

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Playing good hockey but lacking forward movement, an uncharacteristic error at the back handed Olympic an equalizer.

Despite being a group with not much playing time together the team pulled together and Matthews struck again midway through the first half to put Bann back into the lead.

Shortly before the half time whistle Matthews beat four players at the top of the D before slotting home, giving Bann a comfortable 3-1 lead at the half.

With the next goal being crucial, Bann, despite rookie centre-back Brodie Forbes throwing in some top drawer tackles, lost concentration, allowing Olympic to string good passing together with excellent finishing, the home side punishing Bann with two goals in quick succession.

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Young Craig Campbell, having just narrowly missed out on putting Bann in front showed composure and slotted in, handing the lead back to Bann.

With minutes remaining Matthews added another and secured victory for the away side with his sixth goal in two games for the Fourths.

Definitely not a team to be written off, the young Bann team take on Mossley at Havlock Park next weekend before travelling down to Hillsborough for a crunch game against the old enemy Lisnagarvey.