Ally’s back in the goals but Dergview dump Town out of the Intermediate Cup

Town entered the fray minus suspended Mark Teggart and cup-tied Chris Coleman but welcomed the return of Ally Wilson.

The returning Wilson didn’t take long to get back into his stride and netted Town’s goal to make it 1-1 before the visitors took authority and ended up 3-1 winners.

After 14 minutes Town’s Conor Downey opened the Dergview defence before squaring to the well-positioned Wilson but the striker could not muster any power on his shot.

The visitors broke with a lot of pace and a sweeping move instigated by Higginbotham ripped through a bemused home defence and saw Cashel slip the ball under Stephen Croft and put Dergview 1-0 ahead.

Banbridge were now on the back foot for a time and Croft did well to save from Higginbotham after 19 minutes.

The overlapping Wallace fired wide on 28 minutes after racing on to a long ball over the Banbridge back four. Town were battling hard and on 35 minutes almost found themselves on level terms when a good cross from Stephen Greene was met by Ryan Evans but a quick reaction save from Boggs smothered the winger’s effort on the goal-line.

Two minutes later, Evans was the victim of a high tackle in the box and referee Lee Tavinder pointed to the spot. Up stepped Ally Wilson to slot the penalty into the corner to level matters at 1-1.

Dergview were determined to regain the lead and almost did on 41 minutes when Lecky’s bullet header from a right wing corner was inches over. On the half-time whistle, Croft made a good stop from Falconer’s 22 yard free-kick.

The second half was only five minutes old when Sheridan restored the Co Tyrone side’s lead after finishing a neat move with the home defence stranded. It was a goal of some quality.

Conor Downey blazed wildly wide soon after for Town when a pass to the unmarked Evans might have been a better option. It was all still to play for and a tantalising cross from Downey after 73 minutes was scooped off the Dergview line just as Ally Wilson prepared to pounce.

However, the tie was settled two minutes later when Dergview’s Sheridan notched his second goal of the game after taking advantage of a Buchanan mistake to steer wide of the advancing Croft.

Downey was unlucky on 83 minutes with a shot that licked the paintwork on its way wide after receiving a great pass from Ally Wilson.

However, it was Dergview who deservedly advanced to the quarter-finals with a display of pace and power and they will carry with them the best wishes of Banbridge Town as they advance in their quest of the Intermediate Cup.

TOWN: Stephen Croft, James Wilson, Stephen Greene, John Murphy, Glen Waddell, Martin Buchanan, Ryan Evans, Mattie McCartan, Ally Wilson, Conor Downey, Ryan Gourley. Subs: Adam Dennison (Murphy 75), Duncan Stoddard (Buchanan 78), David Gray (Evans 87), Michael Ferguson, Stephen Jones.

DERGVIEW: Jack Boggs, Philip Wallace, Garth Falconer, Neil Coulter, Colin Robinson, Blaine Burns, Aaron Arkinson, Adam Lecky, Stephen Sheridan, Darren Higginbotham, Nathan Cashel. Subs: Andrew Devlin, Richard Clarke, John Edgar (Cashel 88), Richard Lynch, Andrew Sproule (Sheridan 77).

Referee: Lee Tavinder, Dungannon.