Annagh duo join Town to bolster attacking options

Banbridge Town have bolstered their attacking options with two late signings.
Jamie Smith, who has joined Town on loan.Jamie Smith, who has joined Town on loan.
Jamie Smith, who has joined Town on loan.

Annagh United forward Jamie Smith has signed for the club on loan, following in the footsteps of Gary Boyle, who rejoined Town from the Tandragee Road side on Friday.

Smith, son of Annagh manager and ex Glenavon forward Dean, impressed Town in a festive friendly and boss Ryan Watson is delighted to get him on board.

“Jamie scored two goals in the first half in the match against us,” said the manager. “He had two chances and took them both.

“He’s a pacy player and he’s tall. He’s a great prospect and has come to try and get more experience playing at Championship level.”

Smith began his career at Portadown before moving to Glenavon and on to Annagh. He also played in the Milk Cup for Armagh.

Boyle, meanwhile, left Town in 2014 for a spell in Championship One but has now returned after first-team football at Annagh was limited.

Watson said: “Gary gives us another good option up top. He’s good at holding the ball up and bringing others into play.

“He has Championship One experience and is a great guy to have in the squad.”

The new recruits, along with Stuart King, mean a fruitful January window for the Crystal Park club.

Watson said: “The new lads are going to have to wait for an opportunity now but it’s great to have those options from the bench to freshen things up with different strikers.

“Hopefully these guys can produce the goods for us when they get their chance.

“We’ve got a strong squad now, as could be seen in our bench on Saturday.

“It gives me the sort of headache that I want to have. We’re going to need everyone in the squad to do their job over a tough run-in though.”