Ballymacash Rangers U15 suffer first defeat of season

Ballymacash Rangers suffered their first defeat of the season away to Abbey Villa on Saturday morning.

Abbey Villa took the lead in the first few minutes scoring direct from a free kick that was struck into the top corner from about 25 yards which gave Russell Eagleson no chance in the Rangers goal.

Eagleson was called into action again soon after this time saving well at the feet off the Abbey Villa forward who looked favourite to score.

Rangers started to come into the game for a spell and struck the post with an effort on goal before spurning 3 or 4 other decent chances.They were made to pay for those missed opportunities when Abbey Villa doubled their lead on the stroke of half time this time scoring after Rangers only half cleared a corner and the ball was rifled back into the Rangers goal from 12 yards out.

Rangers, playing a lot better in second half, were starting to cause the Abbey Villa defence more problems especially with the pace of Ben Welch and Adam Wright up front, and they pulled a goal back midway through the half when Wright scored from the spot after Welch won the penalty.

Rangers pushed for the equaliser and won a succession of corners near the end and at one stage all 22 players were in the Abbey Villa half, but it wasn’t going to be and the final whistle came as a relief to Abbey Villa.