Fearon nets hat-trick for five star U16s

The Town blitzed the opposition from the first whistle totally dominating possession in midfield and penning Lisburn Youth into their own half.

Chances came with almost every attack, and with a little bit more composure and a little bit of luck, McCann, McAtamney or McKibbon could have opened the scoring in the opening ten minutes. But it was left to the in-form Fearon to break the deadlock and in fact to go on and score a well deserved hat-trick in the first half.

For his first, he slipped in behind the defence onto a long ball and finished with superb confidence with only 15 minutes gone.

Soon after, he made it 2–0, heading home from Houston’s great cross from the right to the relief of the Juniors.

Five minutes from half-time, he got his hat-trick, finishing into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance from inside the box converting Devlin’s cross.

The 3-0 score-line to the Town at half-time somewhat flattered Lisburn Youth, as they were unable to threaten Leckey in goal with anything of note. The Towm defence of Devlin, Morgan, Ellison and Fitzsimmons were rock solid all day.

The second half was a mirror image of the first, with the Juniors creating the clearer cut chances from the off.

Houston and McKinstry were once again dominating midfield. Byrne went close on a number of occasions and Rafferty was unlucky not to score on the hour mark after an aggressive run and shot from the right.

Houston then deservedly got his name on the score-sheet, finishing from close range after shrugging off two defenders and stroking the ball into the bottom corner. Ten minutes later he doubled his tally, getting on the end of McCann’s tireless work and fine cross from the right wing, to make it 5-0 to Banbridge.

Leckey in goal who has been in great form recently, made a wonder save on the hour to keep his clean sheet intact.

Then Byrne had a penalty saved after McKibbon was brought down in the box, which would have made it six.

All things considered, the Town can be very satisfied with their performance and their clean sheet, with all 13 players contributing to a dominant display from start to finish. The Town will be looking to keep this impressive winning streak going up until the Christmas break and in this form, few would bet against them.

TOWN JUNIORS: Colin Leckey, Ryan Devlin, Jason Ellison, Paul Morgan, Padraig Fitzsimmons, Jamie McAtamney, Gavin Fearon, Odhran McKibbon, David Houston, Danny McKinstry, James McCann, Michael Rafferty, Owen Byrne,