Five-star U15s rout Loughgall at Havelock

The local lads dominated from start to finish in what was their best performance of the season.

They were excellent right through the team and could easily have won by an even greater margin so dominant was their display.

The sides drew earlier in the season but there was only ever going to be the one winner as Banbridge seized control from the first whistle.

Niall Massey and Luke Diamond were both denied by the keeper before the deadlock was broken on 13 minutes, Nathan Weir picking his spot after the ball had been cut back from the left byline by Luke Diamond.

Niall Massey and Nathan Weir were unfortunate not to double the advantage, but the second goal wasn’t far away.

Ross Fitzpatrick was the player on target after 27 minutes, driving the ball high over the keeper after he found space on the right edge of the penalty area.

The locals went in at the interval two goals to the good and it was the least they deserved with Loughgall rarely threatening at the other end.

It was a similar tale in the second half with Luke Diamond soon adding number three as a long ball out of defence caught out the Loughgall defence, allowing Luke to race clear and finish coolly.

Luke added his second and Banbridge’s fourth, clinically dispatching a penalty into the bottom left corner after Ross Fitzpatrick had been upended in the box.

With the points secure there was time for Luke to drop back into nets, where he was to pull off a spectacular save, allowing Stuart Wilson a run outfield.

And Stuart very nearly got on the scoresheet when a cross from the left just failed to reach him.

In the closing minutes Jack McCartan completed the rout with a close range finish.

Overall a great all-round performance from the local lads who will soon be climbing the table if they continue in this vein of form.

Team: Stuart Wilson, Nathan Thompson, Daire McCluskey, Jack Canning, Daniel Devlin, Nathan Weir, Joel Copes, Ross Fitzpatrick, Chris Burns, Luke Diamond, Niall Massey, Jack Fullerton, Peter Maxwell, Jack McCartan, Kyle Thompson.