McCann at the double as U16s strike Fear into Lisburn side

Banbridge Town Juniors U16s Lisburn League team got back to winning ways on Saturday with a comfortable 3-1 victory against Lisburn Rangers at Havelock Park.
5 March 2014; A general view of a football. UEFA Under 21 Championship Qualifier, Republic of Ireland v Montenegro, Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Co. Dublin. Picture credit: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE5 March 2014; A general view of a football. UEFA Under 21 Championship Qualifier, Republic of Ireland v Montenegro, Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Co. Dublin. Picture credit: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE
5 March 2014; A general view of a football. UEFA Under 21 Championship Qualifier, Republic of Ireland v Montenegro, Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Co. Dublin. Picture credit: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE

With Houston and McKibben unavailable, the Juniors had to reshuffle and were worthy winners with a scintillating second half display.

The first half began slowly and it took 15 minutes for the Town to settle and exert some pressure on the Lisburn back four.

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With the defence of Fitzsimmons, Morgan, Ellison and Downey in control at the back, Leckey was largely untroubled in the early exchanges.

After 25 minutes, the Juniors finally got their breakthrough when a dangerous corner from McAtamney was whipped in and Fearon headed home from close range to put the Town one up.

The second half was a much more polished display from Banbridge with Devlin coming on at half time and proving a menace for Lisburn down the right wing. Byrne came on up front and was unlucky not to score after twice getting into great positions.

McCann, who was having a terrific match, was then upended in the box and McAtamney coolly dispatched the penalty to put the Town two up.

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McCann then made the game safe when he shrugged past the centre back and drilled the ball home.

The locals controlled the game for the next 10 minutes with McKinstry and McAtamney bossing the middle of the park. With only minutes remaining, Town conceded a late free-kick. The shot was hit with real venom and Leckey managed to get his fingertips onto the ball to deflect it onto the post only for the ball to be converted from close range.

This was a much more impressive display from the Juniors and if they can continue this form for the rest of the month, they will surely move into the top four of the League.

Next up for the Town is Lisburn Youth on Saturday morning.

TOWN: Colin Leckey, Padraig Fitzsimmons, Paul Morgan, Jason Ellison, Cormac Downey, Jamie McAtamney, Danny McKinstry, James McCann, Michael Rafferty, William Irwin, Gavin Fearon, Ryan Devlin, Owen Byrne,

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