Town Juniors U16s secure a third place finish

Banbridge Town Juniors U16s Lisburn League Team brought the curtain down on their season on Saturday morning at Havelock Park with a comfortable 2–1 victory against Lurgan Town.
Banbridge Town Juniors U16s Lisburn League team have had a pleasing season, securing a third place finish.Banbridge Town Juniors U16s Lisburn League team have had a pleasing season, securing a third place finish.
Banbridge Town Juniors U16s Lisburn League team have had a pleasing season, securing a third place finish.

The Town secured their third place league finish with a much improved performance.

The Juniors started the game with a real determination and with a few positional changes, took control of the match early on. They should already have been over the horizon after 15 minutes.

However, missed chances left the game delicately poised and Lurgan took the lead after 20 minutes with a dubious offside goal.

The Town responded, as they have done all season and Irwin’s through ball from defence found Rafferty who brilliantly volleyed to the net to level the scores.

The second half saw the Town dominate possession with McKinstry pulling the strings in midfield and all players keen to get on the ball.

But that elusive winner seemed like it was never going to come until Morgan broke up the Lurgan attack and his headed clearance found McKibbon whose wicked right wing cross was cleverly flicked into the net by Byrne to put the Town 2–1 ahead with only ten minutes to go.

McKibbon and McCann also went close to extending the lead in the remaining few minutes.

In the end, the Juniors comfortably held out in the final period with Houston and Fitzsimmons dominant in the centre of the defence.

This season has seen a significant improvement from the Town with a third place finish and a disappointing semi-final defeat in the League Cup.

The management and parents can be proud of the players, who have enthralled everyone with their displays. They have a never give in attitude and were never dominated by any team this year. With a little bit more luck and a better bounce of the ball, they may have had some silverware.

If they stick together next year and can add one or two new players to strengthen the squad, there is no reason why they will not be challenging at the top.

TOWN SQUAD: Colin Leckey, Paul Morgan, Padraig Fitzsimmons, David Houston, Jason Ellison, Jamie McAtamney, Gavin Fearon, Odhran McKibbon, Michael Rafferty,

Danny McKinstry, Owen Byrne, James McCann, Cormac Downey, William Irwin, Ryan Devlin.