Four-lorn Seconds come up short

Lisnagarvey 4

BANN Seconds provided little resistance to the Junior One juggernaut that is Lisnagarvey on Saturday afternoon, succumbing to a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Havelock Park.

The Comber Road side have enjoyed a fabulous season thus far, only dropping two points in what is a very competitive division.

In the two sides’ previous encounter Bann teetered on the cusp of victory before relinquishing their one goal advantage with six minutes remaining and losing 4-3.

It was a much changed Bann eleven that took to the field this time around with the notable absence of top scorer Doug Anderson due to injury.

Lisnagarvey’s reputation preceded them in the early exchanges as the young Bann side offered their opponents more respect than any Lisnagarvey side should be offered when they step onto the pitch at Havelock Park.

Bann struggled to get a foothold in the match and fell behind to a penalty corner drag flick which was no less than the visitors deserved.

Jonathan Burns tested the Lisnagarvey goalkeeper with a powerful strike from a Bann penalty corner but the shot failed to navigate a course to the backboard and Lisnagarvey went into the half time break 1-0 up.

Bann began the second period with a sense of purpose and desire that had been missing from their timid first half display. Tumilty, Burns and Livingstone injected a steeliness down the spine of the team, releasing the talented youngsters, Magee, Anderson and Gilmore to heap pressure on the aging Lisnagarvey defence.

Bann’s pressure was so great during moments of the second half that Bell and McCague were able to adopt positions high up the pitch and lend their considerable passing talents to each attacking manoeuvre.

However for all of Bann’s effort at the right end of the pitch it was the away side who secured the crucial second goal of the match, drilling a reverse shot past the rooted Beattie in goal following a fortuitous penalty corner break down eight yards from goal.

With Bann toiling in the final third of the pitch with scant reward coach John McKee took the brave, but unorthodox decision to sacrifice goalkeeper Beattie for an 11th outfield player. It was a final throw of the dice, but it appeared Bann’s luck had all but run out.

With the exposed goal gaping Lisnagarvey ran in a third before Ian Livingstone could offer the vocal home support a glimmer of hope with a neat finish, following good work from McKnight.

The league leaders grabbed a fourth before the final whistle sounded.

The score line certainly flattered Lisnagarvey as Bann dominated the chances and the possession in the second half, but it would only be the most myopic and staunch Banbridge supporter who could begrudge the Hillsborough side the three points on a bitterly disappointing day for Bann’s second string.

Thanks must go out to the Downshire Arms Hotel who kindly sponsored the team’s new playing shirts.