Four scorers fire Bann Fours to second success

McKnight, Cowan, Reid and Young were all on target as they beat Queen’s 4-2 to keep them in touch with the rest at the foot of the Junior Three league table.

The Fourths had been to the Dub before this season in the League Cup and had been beaten convincingly by a young energetic QUB team but Saturday proved to be a different story.

Bann had Adam Crawford in nets, a defence of Martin, P Bennington, Allister and Gibson, the midfield of Campbell, McKnight, Reid and Large, with a starting attack of the Young brothers. Bann started the half well and pushed for the first goal.

The team squandered a number of chances and Queen’s, who were full of running, were putting the Bann defence under pressure but P Bennington and Callum Gibson handled any attack thrown at them.

QUB took the lead mid-way through the half and should have extended it but in true Christmas spirit, their forward missed an open net.

Bann showed great resolve and McKnight finished well before half-time to draw level.

Early in the second half, Bann had all the possession and the forwards of Corry Large, Matthew Young and Joel Reid won a series of corners.

From one of those, a Cowan drag flick found the bottom corner leaving the Queen’s keeper with no chance.

Bann continued to pile on the pressure and Joel Reid finished superbly from one of the ensuing Bann attacks.

With Bann well on up and playing some great hockey, Mike Young then finished a flowing move for 4-1.

It started at the back with Martin supplying a cross field ball to Reid on the left of midfield. He fed McKnight at left wing to set up Young in the circle and he finished off a great team goal.

Queen’s continued to push hard but were consistently repelled by the Benningtons, Gibson, Martin and Allister in defence.

Adam Crawford was once again in great form in nets and kept Queen’s out until late on where they managed to get a consolation goal.

Bann’s next game is against Cookstown Fours at Havelock on Saturday 9th January,