Good run comes to an end for Rangers

At the half time interval the game was scoreless but the Gers were made to pay for several key mistakes after the restart.

Banbridge Rangers set their stall out and packed the midfield with Colin Cousins playing the role of lone striker and in the opening 45 minutes this appeared to work with Dollingstown failing to register a shot on target.

On the half hour McMinn fired over from the edge of the area as the Gers started to progress more into the final third but failed to get in behind Dollingstowns back four.

With a couple of minutes remaining off the half Moffett headed a Ryan Weir corner to the edge off the box where Colin Cousins fired a first time effort low to the bottom corner but Dollingstown keeper Kris Fletcher was equal to the task and pulled off a superb save to keep the scoreline nil nil going into the break.

In much off the opening five minutes in the second half Rangers had pressed Dollingstown into their own third but this opened up the home side for a counter attack and when Ryan Gregg was dispossessed near the half way line his namesake Ashley Gregg was sent free one on one with Blevins and slotted under the keeper to make it 1-0 to Dollingstown.

Within 10 minutes the game was virtually out of sight for Banbridge Rangers as Dollingstown raced into a 3-0 lead when they clinically punished individual mistakes from Peter Dean and Richard McMinn.

Several changes were made to try and force a way back into the tie with Jason Gourley looking lively down the left hand side but had several shots well blocked.

Andy McLarty and Colin Cousins went close with strikes from distance but with ten minutes to go Dollingstown secured all three points to move to the top of Intermediate A and one step closer to Championship football.

This was a game in which both teams showed a willingness to get the ball down and play but it was another eye opener for the Gers who will have to keep their concentration if they want to make in roads against established top flight sides.

This Saturday Banbridge Rangers are on their travels for the first time in February with a league game against Lisanally Rangers. kick off in Armagh is at 2.15pm.