Irish Cup exit at the first hurdle

Banbridge Rangers 1

BANBRIDGE Rangers almost gave Dee Heron's Killyleagh a shock in the first round of the Irish Cup on Saturday past with several chances to take the game to extra time.

Rangers traveled to the Irish Cup giant killers on Saturday past on the back of a poor result the previous week and had a severely depleted squad. Jonny Porter, Gareth Fulton, Scott Ward, Chris Chambers, Colin Cousins and Chris Loney were all unavailble for the game but the players who came in put in a magnificent and spirited performance against the Amateur Premier League side.

Both sides started nervously on a blustery day at Killyleagh with the home side looking for Mannus in the channels at every opportunity. He had two clear runs at Ivon Blevins but put both of his efforts well wide of the post.

Jason Gourley played as lone striker for Rangers and had to work constantly to provide an outlet for midfield and almost opened the scoring with a mazy run going past three Killyleagh defenders on his own before his shot was well smothered by the home keeper.

Banbridge Rangers midfield worked hard throughout the first half with Richie McMinn and Dean Mallon showing some great footballing ability when in possession and immense desire to win the ball back of the combative Killyleagh centre midfield.

Aaron Chambers was introduced midway through the half for the injured John McCahon taking up position wide right.

Killyleagh did manage to break the deadlock against the run of play slotting home on 35 minutes followed up by another six minutes later when a McCandless backpass was intercepted inside the box.

Banbridge Rangers came out in the second half confident that they would get on the scoresheet if they kept the tempo high and were patient in attack.

Both teams kept pushing for the next crucial goal with Geordie McCallister sending on 16 year old debutant Stephen Copes for Neville Cochrane who had been industrious in his workrate on the left hand side in front of Bradley Hughes.

With just over 20 minutes gone Richie McMinn was fouled 30 yards out after another surging run, the resultant free kick was drilled in at the keeper palming the ball directly at Jason Gourley who made no mistake under pressure blasting the ball into the top corner to send the traveling support delerious.

Killyleagh were eveidently rocked and the momentum was clearly with Banbridge Rangers who relied on the back four to win everything with captain Darren Clarke showing every bit of his experience with a stand out display alongside Andy McCandless at centre half.

Richie McMinn rolled back the years with a driving performance and almost created an equaliser for himself after skinning three men before his shot was well saved by the Killleagh keeper.

McMinn then had the awareness to free Gourley one on one with the keeper who somehow managed to get some of his body in the way of Gourleys dink denying Rangers a deserved equaliser with less than ten minutes remaining.

Banbridge Rangers continued to push for the equaliser but Killyleagh to their credit didn’t revert to holding their lead and kept attacking Rangers which limited the opportunities to throw men forward.

In injury time Killyleagh took full advantage of the opening spaces to head in at the back post and deflate the Rangers side whose Irish Cup dream is over for another year.

All of the players put in a magnificent performance as underdogs with the spine of the team deserving particular praise in their workrate.

This Saturday's league match has been postponed due to Lisanally's Radcliffe cup game taking preference, leaving Rangers with a week to regroup before a league and cup derby double header against Banbridge AFC.