Ironside Cup is Rangers' first trophy of season

Banbridge Rangers 2

Seapatrick 1

BANBRIDGE Rangers picked up their first silverware of the season, defeating Banbridge AFC 4-2 in the Final of the Ironside Trophies Charity Cup.

The four team tournament takes place annually in the week proceeding the Relay For Life event with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.

On Monday night Banbridge Rangers played Seapatrick at the Tech on a rainy night in the first of the two semi finals. Jason Gourley opened the scoring on the half hour mark for Rangers after a mix up in the Seapatrick defence.

In a highly competitive match there was breathing space on seventy minutes when Intermediate B side Banbridge Rangers doubled their lead against the local rivals Seapatrick of Intermediate A.

Geordie McCallister had three new signings in the squad on Monday night with former Scarva Rangers stalwart Darren Clarke clotting home a free kick on the edge of the area for Banbridge Rangers.

Seapatrick made a late push with Philip Davison’s driving run allowing the villagers to slid home a late consolation past Blevins with Banbridge Rangers progressing to the Final on Friday.

Scarva Rangers 2

Banbridge AFC 2

(AFC win 4-3 on pens)

The second semi final was a tense affair with Scarva Rangers scoring twice early in the second half against the run of play in their match against Banbridge AFC.

AFC battled against the deficit and reduced the arrears with Sean McKay scoring to leave the scores level at 2-2.

The penalty shootout saw Banbridge AFC win 4-3 in the spot kicks, setting up a final appearance against Banbridge Rangers.

Final

Banbridge Rangers 4

Banbridge AFC 2

Banbridge Rangers got off to a flyer in the final, netting twice in the opening eight minutes to stun fellow Mid Ulster Intermediate B competitors Banbridge AFC.

The first goal arrived with Scottie Ward rising highest in the box and picking out the run of Gareth Fulton who had the easiest of headers to score after only three minutes on the clock.

Five minutes later Scottie Ward doubled the lead with a superb individual goal evading the challenges of five AFC players before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

Banbridge Rangers continued to dominate and after a few spurned chances new signing Gareth Fulton got his second off the night on the 15 minute mark. A sublime cross field pass from Aaron Buchanon was struck first time from Fulton who lobbed the AFC keeper from the left hand side of the box.

The match was wrapped up with half an hour gone when Jason Gourley headed home confidently under pressure at the back post. Banbridge AFC stifled the flow of Rangers by scoring five minutes before the break.

Changes in the second half from both sides saw the tempo drop with AFC recording the only goal of the second half late on to leave the final result at 4-2 and the cup resting back in their hands for the first time since its inception back in 2007.