MADELY HITS TWICE TO EARN FOURTHS WIN

Annadale Fourths 1Banbridge Fourths 2

BANN were on their travels again when they travelled to Lough Moss to take on Annadale Fourths.

Both sides were looking to take the three points on offer for different reasons. Dale were in need to of the points to pull away from the relegation zone while Bann were seeking their first win in four outings to maintain their challenge for Junior Two honours.

Bann, as has been the case were some weeks, had to change their panel again due to the unavailability of Andrew Mooney, Peter Brown, Alan Day, and Dale Pollock. They were however boasted by the return from injury of the experienced Joe McKnight in the engine room.

With Aaron Appleton taking over in goals it was still the usual mix of youth and experience that lined out against a similarly set up Annadale side.

The locals set off in determined fashion and it came as no surprise when Robin Madeley expertly converted their first short corner after only three minutes. Captain Madeley slipped the past the first runner before finding the net with a strong flick.

After this setback the home side used their youthful front six to put pressure on the Bann defence but solid defending from Duggan and Wilson in particular kept the home side at bay.

Bann were struggling to find their passes and this combined with some lack lustre marking allowed the home side to equalise after 15 minutes.

Both sides then went through a patch when their passing went astray. This resulted in a rather fragmented end to the half with home side enjoying the lions share of possession and could have taken the lead had their finishing been of a higher standard.

Bann made several positional changes at half time in an attempt to deny the home side the freedom of the pitch they had enjoyed in the first half. This paid immediate when Robin Madeley was on hand after only five minutes at the back post to slide in and put his side back in front after a flowing move involving Thomas Sturgeon and Chris McGladdery.

Play then ebbed and flowed from end to end as both sides had chances to equalise and further increase their lead respectively. Bann were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty flick when McGladdery's effort from a short corner appeared to strike a defender's foot on its way into the goal.

However they rode their luck when an Annadale follow up to a short corner struck the crossbar.

Appleton had to be on hand to palm away a deflected effort just after the hour mark while McKnight could not find a way past the keeper after a right cross.

The final whistle brought an end to a game played in dense fog and will be remembered more for Bann's battling qualities rather the standard of their hockey.

Best for Bann again were Michael Duggan and the hard working Chris McGladdery.