'Mist' opportunity for Seconds

BANBRIDGE Seconds crashed to their second defeat in as many weeks, losing a thrilling encounter against Annadale Seconds at Havelock Park 3-2.

The result leaves Banbridge languishing in third position in the league, which is a bitter disappointment following the bright start to their Junior One campaign.

John McKee welcomed the influential duo of Colin McKnight and David McAnulty back into his squad, and also received the added boost of talented third eleven players Hutchinson and Wright stepping up a level to the seconds.

Former Lisnagarvey defender, Ivor Watt, also made his return to the red of Banbridge and slotted in at left full back.

The corresponding fixture at Loch Moss, earlier in the season, had left the Bann players in no doubt as to the strength of their counterparts, having been embarrassed 7-3 in October.

Bann were determined, before push back, to give a better account of themselves, and it was the home side who began the match the most dangerously. Bann's attractive brand of hockey has, on occasions this season, been their own undoing, and it was as a result of some over intricate play between the defence and midfield that culminated in Annadale's opening goal.

The visitor's right sided attacker evaded the attentions of three flimsy Bann tackles on the edge of the circle, which allowed him to square a pass to a team mate on the penalty flick spot, who made no mistake with a powerful volleyed finish into the net.

Far from becoming disheartened following the goal, the young Banbridge side created some fantastic opportunities to level the score, but lacked that little bit of composure in the circle that only experience can breed.

McKnight hit the post after an initial penalty corner strike had been saved, and this was to be the closest Banbridge would come to levelling before the half time break. Beattie, in the Banbridge goal, was still having to deal with some Annadale attacks, but he was ably assisted by Bell and Burns in the centre of defence.

The second half began much as the first had developed. Banbridge were creating good chances, but were still vulnerable on the counter attack. The second goal of the match was going to be crucial, and it Bann who scored it.

Jamie Wright looked sharp from the moment of his introduction, and it was he, who swapped passes with McAnulty on the right, before firing a low, first time effort through Chisholm in the Annadale goal to draw his side level.

Magee and Kelly were becoming more prevalent threats as the half wore on, and their trickery, combined with Neil Anderson's clever running, created more opportunities Smyrl and Watt to support the attacking play.

It was as a result of Bann's siege on the Annadale goal that brought about the much deserved goal which catapulted the home side into the lead.

Roles reversed for defensive talisman Burns, who turned clinical attacker with a blistering penalty corner shot across the 'Dale goalkeeper and into the bottom right of the net.

Bann's lead was short lived however, as Annadale struck back after a seemingly lost cause was chased down by a visiting attacked. The ball was crossed into the circle, and a sharp turn and shot found its way into the bottom left of the goal, past the diving Beattie.

With both sides pushing for the three points, chances came and went for both sides, but it was a penalty corner which finally settled the absorbing tie in favour of the visiting side.

Annadale won the penalty corner with just under ten minutes to play. Their previous impotent efforts from the top of the circle were quickly forgotten, and cruelly highlighted the danger of that specific set piece, when a drag flick effort brushed past the outstretched glove of Beattie and nestled in the bottom left hand side of the goal, consigning the Seconds to another bitterly disappointing defeat when victory seemed within their grasp.