Morley-Hillen keeps the deficit down

However, the Holm Park side should have been out sight at the interval after three glorious early goal-scoring chances to Stephen Murray, Gareth Grimley and Gavin Cusack all went a begging.

But Murray did make amends on the hour mark with a superb score when he scooped the ball over onrushing Banbridge ‘keeper Nathan Hillen. Hillen was the stand-out player for Town and in the hectic opening period he pulled off save after save to deny City.

Banbridge found their feet after the break and made life very difficult for City and they almost equalised midway through the half when a rasping 25-yard goalbound shot was brilliantly turned around an upright by alert Armagh ‘keeper Sean Morgan.