Second win of the week as player/boss gets on scoresheet

Lisanally Rangers Reserves 1

BANBRIDGE Rangers Reserves’ second match of the week at Banbridge Tech was played last Saturday afternoon against Lisanally Rangers Reserves.

The away side are an extremely unpredictable team in the lower half of the league but have put six and eight goals past some other teams so far this season.

On the back of Wednesday’s emphatic victory Rangers Reserves were keen to carry on the attacking football that has almost secured the team a promotion spot with 12 wins in a row.

The home side had the better of the first half and got off to a great start when player manager Dan Thornton opened the scoring with an overhead kick from his weaker right foot.

Dan’s partner up front was Neil Wilson who followed up his brace on Wednesday night with another goal, lobbing the Lisanally keeper to give Banbridge Rangers a 2-0 lead midway through the first half.

Both sides were competitive through to the half with Wilson striking the post. Just before half time Lisanally were awarded a penalty kick and got back into the game when it was slotted past McCune in the Rangers nets.

After half time Banbridge Rangers were awarded a penalty of their own but for the first time this season Colin Gray failed to score from the spot. Credit has to go to the Lisanally keeper who pulled off a fantastic save at the bottom corner to keep the deficit at one goal.

Lisanally had the better of the second half putting the Banbridge backline under intense pressure but the experience Rangers players held their nerve. Neville, Cochrane and David Sterritt provided plenty of experience in midfield with Sterritt's long throws causing problems for the Lisanally backline.

When the ball dropped from one of these to the edge of the area Robbie Baird took one touch before blasting into the net from 20 yards.

With Banbridge Rangers back in the driving seat it wasn't long before substitute Wayne McAllister added a fourth after being played in by Colin Gray. McAllister made no mistake with the finish to see the home side take all three points again this Saturday.

Wilson and Dobbin both struck the woodwork in the second half but this scoreline still did no justice to the battling performance of the away side.

Next up for the Reserves is a trip to Donacloney on Wednesday night (6.30pm kick off) before traveling to Richhill on Saturday to continue their push for promotion and possible even league honours after Tullygally's seven point lead at the top was cut to four after losing on Saturday.