Seconds hit Kilkeel for six but make plenty of defensive errors

Seconds hit Kilkeel for six but make plenty of defensive errors

Kilkeel Seconds 4

Bann Seconds 6

BANN Seconds travelled to Kilkeel on Saturday for the 4pm ‘graveyard' shift and emerged with all three points after a 6-4 victory littered with defensive errors as well as plenty of chances for both sides.

The Seconds were restricted to 12 players due to the victorious Academy schoolboys suffering from fatigue after playing five games in three days on their way to all Ireland glory in Dublin, so the late addition of Scott McCandless to the squad was more than welcome.

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Within one minute of the start Bann found themselves a goal down through a swift Kilkeel counter attack after losing possession in the opposition 25. The away side equalised immediately through a standard Douglas Anderson drag flick from a short corner won by Gilmour. Bann then gained the lead after Owen Magee finished well from a second phase short corner.

Kilkeel's pace continued to threaten Bann's defence but some good defending by McCandless and Burns nulified any chance of an equiliser. Bann then found themselves 3-1 up when Owen Magee picked the ball up on the right side of the circle, evaded several challenges and dispatched an unstoppable reverse stick shot past the keeper from close range.

The visiting side were pegged back after some slack defending resulted in a Kilkeel forward having a simple finish to make the score 3-2. Bann continued to dominate possession and Pete ‘the' Brown combined well with Scott McCandless in the Kilkeel 25 who finished well to make the half time score 4-2.

The team talk emphasised the need to keep possession and play simple hockey, although Kilkeel emerged from the blocks quickly and reduced the deficit again to 4-3 with a fine reverse stick strike within 2 minutes of the restart.

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Bann responded well through a second short corner strike from Anderson and the away side maintained their dominance throughout the majority of the half and a fine strike from Colin McKnight extended their lead after good work by Gilmour and Doyle.

Bann were again pegged back to 6-4 but were able to see out a spell of late Kilkeel pressure comfortably to claim a deserved, but frustrating win. The Seconds travel to Cookstown next Saturday and will need to lift their game significantly if they are to claim maximum points.

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