Six of the best for Bann 2s as Instonians are brushed aside

InstoniAns 2s 2

A struggling Bann 2s took on basement side Instonians 2s on Saturday and picked up a much-needed result, easing their way to a 6-2 win.

It was a wet afternoon at Havelock but that didn’t stop Ross McCandless and Ross Beattie from bagging two each, those goals sandwiched between efforts by Bill Malcolmson and Colin Dowds.

The match started in the balance but Bann slowly started to take control and got behind the Inst defence on a couple of early occasions without reward.

Then a breakaway saw Kyle Marshall throw an aerial over the top to Bill Malcolmson who beat two Inst defenders and dispatched a fierce reverse stick shot into the side netting - a stunning goal to set his side on their way.

It certainly got Banbridge going and from then they were surely the better team. The second goal came quickly after when a great ball into the mixer from Ross McCandless found Ross Beattie unmarked to deflect the ball past the Instonians keeper.

Inst had a chance to get back into the game with a well worked move down the left and a deflection brought out a fantastic save from Bann keeper Peter Bingham. Just before half-time, Bann won their first penalty corner of the match.

Up stepped Ross McCandless with one of his trademark flicks high into the net to put Bann 3-0 up at the break.

The second half started the same, with Banbridge enjoying all the dangerous possession. It didn’t take long for them to score again when a crash ball in from the right saw another deflection from Ross Beattie find the back of the net to make it 4-0.

As the match went on, it started to open up, and a lapse in concentration saw Inst pull a goal back.

Not long after the Inst goal, Bann won another short corner and, on his comeback from retirement, McCandless fired in another drag-flick to increase the score to 5-1.

Bann had a chance to increase their lead but were unable to capitalise until a flowing move down the right found Malcolmson unmarked in the circle, where he rounded the keeper and unselfishly squared the ball for an easy tap in for Coly Dowds.

This wasn’t the end of the scoring as Inst bagged a consolation goal at the end of the match.

Banbridge Seconds would like to thank Glen Marshall for umpiring the game.