South Thirds lose out to Banbridge

South Antrim Thirds 1 Banbridge Fourths 2

South Thirds entertained newly promoted Banbridge Fourths at Laurehill Sportszone on Saturday with a much more youthful look about the team.

Patric Cochrane started in centre midfield alongside William Redpath and this combination gave the local side a lot more balance and control than shown the previous week.

South moved the ball round well and had the majority of possession for the first time this season. Unfortunately Matthew McPolland had to go off with a head injury but this gave Aaron Pyper his debut in Junior II hockey. Craig Campbell made his first appearance of the season and despite his lack of match practice was a constant threat moving forward. For all their possession the Lisburn side rarely threatened the Bann net until Mark Bell found Andrew Brown outside the circle with a quick free from a sideline ball. Brown’s goal ward pass took a deflection off a visiting defender’s stick and their keeper had no chance as the ball cruelly passed him.

South defended well throughout the 1st half with Banbridge rarely penetrating the South 25 yard line.

South knew they had to up the tempo in the 2nd half to put the game beyond Banbridge however, the break seemed to rejuvenate the visitors. It was all one way traffic in the 2nd half as South squandered possession all round the pitch. Keeper Ashley Sloan was called in to action on numerous occasions along with Adam Thompson making a succession of goal bound clearances. The pressure paid off for Banbridge with a well worked penalty corner routine seeing the ball turned in at the back post to level the scores. South had two golden opportunities to steal the lead back but both went begging and the local side were left to rue these missed chances as Bann deservedly took the lead albeit from a missed time shot from the edge of the circle with 10 minutes left.

South had a late rally but it was the case of too little too late.

This defeat makes it three losses on the trot, a trend that needs reversed before South find themselves in the relegation zone that sees 4 of the 12 teams relegated this season.

Thank you to South’s Sponsor of the Month, Sports Dock.