Title hopes still alive after drubbing

Banbridge Rangers 5

BANBRIDGE Rangers kept their slim title hopes alive with five goals in the second half against last week’s Cup winners Lisanally Rangers.

The game was played at Markethill Swifts’ ground as Markethill have finished their league campaign and sit at the top of Intermediate B awaiting the results of Banbridge Rangers, AFC Craigavon and Hanover’s remaining games.

Banbridge were missing Jason Gourley due to suspension and Geordie McCallister had no hesitation in promoting the successful Reserve team partnership of Dan Thornton and John Thompson to the starting line up.

The first half was combative in the initial stages with Banbridge Rangers holding most of the territory and possession and by no means underestimating the opposition after defeat in the league two weeks ago.

The first clear cut chance of the half fell to John Thompson when he had a free shot after only 15 minutes played. Thornton had flicked on Cousins long throw leaving Thompson clear from 10 yards out but he sliced his effort just a yard shy of the far post.

Rangers continued to press for an opening through numerous corners and set pieces and almost had a breakthrough when William Frazer gathered the ball on the edge of the area before taking on his marker but his shot sailed over the far top corner to the agony of the away support.

Frazer and Cousins on either side were relentless in their work rate right throughout the half down each flank but the sides went into the interval with no score recorded.

Banbridge Rangers entered the second half knowing that only victory would give them any chance of heading to Mid Ulster’s top stream next year and their determination was rewarded when John Thompson scored after less than two minutes on the board.

As Lisanally tried to gather themselves Banbridge Rangers were relentless in attack and scored only a few minutes later to make it 2-0. Thornton's shot from inside the area rebounded fortuitously for Frazer who drove his shot into the roof of the net. At the back Porter and Buchanan were in complete control at this stage alongside sweeper Chris Chambers.

Lisanally had a brief spell of attacking shortly after the goal but the game was put out of doubt 15 minutes into the half when Thornton added his name to the score sheet after a series of corners from the away side.

With goal difference a realistic deciding factor in the league Banbridge Rangers continued to push for more goals and midway through the half a fourth goal arrived. Chrissy Chambers floated a free kick towards the Lisanally box from well inside his own half that was headed in by the run of midfielder Richie McMinn who leapt like a salmon to defy the height advantage of the Lisanally defender.

With a quarter of an hour to go Scott Ward rounded off the night with another bullet header from six yards out latching onto pinpoint cross from the left hand side.

Banbridge Rangers continued to press Lisanally but the home side were compact in the remaining minutes of the match to avoid an even greater scoreline. The game finished 5-0 with the Rangers boys confident going into their last home match of the season on Saturday against Camlough Rovers.