U13s earn deserved win

With Banbridge fired up and carrying on from their recent Shield victory, they started the match on the front foot playing all the football.

As they pressed forward in the early stages Jake Dennison proved a good outlet down the right wing causing danger when in possession. With nine minutes on the clock Town were awarded a corner and as Lurgan failed to clear Caleb Schiess made no mistake from six yards to open the scoring.

This seemed to fire up the Lurgan team who came hard and fast back at the Juniors. On 18 minutes Lurgan won a corner which was swung in and somehow found its way to the back of the net despite Town keeper Billy Campbell seemingly being fouled.

This made the match all square at half time. The second half began with Town making a few tactical changes to inject some fresh legs into the game. Lurgan however were the team asking all the questions early on and this proved fruitful 10 minutes in when a Lurgan striker jinked his way through the defence to score a brilliant solo effort and put his side 2-1 up.

Banrbridge didn’t lie down and dug deep in a bid to get something from this hard fought affair. Their hard work paid off on 18 minutes when substitute Michael Rafferty burst on to a through ball and bearing down on the keeper, who only managed to parry, the big man was determined not to be denied his goal when he slotted home his second effort to draw Town level.

The Juniors were now in the ascendancy and had a winner in their sights as they began to take hold and press further up the pitch.

On 23 minutes they won a free kick on the left hand side which was dangerously swung in by Luke Vint who found Jake Dennison when he met the ball with a first time shot giving the Lurgan keeper no chance.

Lurgan searched forward in search of another equaliser but were denied any hope with keeper Billy Campbell and the back four holding resolute.

Town put the game to bed on 29 minutes with Michael Rafferty popping up again to double his tally with a well timed finish, supplied by Jake Laffin with yet another dangerous free kick to make the final score 4-2.

This week’s man of the match was Adam Dickson for a solid performance in the Banbridge back line.