RADCLIFFE EXIT FOR SORRY TOWN
Glenavon Reserves 4 Banbridge Town 3
BANBRIDGE Town's sorry form continued on Thursday night when they exited the Bob Radcliffe Cup at the hands of Glenavon Reserves.
With no points on the board in the league and with their only realistic chance for glory left in the Mid Ulster Cup the question has to be - where do the Town go from here?
Now they must surely concentrate on their league form, consolidate their place and move up the table.
Town started the match with youngster Dean McGibbon in goal. The ex-Linfield keeper stood in for the cup-tied William McFederick, who was returning to Mourneview Park for the first time since his move to Crystal Park.
Also cup-tied was another former Glenavon player, defender Ricky Copeland.
The Lurgan side, meanwhile, included several of their first team players. Goalkeeper Paul Rice, the hero in their penalty shootout win over Bangor last season, started in goal for the Reserves.
Ciaran McGuigan at centre half has been on trial with Motherwell, while Ormond Okunaiya started along with Banbridge teenagers Paul Walsh and Jeff Brady.
Glenavon started brightest and created a couple of opportunites early on, McGuigan heading at McGibbon from a Walsh header. Mark Green also had a half chance from the edge of the penalty area which bounced before McGibbon smothered the ball.
Town's first chance came when the impressive Ryan Evans was brought down just outside the Glenavon box. John Hooks stepped up to strike the free kick but Rice did well to get down and stop the ball ending up in the bottom corner.
And they came close to scoring the opener when from a flick on Aaron Baker raced through to strike only for the upright to deny him.
The Lurgan Blues had another decent chance to break the deadlock when Paul Walsh's free kick went wide to the left hand side of the Banbridge goal.
But Town did eventually take the lead when Brady's pass left McGuigan short, with Evans coming through to finish low into the net.
And they doubled their lead within five minutes. From a corner kick Dee McParland rose above the rest to head home.
Town could have made it three when a McGeown free kick was headed down by Baker, Rice expertly saving to deny the Town attacker however they may feel that the ball crossed the line before the ex-Cliftonville man made the stop.
Glenavon pulled a goal back just before the break, but nonetheless the Town looked fairly comfortable going into the interval.
But their second half performance was much the opposite as the Town defence fell to pieces.
Early on Glenavon pulled level thanks to a Ciaran McGuigan header. The game then had a break as Brady was brought off after he suffered a concusion following an accidental clash with Paul Alexander.
Town retook the lead after a mix up in the Town box allowed Quinn to poke home, but it wasn't to last.
The young Glenavon side pulled level though a Walsh penalty after Kane upended Green.
They then took the win after around 70 minutes with a goal that was typical of Town's performance on the night. Quinn's back pass was too short and too weak and allowed Morris to nip through and score the decisive goal when one on one with McGibbon.
Town will want to bounce back when they take on Tobermore United on Saturday at Fortwilliam Park (kick off 2.30pm) while they face Newry City in a friendly at the Showgrounds tonight.
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Weather for Banbridge
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
