AFC come away with nothing after promising start

Ballymacash Rangers 3

AFC 2

AFC travelled to Ballymacash Rangers on Saturday knowing that it would be a tough game with the hosts scoring a couple of good wins of late.

The Banbridge men could not have got off to a better start with the in-form left back Mark Myles hitting a rasping 30 yard pile driver into the top corner with his left foot.

Unfortunately when AFC went a goal up they took their foot off the gas, creating no more chances the first half and going in at half time with the slender lead of one goal.

At the start of the second half Ballmacash came out of the blocks flying while AFC were left trying to forge a way back into the game.

Rangers played a ball down the right and with the AFC back line all over the place their forward was the first to react and stabbed the ball home from close range to make it 1-1.

This brought some life back into AFC and with a great work rate from McCourt and Gartland the ball was played into the box for the latter to pass to Mark McDowell to finish well with the keeper bearing down on him to make it 2-1.

AFC again took the foot off the gas despite shouts from Blackburn and McBride on the sideline to up the tempo and when the ball broke down on the left hand side and was crossed into the box again the ball was not cleared and somehow managed to make it's way into the AFC net.

AFC were playing the better football and Ryan and Mark McDowell both had penalty claims but the referee waved play on.

Again Ballymacash went forward and scored another scrappy goal - at one point the AFC management would have been disappointed with a point but now they were leaving with nothing.

Gartland and McKay both went close in the last minutes but it was not to be.

Best for AFC were Kieran McCourt and Richy Gartland.

AFC are home to local rivals Banbridge Rangers this week and they must up there game if they want to keep their 100% home record at Cheney Park alive.

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