AFC needing time to gel after first game defeat

Hanover 4

Banbridge AFC 0

AFC went into the first league game of the season against a Hanover team that, last season, just missed out on promotion by one point.

This was always going to be a tough game for the local side.

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There has been a lot of changes at AFC over the summer with Pete McBride joining the management set up from Lurgan Town plus eight new players coming into the first team.

Even at that the Banbridge men could not have got off to a worse start, going one down after two minutes. A Hanover free kick was pushed on to the post by Smith in the Banbridge goal only for the ball to drop perfectly for the home side to tap in.

AFC didn't let this dampen their spirits and started to control the game. When chances fell to Rooney, Conlon and McDowell the they could convert them.

Twenty minutes into the game the Banbridge side were made to pay when a mix-up in the defence left a Hanover forward one on one with the away keeper which he finished finished with ease.

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This rattled the visitors and Hanover dominated the rest of the half with a lot of slick passes that opened up the Banbridge midfield resulting in Hanover adding to the their tally, leaving the home team 3-0 up at half time.

The local men went into second half determined to make amens to the score line that flatter the home team big time but just like the first 45 minutes they couldn't find the net.

Chances fell to Spiers, Trainor and Donaghy but the Hanover keeper was having a good day in nets.

AFC were made to pay again when a long ball over the top caught everyone square which the Portadown side converted to make it 4-0 with 10 minutes to go.

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After the match the new joint manager Pete McBride said ,“Four goals to nil flattered the home side but they did deserve the three points.

"Things are going well at AFC at the minute on and off the pitch. The squad are training well but it's just a matter of everyone gelling together and working off the same page.”

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