Bann 4s stay in touch with vital victory

Bann lined up with a mix of experience and youth and that was enough to claim an important 3-2 victory to avoid being cut off at the foot of the table.

Neil Madeley, Nigel Allister, Colin Walker and S. Allen were controlling the defence in the first half. The midfield of Knox, Clydesdale and McKnight were working hard to help the defence and support the front line.

Bann were having success down their left side and on one of these attacks, a Nigel Allister cross from the left wing was coolly deflected over the keeper’s head by Joe McKnight to take the lead.

The home team then pressed for an equaliser and with Bann sitting deep and hitting South Antrim on the break, it looked inevitable that an equaliser was on the cards. The Bann forwards of Morrison, Dermott, Hanna, Morgan and Young were working hard to get on the ball and keep possession. South did equalise when they crossed from their right and with a few deflections, their forward was left with a simple finish past Adair in goal.

With half time fast approaching great work from Knox down the right found Joe McKnight who crossed into the circle for a superb finish by Mike Young.

Bann controlled the play in the second half and won a number of corners from which McKnight was denied several times by the South Antrim keeper.

The home team pushed for an equaliser and created a number of chances from which Adair saved well. Bann gifted the home team a short corner which they scored from to make it 2-2.

Almost straight away, Bann pushed forward and a great defence-splitting pass by Madeley found the ever-present Joe McKnight on the edge of the circle, who beat a few defenders and rifled in the winner on the reserve stick.

South then went on the all-out offensive and pushed many players forward but the experienced Bann defence soaked this up and controlled possession through the midfield and forwards to see out the match and win a well-deserved three points.