Defeat on opening day for Bann U15s

Annadale U15 3

THE Bears got the competitive season underway on Sunday with a defeat at home to a well organised Annadale side in the opening round of fixtures in the Ulster Hockey League.

Despite drawing level through Aaron Reid in the middle of the second half, the Bann side were second best for the most of the match and eventually succumbed to a better Annadale side.

The early stages of the match were all Annadale as they took advantage of a rather disjointed looking Bann side.

Indeed only for the heroics of Bears keeper Peter Bingham, the match could have been over at half time. He saved at least five times from Dale forwards when goals looked more likely and continued his impressive progression between the sticks.

The Bears did get better and more organised as the half went on with the introduction of Rowe, Farson and Ferguson have an immediate effect on the dynamics of the team.

Stronger through the spine, the young Bann stars started to combine better as a team and compete better with their opponents. But the half ended scoreless thanks in the main to the outstanding performances of the two goalkeepers.

The second half started much brighter for the Bears with Craig Kennedy in particular impressing in a deeper forward role. He set up chances for Sam Farson and the equally impressive Aaron Reid. But this early in the season their shooting was not quite up to scratch and they failed to test the visiting keeper.

The visitors were soon back in the ascendancy and it wasn’t long before they took the lead. A clever move down the right saw a ball to the back post just evade the despairing lunge of William Tougher and the forward was left with an easy tap-in.

But Bann showed some grit and determination to get back into the game almost immediately, attacking in numbers, they created a number of half chances which troubled the visiting keeper and Matthew Warnock was unlucky not to get a touch on a ball which flashed across the goal.

Aaron Reid drew the local’s level, showing beautiful composure and control in the circle to fire the ball low through the keeper and into the back of the net.

However as the game wore on the Annadale side grew in confidence and created a number of chances. Despite the best efforts of Luke Skillen in the Bann net, Dale regained the lead. A rasping drive from the edge of the circle went in off the far post.

And the visitors continued to attack and eventually scored the third goal in the last minute of the game.

But even in defeat there were positives for coach Paddy Grimes as he starts what will be a long season. The players are a talented bunch and there are definitely going to be a good group to work with.

The additions of David McCracken, Clark Neville and Johnny McKee who were with Ulster U16 team, will be key as the league progresses.

Next up for the locals in three weeks will be Lisnagarvey, who will make the trip to Havelock as favourites to win the revamped Ulster League.

Team: P Bingham, L Skillen, J Corr, B Dillon-Burns (Capt); S Donnelly; S Farson; A Ferguson; M Hurst; C Kennedy; B Knox; D McMullan; AbReid; J Rowe; R Scott; W Tougher; M Warnock; M Young.