Enniskillen are too strong for U15s in semi final

Banbridge Rangers U15s 1

BANBRIDGE Rangers’ highly anticipated Mid Ulster Shield Semi Final against Enniskillen got underway at the third attempt on Saturday morning.

Both teams traveled to Dungannon Park to play and although the pitch wasn't in great condition the weather held up and it was a decent game of football.

Enniskillen got off to a flying start and opened the scoring after only three minutes after the Banbridge Rangers backline was caught out by a looping cross to the back post leaving the onrushing midfielder to head home comfortably.

Banbridge Rangers were finding it difficult to find their range on the wet surface with Black and McCallister in midfield trying their utmost to thread through balls for Wilson and Copes up front.

With 10 minutes on the clock Enniskillen doubled their advantage after poking the ball home from a well delivered corner.

Chasing the game from start was going to be difficult for the young Rangers team who conceded a third on 20 minutes from a quick counter attack with Hawthorne being beaten in the Banbridge nets.

The Enniskillen defenders were on top of their game keeping Nathan Copes at bay who threatened at every opportunity with his direct running and work rate.

Reece Wilson and Jordan Boyd had efforts before Enniskillen put the game beyond doubt scoring a fourth goal before the half time interval.

Banbridge Rangers made several replacements for the second half and seemed to give the side a new impetus and after ten minutes they got a goal back when a speculative ball from midfield hit the back of the net after taking a strong deflection of the Enniskillen centre half.

Rangers continued to press with Adam Burns taking on three players before being dispossessed as he moved in for a shot and Burns also teed up Copes with a deft header in the box but the keeper smothered the resultant half volley.

The best goal of the game was the final goal when the Enniskillen centre half picked up a loose clearance just inside the Banbridge half before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Hawthorne in the Rangers nets.

Enniskillen play Cookstown in the Shield final this Saturday with the U15s having no fixture scheduled for this weekend.