Fantastic effort by AFC earns them three points

BANBRIDGE AFC entertained Lurgan side Oxford United at Cheney Park on Saturday.

Right from the whistle both teams looked up for the match with the ball being hotly contested all over the pitch.

With 10 minutes gone the local side made their first chance. McKay broke with pace down the left and wiped in a low cross into the box only to watch Conlon shoot straight at the keeper.

AFC didn't have to wait long to get on the score sheet when a free kick from McKay wasn't cleared by the away by the away team leaving Walsh to head the Banbridge men in front on 20 minutes.

Mark McDowell should have doubled AFC's lead when somehow he managed to put the ball over the bar from 2 yards out, after more good play down the left by McKay.

Thirty minutes into the match Oxford scored against the run of play. A great diagonal cross caught the home defence sleeping and an Oxford striker made no mistakes in finding the net. Both teams pushed for more goals but none were to come before the half time whistle.

A good half-time team talk must have sunk in as the local men came out in a more determined mood to finish the game off. Chances fell to McKay and Mark McDowell but bad finishing let Oxford off the hook, but not for long.

The two McDowell brothers combined well to put AFC in front. Ryan McDowell made a powerful run down the right and into the box then calmly laid the ball off to his brother Mark who made up for his earlier misses by driving the ball into the roof of the net.This seemed to spur the Lurgan men on.

After couple of well worked short corners they were unlucky not to be level or even in front, but for a few good saves by Smith in nets.

The three points were sealed with 15 minutes to go. Mark McDowell was brought down in the box, McKay stood up and sent the keeper the wrong way, giving his team a two goal cushion.

The local team had a few chances to build on this lead. The best fell to Donaght who chipped the keeper only to watch his effort cleared off the line by an Oxford defender just before the final whistle.

“Over the 90 minutes the lads put in a fantastic effort and deserved the three point today none more than the man of the match Ryan McDowell. He was electric today on the wing, absolutely electric,” said AFC boss Anthony Blackburn.