First win of the year for U16s

Banbridge Rangers U16s 1

Annagh Utd U16s 0

BANBRIDGE Rangers Under 16s got their first win of the year on Saturday past with a 1-0 victory over Annagh Utd at Scarva Park.

The game got under way with Rangers the brightest of the two teams and finding most of the possession amongst the midfield four of McCrum, Davison, Ball and Gordon.

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The link up play between Ryan Burns and Lee McCullough paid dividends right throughout the half with McCullough having two one on ones with the Annagh goalkeeper who narrowed the angles well and scuppered any chance of an early opener.

Dean Gordon had plenty of the ball in the first half and tortured the Annagh left back all day with his direct running and superb deliveries and on another day could have helped put the Rangers side clear but the rub of the green was not with Rangers in the first half.

The Banbridge side forced several corners and the physical dominance was evident as McElderry and Sergeant both threatened every time they ventured forward from centre half.

With 10 minutes remaining of the first half Mark Baird was shown a striaght red card for showing studs in a challenge when closing down the Annagh right winger. This prompted a change in formation with Rangers still showing the better football though to the interval.

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At half time the mood of the players was upbeat despite having a numerical disadvantage and the Rangers boys were confident of snatching a goal. Five minutes into the half Rangers won their first corner which was put in at pace by Dean Gordon.

The tallest player on the pitch rose highest to thunder his header home to the delight of the Rangers players and spectators who were in admiration of goalscorer Ben McElderry. Ben has been a revelation at the back this season and misses nothing in the air and is a proven threat going forward.

The Rangers U16s gave their all as Annagh searched for a way back into the game but the tenacious Willie Davison covered every blade of grass to cut out any openings in a superb central midfield performance.

The first substitution for Rangers was Nathan Sally being replaced by Jordan McCracken. Nathan went down awkwardly and it was later revealed that he had broken his hip bone. Rangers introduced Aaron Blakeley and Matthew Matchett as fresh legs to keep the game tight and use the counter attack to wrap the game up.

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Banbridge Rangers goalkeeper Mark Winter had quiet game but was commanding throughout the match and his kicking was pinpoint all day.

Rangers’ backline was alert and Kyle Sergeant had them well marshalled and caught Annagh offside anytime they ventured forward.

The introduction of Nathan Copes and David Baird up front gave the Annagh backline something new to think about and their constant closing down helped eat the last few minutes away to give Rangers a deserved lead.

As the league has now split Rangers have a fixture list of seven matches to fulfill before the end of the season starting with the return home leg in Banbridge this Saturday morning against Gilford Crusaders.

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Banbridge Rangers U16s are now just six points off the top off the division and manager Trevor McMinn is confident that a few victories on the bounce could well see the team elevated into the reckoning for some silverware.

The club, officials and fellow players would all like to wish Nathan Sally all their support as he recovers from an operation on his hip injury sustained in Saturdays match.

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