McCullough has the midas touch as Gers win again

On Saturday, his Banbridge Rangers Reserves side secured their third win on the trot since his appointment. All three matches have seen the Gers young guns score four times with a second half consolation in the 4-1 win over Ballymacash Rangers Reserves their first conceded goal under McCullough’s stewardship.

The opening half an hour was good for the home side despite being unable to breach the Ballymacash goal. Dean Gordon struck the bar after 11 minutes and had a snap-shot well saved before the half-hour mark.

In the 34th minute, Rangers opened the scoring and within ten minutes, the game would be out of sight for Ballymacash with a rampant home display in front of goal.

Jason Adamson scored the opener after a superb run from right back saw him pick up a one-two in behind the last defender and produce a very composed finish.

Rangers doubled their lead in the 41st minute through talisman Dean Gordon who latched onto a through ball and finished well after leaving the Ballymacash centre-half in his tracks.

Gordon was instrumental in the third goal which came at the end of the 45 minutes after his long throw was flicked on by Stuart Cairns and Jason Adamson was on hand to finish for his second of the day. The Gers weren’t finished there and in the second minute of stoppage time, Ryan Weir picked the ball up on the edge of the box and chipped the Ballymacash keeper to make it 4-0 before the half-time whistle.

Ryan Weir should have made it five after the break when through on goal but his shot from a wide area clipped the post. A superb stop soon after by Matthew Freeburn looked like he was going to chalk up another clean sheet but in the 53rd minute a Ballymacash forward had a one on one and slotted home their consolation goal.

Rangers had several opportunities to extend their lead but they had done enough to move comfortably into the top half of the Reserve Championship League.

This Saturday the Gers are on their way to Newry to take on Carnbane League side Greenfield Park in the Mid Ulster Shield with kick off at 2pm.