Tavares seals revenge win

Town needed no motivation for this game as their opponents had narrowly beaten them in extra-time in a Shield tie only a few weeks before.

A new three man midfield of Dylan Hoy, Kevin McAlinden and Cian Murtagh worked well together winning ball and controlling the game.

The first chance came from a corner which McAlinden attacked well, but his header was saved. Lurgan continued to press and with holding midfielder Hoy in front of an assured back four of Allen, Woolsey, Cassels and Judge snuffing out any Banbridge threat, it looked only a matter of time before they took the lead. Efforts from Murtagh, Tavares and McAlinden however went over or were saved.

The boys new they had to keep up the work rate they had shown in the first half but Banbridge got a bit more possession at the start of the second half however the defence dealt well with any threat and keeper Ben Rodgers was hardly troubled.

Lurgan got the breakthrough with a Murtagh free kick into the box that fell for Sid Tavares who buried it from six yards.

Town looked to build on their advantage and a move involving Murtagh, Smyth and Tavares saw him get the last touch and send the ball into the net but his effort was adjudged offside.

Banbridge tried to get back into the game, but Lurgan continued to hold the upper hand. The defence was as solid as it has been all season and with the midfield battle won the wide men Mo Hagan and Ryan Smyth with overlapping fullback Allen looked to get ball to Tavares whose pace kept Banbridge’s defence on the back foot.

Ross Follis came on and slotted into left back.

Squad: Rodgers, Allen, Woolsey, Cassells, Judge, Hoy, Hagan, Smyth, McAlinden, Murtagh, Tavares, Follis.