U14s battle against Shankill

Town showed too much respect for Shankill in the first 15 minutes and found themselves three goals down in the opening period, mainly due to some quality finishes from the Shankill wingers, giving the impressive Campbell no chance in goal.

However, after some changes the Juniors managed to get a foothold in the game and McParland began to dominate in central midfield. After 30 minutes Mark Burke managed to get in a cross-come shot which the keeper spilled and Moore was there to convert at the near post to make it 3-1.

On the stroke of half time the Juniors were unlucky not to make it two when a quick free from McKibben fell kindly into the arms of the keeper with the goal at this mercy.

The second period saw Banbridge take the game to Shankill and Mark Burke scored a wonder goal beating his full back and cutting onto his weaker left foot to curl the ball superbly into the corner of the net.

Shankill responded immediately and went 4-2 ahead when the centre forward found a little space on the edge of the box and prodded the ball home.

But to their credit the locals rallied again and Burke who was having a fine second half managed to get on the end of Fearon’s through ball and stabbed the ball home to make it 4-3 - Shankill were now wobbling.

With only 10 minutes remaining Banbridge pushed for the equaliser and McAtamney fired just wide from the edge of the box following a great move down the right side, but unfortunately for the Town they couldn’t find the equaliser and were caught out twice in the last few minutes to lose the game 6-3.

Team: Billy Campbell, Ryan Devlin, Jamie McCandless, Paul Morgan, Jamie McAtamney, Gavin Fearon, Gavin McParland, Mark Burke, Cormac Downey, Odhran McKibben, Ciaran Duffin, Daniel Moore, Curtis Lee McKeever