U14s in terrific cup tie

Sunnyside.........................2

THIS was a terrific cup tie between inform Banbridge and league leaders Sunnyside.

There wasn’t  much to choose between the two teams for the first 15 minutes but Banbridge were unlucky when, from a Stephen McCavitt corner, Josh Buchanan’s header was cleared off the line.

In the 20th minute Josh Buchanan played a great ball through to Kalem Farrell whose shot was blocked by the keeper but came out to Robert Colfer at the 18 yard line and he calmly placed his shot just inside the goalpost to give Banbridge the lead.

Banbridge were now in control with Gareth Orr and Declan Loy making their presence felt in midfield and Kalem Farell nearly made it two after 25 minutes but his shot was just wide.

Stephen McCavitt made a great run down the right and pulled a lovely ball back to Gareth Orr whose shot just went wide.

Banbridge began the second half well although Sunnyside forced keeper Jonny Walsh to make twp good saves to hold on to the slender lead. After 12 minutes of the second half Sunnyside scored a lucky goal when the ball took a deflection and crept passed Jonny Walsh into the goal. Minutes later Walsh made another good save but the ball rolled back to the Sunnyside attacker whose shot looked to be going in but David Gray made a fantastic clearance off the line.

The Sunnyside keeper then made a brilliant save from a shot by Kalem Farrell.

With 10 minutes to go Sunnyside went 2-1 up with a low shot from inside the box and just before full time Lee Close almost sent the match into extra time with a great shot from 25 yards that the keeper just tipped over the bar.

Team: Jonathan Walsh, Niall McCreanor, Lee Close, Andrew Bennington, David Gray, Josh Buchanan, Declan Loy, Stephen McCavitt, Gareth Orr, Robert Colfer, Kalem Farrell, Dylan Martin, Michael Jordan, Andrew Martin, Philip O’Keefe.