It's fifteen in a row for Reserves

Banbridge Rangers Reserves 5

RANGERS Reserves travelled to Loughgall Country Park to play against the other in form team in the Mid Ulster Reserve Division Three.

Richhill Reserves have won seven in a row before drawing against Rectory Rangers last Tuesday night and have been significantly strengthened from the turn of the year and pose the biggest threat to Rangers promotion push.

Banbridge Rangers also knew that it would be a different game from the earlier corresponding fixture this season when Rangers put eight goals past Richhill at the Tech in November.

The pitch at Loughgall is one of the biggest in the league and both teams found a lot of space on the ball in the first half.

Banbridge Rangers had most of the possession in the first half an hour but decision making in and around the area left the scores still at 0-0 with Thornton and Buchanon both deciding to pass instead of striking when free on goal.

The opening goal of the game came after Robbie Baird turned his man inside out on the right flank before putting a pin point cross into the box. Jason Gourley was left free at the back post and headed down into the ground with his effort nestling into the top corner of the net.

Richhill had lifted the tempo of their game either side of half time and created several half chances before a well worked free kick by the away team resulted in the second goal of the match. The ball was driven across the face of goal with the ball hitting the net via Neville Cochrane and possibly one of the Richhill defenders.

The home side had to push on in search of an equaliser with Colin Harper marshaling everything at the back for the Banbridge boys.

The third goal of the game came from a mistake from the Richhill left back after not making initial contact with a long ball into the channel. The left backs recovery header landed to the feet of Jason Gourley who made no mistake with the finish beating the keeper at the front post.

Banbridge Rangers continued to cause problems in the second half with their fitness levels and had Robbie Baird replaced by Jonathan Wilson after going down awkwardly on his right knee.

The fourth goal of the game was a great team goal that could have been finished by any one of four players. One touch football left Thornton free inside the box to pick up a Gourley rebound but his shot was headed off the line back to Thornton himself who then faked a shot before slipping to Gourley to slide home for the hat trick.

Banbridge Rangers introduced Ryan Gibbons and David Rogers for the remainder of the match for Richie Adamson and Dan Thornton.

Richhill had only the one opportunity to score when their left midfielder put a shot just inches beyond the top corner but Banbridge Rangers Reserves had at least five one on one with Cousins being thwarted on three of these occasions.

The final goal of the game was a well taken effort on goal by Aaron Buchanon coming in from the left hand side to seal a five goal win to keep the pressure on Tullygally in first place who also won on Saturday to keep the points difference at four between the two sides.

Next up for Banbridge Rangers Reserves is a home match on Tuesday at home to Glenavy on the Tech pitch before traveling to face Craigavon City in a tricky away tie.

Manager Thornton is hoping his side can continue their impressive run of results in the last six matches after winning the last fifteen league games consecutively.