'Joe' nets hat-trick for U17s

Annagh United U17s 1

A SUPERB seven minute hat trick from wee ‘Joe’ McCullough all but guaranteed victory for Banbridge Rangers in their fourth league fixture of the season last Saturday morning.

The match at the Tech pitch mirrored many of the games Rangers U17s had played there with the visitors being pegged back after taking the lead.

Banbridge Rangers started the game with several key figures missing throughout the team with Ryan Burns taking up the gloves between the sticks and players filling in the gaps for the absent McCracken and McElderry. After a slow opening 10 minutes it was Rangers who looked most threatening in front of goal creating several good chances in a row with central midfielder Jason Adamson going closest hitting the inside of the Annagh post after a driving shot from the edge of the area.

Dean Gordon had two good efforts coming in from the right hand side and Stephen Copes was industrious as ever linking up play from the forward line alongside Lee ‘Joe’ McCullough.

On 25 minutes Annagh took the lead somewhat against the run of play after a goalmouth scramble. Rangers kept pushing for a goal of their own but had to rely on deputising centre half Mark Ball to make a last ditch tackle when an Annagh forward beat the offside trap only a few minutes before the half.

Banbridge Rangers came out in the second half refreshed and confident that chances would be presented and that goals would follow if they were patient.

However after only two minutes pressure on the goalkeeper from McCullough forced the keeper to spill a routine pick up with McCullough happy to nick the ball past the last defender and curl his effort inside of the right post.

A second goal followed only three minutes later when McCullough controlled the ball with the outside of his boot on the edge of the area and wrong footed his marker before firing the ball into the far top corner beyond the reach of the Annagh keeper.

The half was less than 10 minutes old when Stephen Copes was sent free beyond the last man and was taken out late inside the box by the covering defender. Nobody was going to deny McCullough his hat trick, especially from the penalty spot after his top corner penalty on the opening day of the season against Windmill. The keeper went the wrong way and Rangers had the tie sealed shortly after when Annagh United had a player sent off for petulant strike off the ball on Copes which was well spotted by the referee.

Jason Adamson and Stephen Copes had efforts well blocked before David Baird and Timmy Topping were introduced for Nathan Copes and Nathan Sally who both performed well and looked strong after their return from injuries.

Banbridge Rangers eased off but still managed to create some chances before the end with Timmy Topping going closest with an audacious overhead kick from six yards out.

The game finished 3-1 to Rangers U17s who will be in bouyant mood to face Lurgan Town U17s this coming Saturday at their home pitch at Banbridge Tech, kick off at 10.30am.