Juniors held to draw in hard-fought game

Sunnyside 1

BANBRIDGE Town Juniors were held 1-1 by Sunnyside in a hard fought but entertaining league game at Dromore on Saturday.

Having put the disappointment of last week’s cup exit behind them the Juniors were eager to put up an improved performance and there was no better opportunity to do it as they met the league leaders on a glorious sunny morning with playing conditions perfect.

It was no surprise that Sunnyside made the early running and Cromie in the Juniors goal had to be alert to turn a ferocious shot away for a corner.

However as the half progressed the Juniors found their rhythm. Fearon was finding space on the right and as he cut in his cross come shot went narrowly wide.

McCandless and Morgan in the Juniors defence were composed dealing with Sunnyside’s threat and Hamilton was industrious in midfield linking well with the tireless running of Angus and Dufffin.

But despite their possession the Juniors were finding it difficult to break the resolute Sunnyside defence. The Juniors needed something special to open the scoring and were rewarded just before halftime with a goal of immense quality.

Hamilton picked the ball up from a deep position carrying it forward before passing it to Downey. The young winger played a delicate pass inside where Angus held off a defender as the ball fell invitingly to Duffin. The diminutive striker carried it in his stride before placing the ball into the corner of the goal from the edge of the box. A richly deserved goal after great work.

This was the kind of football the Juniors were capable of but they could not add to their tally before the interval.

The second half saw little from both sides but it was Sunnyside who threatened an equaliser on a number of occasions but with good defending and goalkeeping the score stayed the same.

The Juniors almost increased their lead when Downey returned a quick corner to Hamilton whose shot went wide.

As both teams tired Sunnyside grabbed a fortunate equaliser when a mishit free kick ricocheted into the path of their striker who made no mistake from close range.

The Juniors, however, were stung into action with Lennon hitting a shot straight at their keeper and with seconds remaining a ‘Maradona-like’ run by Duffin set up Lennon but the young striker blazed over.

However it was not to be and the game ended with the spoils shared. A better performance from the Juniors which keeps them firmly in the title hunt with several games in hand.

TEAM: J Cromie, R Devlin, P Morgan, J McCandless, N Dillon, S Hamilton, D McKinstry, J McAtamney, G Fearon, R Angus, C Duffin, C Downey, D Barr, J Lennon.