Rangers go top of league

Banbridge Rangers 3

BANBRIDGE Rangers went top of Intermediate B on Saturday with a victory over Oxford United at Knockrammer Park in Craigavon.

The match was preceeded with a minutes silence in respect of Stuart Wilson whose family circle are well known amongst the members of Banbridge Rangers Football Club.

Banbridge Rangers got off to a good start and had most of the possesion in the early stages and created numerous clear cut chances with Colin Cousins having a one on one with the keeper well saved.

With 15 minutes gone Gareth Fulton hit the post with a shot that rebounded to Jason Gourley who put his effort wide of the upright. Gourley had another chance to open the scoring soon after but put his effort over after a clever ball from Chris Loney.

The away side finally broke the deadlock with less than five minutes to go in the first half when Gareth Fulton fired home for Rangers. Richie McMinn won successive headers in midfield allowing Gourley the time to play a ball over the top which Fulton made no mistake with.

Banbridge Rangers came flying out of the traps in the second half winning possesion immediatley and a string of passes gave Cousins a shooting opportunity that was well saved by the Oxford keeper.

Banbridge Rangers were unlucky not to double their lead midway through the half when Jason Gourley closed down the keeper who thumped his clearance into his midrift leaving a tap in but the referee had adjudged that it had came of his arm.

On 63 minutes Rangers did extend their lead with a swift counter attack that was finished off clinically by Loney from the right hand side of the 18 yard box. Gareth Fulton was brought down in the box on 70 minutes with another penalty claim turned down by the referee but Rangers continued to dominate their counterparts.

Cemtre half Jonny Porter had an excellent game and almost scored his first goal for the club with a surging run from the back and had a shooting opportunity after a deft one two with Gourley but Porters shot hit the side netting.

The match was well and truly wrapped up with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Andy McCandless rose highest in the box to thunder home a header from a Chris Loney corner and open his scoring account for the club after signing in pre season.

Oxford United did create some chances in the dying minutes as the game opened up with Craig Anderson doing well to hold onto his clean sheet.

As the matches go on Banbridge Rangers are starting to find form and will hope to have their strongest team out on Saturday when they travel to Iveagh Park to play Rathfriland Rangers in the Bob Ratcliffe Cup. The reward for the winning side in the highly anticipated derby game is a place in the quarter finals and supporters are reminded that kick off is sheduled for 2.30pm this Saturday.