Sub Gibbons shines against Slane

Banbridge Rangers Swifts 4

ROBBIE Baird's Banbridge Rangers Swifts recorded their first victory with an excellent performance against local rivals Moneyslane at Cheney Park in an early kick off last Saturday.

After a dominant opening quarter of an hour Rangers Swifts got their noses in front when left back talisman scored his third goal of the season firing into the bottom corner to give Rangers a deserved lead.

Rangers continued to press for another goal and went close after 25 minutes when centre half Mark Dillon rose highest at a corner with his thundering header rebounding off the crossbar to the dismay of the Banbridge support.

Rangers Swifts midfield were on top of their game with Baird, McCallister and Beattie all pushing forward and could have went into the half time break through Ian Beattie who was scuppered in his attempts on goal by an in form Slane keeper.

The second half was bright for the Banbridge side who extended their lead from another corner when David Rogers blasted into the roof of the net with almost 15 minutes gone in the second half.

With 20 minutes remaining Rangers were looking to seal the tie and brought on wing wizard Ryan Gibbons onto the right hand side for James McCallister.

It took all of five minutes for Ryan ‘Tevez’ Gibbons to make his mark showing great technique to fire home after being released throuh one on one by Robbie Baird.

Gibbons raised the roof with his celebration and was obviously on form when he scored his second goal of the day showing lightning pace to latch on to another ball from Baird over the top and headed bravely past the onrushing keeper to give Rangers a deserved 4-0 lead.

Banbridge Rangers Swifts have really started to gel as a team with striker Steven McNeill putting in a great performance and the back four of Gray, Martin, Dillon and McInnes looking solid but man of the match had to go to substitute Gibbons who was inspirational when on the attack against Moneyslane.

Next up is a league fixture this Saturday against Ballyvea Thirds with the match kicking off at 2pm at Dromore Liesure Centre.