U16s NI Cup campaign comes to an early end

St Oliver Plunketts U16s 4

BANBRIDGE Rangers U16s got their NI Cup campaign up and running on Saturday morning past with a second round match against St. Oliver Plunkett's from South Belfast.

This was only the second time Rangers have played in the last 13 weeks due to the recent spate of bad weather and with seven regulars unavailable for selection on Saturday it seemed a tough ask.

Rangers started the match with some good interplay amongst the three central midfielder's but conceded after only four minutes on the clock when caught in possession just outside the area. The opposing midfielder slipped in his striker in who finished comfortably into the bottom right hand corner.

Rangers regrouped and for 20 minutes the match could have swung either way with chances at both sides. After a series of corners the Rangers backline cleared the ball but failed to get out of their area quick enough and the ball back in landed to an onside player who slotted past Mark Winter in the Rangers nets.

Even at two down the Banbridge side looked most likely to score next with Ryan Burns forcing the keeper into several saves with one effort rebounding to Aaron Blakley who agonisingly put the ball wide when trying to lob on his weaker foot.

The work rate of Jordan McCracken on the left side was refreshing as Rangers continued to search for a way back into the game. On the half hour Rangers were awarded an indirect free kick on the six yard line when the Plunkett's keeper picked the ball up from a throw. After the referee had got every player behind the line Jason Gibson rolled to the right for Ryan Burns to strike with the ball ricocheting off one of the mass of bodies on the line and went for a corner.

The away side had used the long throw as an attacking weapon for most of the first half and it paid off in stoppage time when a flick on was guided into the far corner to send Rangers three down going into the half.

The second half saw a positive response from Rangers with Willie Davison having a very good match shielding the back four of Jason Cochrane, Mark Baird, Ben McElderry and Matthew Matchett. The two centre halves were at the top of their game with McElderry missing nothing in the air and Baird hitting every tackle possible on the ground.

Rangers had chances to come back into the game with Jason Gibson and Ryan Gibbons both pushing forward and combining well at times with Gibbons trademark step overs giving the game a bit of sparkle.

Rangers used all four substitutes late on in the match with Barr, McAllister, Wilson and Copes battling well to the very end. Rangers conceded a fourth and saw their NI Cup end for this year. The target now has to be moving up the table and push for the first division title when the league splits at the start of February.

This Saturday the U16s are at home on the Tech pitch to Windmill Stars from Newry with a 10.30am kick off