Youth go on the rampage against DC

Donegal Celtic 2

AFTER the previous week’s defeat to Ballymoney United, Banbridge Youth were looking forward to a full strength team, with a number of players returning after sickness to take on Donegal Celtic.

Banbridge Youth started the match stronger with the initial pressure all being kept in the Donegal half. Daniel Moore took first blood with a fantastic right footed shoot with only two minutes gone and that wasn’t to be the end.

Banbridge went two up on eight minutes when a superb ball from new player Mark Crory set up Alex Cochrane who blasted the ball into the top right hand corner.

The lads continued to control the game with Daniel Moore scoring an absolute cracker from the 18 yard line.

Moore and Reid were instrumental in the middle of the park, and a couple of quick 1-2 passes led to a Mark McCullough goal on 20 minutes. Just before the half time whistle Wheeler picked the ball up from within his own half. The young midfielder carried the ball passing at least three players and as cool as can be slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

The second half started exactly the same with the lads controlling all areas on the pitch. Bradley Harper was soon to be rewarded for his relentless work rate on the right flank. Alex Cochrane made a lovely pass, Bradley showed great maturity when he took the ball past two defenders and made no mistake with a cracking right footed shoot.

Joel Reid wasn’t going to miss out of the goals and took advantage of a great threaded ball from Russell Hilland and made no mistake with a great side footed goal on the 45th minute.

The boys continued to play good passing football and it was again Daniel who popped up to be rewarded with a fantastic goal which earned him a well deserved hat trick.

Simon McAllister also got his name on the score sheet with a great cross from Bradley Harper resulting in an easy top in. Alex Cochrane wasn’t finished yet and following great link up play with Russell Hilland resulted in goal two for the talented midfielder.

A special mention should go to young goalkeeper Dean McIlveena who played a pivotal part in keeping the Celtic strikers at bay with a number of world class saves.

They did get a couple of late consolation goals, but the game was well and truly over.

Man of the match was a hard decision, with Harper, Reid and Cochrane all at their best. However on reflection Daniel Moore’s hat trick and work rate earned him this week’s award.