Bann remain on track in Kirk Cup
It’s still a 100% record for Banbridge this year in the Kirk cup but it wasn’t all plain sailing for the men from the river Bann playing away from home against a very experienced side from Civil Service at Stormont on Wednesday night.
The game started slow with both teams battling hard in the middle of the pitch but it was Civil Services Peter Bland getting the first sniff on goal by shooting into the side netting. Again Civil Service forced the pressure on Bann by winning a short corner but nothing came of it as Irish international Bruce McCandless superbly blocked it from going in. This pressure from Service pumped Bann and it wasn’t long until they were up the other end scoring with brilliant work from Beattie who won the ball in middle of midfield and fed danger man Ward who beat his man. He squared for Caruth to tap home and give Bann the lead.
This goal gave Bann the momentum and it wasn’t long until the very impressing Bruce McCandless flashed the ball across goal begging for a tap in. Another
goal was on the cards and it wasn’t long until this happened with a quick side line taking by newly Irish capped Brown who played the ball to Moffet with a great run and threaded through ball that found Bruce McCandless to expertly deflect past the Service keeper to put Bann two up ten minutes before half time.
Just before the half time whistle a mistake from the Banns defence gave Peter Johnston from Service the ball on the twenty five yard line who had a great solo run and finish which got Service back into the game making it 2 – 1. In the second half the game was very stretched with no structure to Banns play. Early pressure from forward Ward who forced a short corner but drag flicking supreme McCandless fired wide. With chances few and far between in the 2nd half Bann decided to throw on young guns Moffet and Magee to freshen it up. As the game closed in, Services Symmington gets a yellow card for a harsh tackle on a Bann player. The final score was 2 – 1 to the banbridge men, but there is a lot to learn from this performance over all.