Croats on end of Bann Masterclass

Sunday 8th June

Banbridge HC  7     HKHC Mladost (Croatia)  0

Banbridge’s third game of the tournament was against Croatian side Mladost. Eugene Magee joined up with the squad after missing the first two games due to university exams. The game followed the same pattern as the previous two with Bann controlling possession of the game. Chances came almost immediately for Banbridge with both Stephen Dowds and Eugene Magee going close. Mladost began to get a foothold in the game but Lennox was quick off the line to thwart the oncoming attackers. The heat was taking its toll on the players in the blistering heat. Bann continued to create chances through Stephen Dowds but couldn’t break the deadlock. Banbridge took the lead after a great run from Owen Magee who found Josh Moffett who deflected the ball underneath the keeper. The floodgates then began to open, Matthew Bell did well to find Bruce McCandless who beat three players along the baseline then rounded the keeper to score one of the goals of the tournament. Dowds got his name on the score sheet, picking the ball up on the half way line and weaved his way to the circle then unleashed a tomahawk into the back of the net. Bann made it four just before half time, Simon Magowan and Bruce McCandless linked up well, with the latter finding Josh Moffett who finished low past the keeper.

Bann continued to be on top in the second half. Simon Magowan did well to link up with Kyle Marshall who won a penalty stroke. The 15 year old was then given the task of taking the stroke and showed no sign of nerves as he dispatched it into the roof of the net. This was his first goal for the first team at Banbridge and a big moment for him. Fraser ‘Fraznaldo” Mills got his first goal of the tournament soon after. He picked the ball up on the top of D before unleashing an unstoppable shot high into the net. His goal celebration then saw him receive a yellow card for taking his top off.

Mladost tried to get a way back into the game but were denied by a great save from Bingham at a penalty corner. Bingham was then called into action again, this time pulling off a great save after a shot on goal was deflected by a forward.

Owen Magee completed the scoring with an excellent goal. Magee beat three players before putting a reverse shot in off the post.