Rangers ease into the cup semi final
Banbridge Rangers 2
Seagoe Utd 0
BANBRIDGE Rangers took on Seagoe Utd in the quarter finals of the Alan Wilson Cup on Saturday past at Cheney Park.
Rangers were hoping for third time lucky against the team from Portadown losing two league games earlier in the season to Seagoe. Geordie McCallister continues to develop this ever improving Rangers squad and Saturday was no different as both Andre Scott and Ryan Gregg at the tender age of 17 were to both make impressive senior debuts.
The first half was a tenacious cup affair with many feisty tackles and aggression shown from both teams. Although not the greatest spectacle Rangers looked the more convincing of the two sides and were attempting to get momentum flowing in their now accustomed possession football.
The best Rangers had to offer was attempts from distance from Ward and Gourley which barely troubled the Seagoe goalkeeper. Rangers own stand in keeper Craig Anderson was in total command of his area and his communication with the Rangers back four ensured he was rarely troubled.
Just before the interval debutant Scott almost grabbed the headlines when he cut inside the left back only to see his shot miss the target by inches.
Rangers got off to a flying start at the beginning of the second half when Gourley raced onto a through ball and fizzed the ball into the bottom corner. From some angles the goal looked doubtful as the ball had ricocheted out of the back stanchion and Seagoe tried to claim the ball had cannoned the post but this was to no avail as the referee had been perfectly placed.
Ryan Gregg and John McCahon both entered the fray and with Seagoe being reduced to 10 men for a challenge on Gourley in the penalty area the onus was now on Chambers to double his team’s lead.
His previous hat trick of penalties in a game earlier this season possibly went to his head as the normally reliable centre back blazed over from 12 yards.
The remainder of the game saw little in the way of chances as the next goal would prove decisive for either team. Luckily for Banbridge Rangers and possibly more so for Chambers that goal went the way of the home side when his attempted cross into the area for Gourley was headed into the Seagoe net by their own centre half.
This virtually wrapped the game up with the only other moment of inspiration coming from Ryan Gregg who made a dazzling run from deep in his own half playing three neat one two passes before seeing his pass intercepted in the Seagoe penalty area which would have been a certain third goal.
This win now sets up Banbridge Rangers with a semi final game away to Hanover in a few weeks time but first its back to league action where Rangers must overcome Broomhedge next Saturday before returning to Wilson Cup action.
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Weather for Larne
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 8 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
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