Saved by Bell as Seconds fight back

Bann Seconds 3

A YOUNG Banbridge Second XI produced a spirited second half display to salvage a 3-3 draw away to Raphoe Seconds on Saturday afternoon.

Bann’s threadbare squad had fallen three goals behind early in the second half but heroically fought their way back into the match and were unlucky not to make the long journey home with all three points.

Making the trip to County Donegal with only 11 players and no one over the age of 23 Bann anticipated a difficult encounter against a dogged and experienced Raphoe side.

The game got off to the worst possible start for Banbridge as the home team took the lead with their first venture into the Bann circle after a Raphoe attacker punished some sloppy defending by slipping the ball underneath Beattie from close range.

The goal came against the run of play and Bann wasted little time in exerting more pressure on the Raphoe back line in the search for an equaliser. The opportunity appeared to present itself in the form of a penalty stroke but McKnight saw his effort well saved by the home goalkeeper.

To rub salt in the wound Raphoe immediately raced up the pitch, capitalising on a brief lapse in Bann’s concentration, and slapped a shot passed Beattie from the top of the circle.

In a game that Banbridge were completely dominating they could not believe that they were facing a two goal deficit after only two attempts on goal from Raphoe.

Half time came and went and Bann began the second half with an even greater sense of determination. Livingstone and McKnight were dictating the play from the middle of the pitch with McCague and Cosgrove supporting the midfield superbly.

Raphoe highlighted the defensive frailties of the over enthusiastic Bann defence by tapping in a third following a swift counter attack.

The task facing Bann looked ominous but to their credit they persevered with Kelly and Magee continuing to cause a multitude of problems for the battered Raphoe defence.

The home goalkeeper was being forced into a string of fine saves to keep his clean sheet intact but after much huffing and puffing Bann finally got some reward for their complete domination. Owen Magee coolly reverse flicked a shot into the top left of the goal after an initial penalty corner flick was saved.

Bann continued to press forward with wave after wave of attacks. Penalty corner opportunities came and went with Doug Anderson’s continued absence becoming all too evident.

James Hutchinson then provided a moment of magic to drag his team to within one goal of their opponents. Hutchinson stormed into the left hand side of the Raphoe circle, and with a devastating swipe of his stick, he buried a reverse in off the right hand post, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

If it was a boxing match the referee would have stopped the contest as Bann’s pressure was so great. Doyle was able to extinguish any Raphoe attack before it reached the Bann ‘25’ and Bann’s attacking force of Magee, Wright and Kelly was troubling the goalkeeper with every attack.

It was Matthew Bell who secured the equaliser after powerfully converting one of Banbridge’s many penalty corners. The goal was nothing less than the young defender deserved after being very unfortunate not to have scored from a set piece earlier in the game.

Unfortunately McCague had to limp off with a hamstring injury near the end of the match but Bann’s numerical disadvantage was hardly noticeable and they continued to press for the winner.

The full time whistle came as music to the ears of the Raphoe side who had been completely outplayed for the large majority of the game but they still managed to teach the youthful Bann side a valuable lesson about concentration in defence and how mistakes can be ruthlessly punished at senior level.