Banbridge vs PSNI

Banbridge are enjoying a good spell of form recently, winning their last two games in the league and picking up a draw against Queen’s University. Scoring nine goals in their last three games, Mark Kerr will expect the goal threat to continue as Banbridge locks their sights on climbing into the top half of the table with Christmas fast approaching. Only one change was made to the Banbridge side that beat Mossley in the McComb’s Intermediate Cup 3-1 last time out, Matthew Taylor came into the side for Adam Hamilton

Banbridge went close to opening the scoring in the 5^th minute, PSNI tried to play the ball out from their defense, but the pass was cut out from right-back Ryan Gourley who found Captain Stephen McCavitt on the half turn, the striker drove into space beating the last defender and crashing the shot off the woodwork, inches away from breaking the deadlock.

Following a bright attacking start for Banbridge, fortunes took a turn for the worse in the 13^th minute as a penalty was awarded for a mistimed challenge by Matthew Rendina. A golden chance for the visitors to open the scoring but Goalkeeper Niall Brady stood up to the challenge and saved the well took penalty without fuss, diving to his right-hand side and scooping the ball out for a corner keeping the scoreline intact.

Banbridge continued to use the width in order to find their front men, in the 15^th minute a ball into the center of the PSNI half from Sean Og Gallagher found the feet of a very skillful Ryan Gourley who once again played a part in nearly opening the scoring, the winger raced down the right hand side beating the opposing defender by putting the ball threw his legs and fizzing a low cross into the box in the hopes of finding a red shirt, PSNI cleared the danger.

Banbridge broke the deadlock in the 20^th minute, unsurprisingly it was Ryan Gourley who was rewarded for his efforts after a bright start. A long ball from the Banbridge goalkeeper found the head of Stephen McCavitt, the captain battled with his opposing defender to control the ball and eventually find the feet of the overlapping winger who took his chance emphatically, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner with his first touch putting Banbridge 1-0 up.

It took just seven minutes for Banbridge to double their lead, a free kick given against PSNI just outside the box in the 27^th minute. The free kick was taken by Eoin Lundy who whipped a dangerous floating ball into the penalty area, a scramble to get a touch on the ball caused an own goal when the ball hit the post and subsequently found the knee of the PSNI defender that turned it into the roof of the net putting Banbridge 2-0 up.

Mark Kerr’s side proved to be a handful for PSNI to deal with as they continued their attacking prowess in the 31^st minute. A PSNI throw was intercepted by Banbridge, the loose ball fell to Stephen McCavitt who took one touch pulling the ball away from the defender before hitting a looping through ball over the PSNI defense and into the path of Favour Kwelele, the pinpoint pass allowed the midfielder to beat his man and take a snapshot that grazed the outside of the left post.

Fast approaching half time PSNI were in pursuit of a goal in the 41^st minute to get them back into the game. A well worked move starting in defense and breaking down the right-hand side of Banbridge, the PSNI defender was able to deliver a dangerous cross. A mistimed jump by Benjamin McKeown allowed the PSNI attacker to simply nod the crossed ball into the net leaving goalkeeper Niall Brady hopeless.

Only minutes after conceding, Banbridge made it 3-1 in the 45^th minute adding their third goal in style with a perfectly weighted through ball from Adam Campbell down the left-hand side of PSNI’s defense, 19-year-old Liam Vaughan darted towards goal beating his opposing defender and sliding the ball calmy passed the keeper and into the bottom right corner concluding a first half goal fest at Crystal Park.

Half time

In the 48^th minute Banbridge added a much needed fourth goal to secure the three points on the day. A sloppy misplaced pass from the PSNI midfield allowed Banbridge to counter with Stephen McCavitt leading the attack. Without many options and three defenders hot on his tail, McCavitt took it upon himself to end the game as he beat his opposing defender and slotted the ball effortlessly into the bottom right corner bringing him his sixth goal of the season, the Banbridge captain is joint third top goal scorer in the league.

Both sides pushed hard to find chances deep into the second half but were unsuccessful. With control of the game, Banbridge manager Mark Kerr utilized his strong bench to close the game out making all five substitutions.

At full time spirits were high after a well earned three points and four games on the bounce without a loss. Despite a good team performance, attention quickly turns to the next game, as Banbridge travel to Rathfriland Rangers this weekend in the PLAYR-FIT Premier Intermediate League.