ARDS – 3 BANBRIDGE TOWN – 0

Report by Taylor Kearney

Banbridge Town suffered their fourth straight defeat following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Ards at Dixon Park, Ballyclare on Saturday. However the scoreline didn’t represent a much improved performance from the local lads. Town were hoping to bounce back after a heavy midweek defeat to Loughgall.

Ards started the better of the two sides and Armour’s shot on 5 minutes was palmed out for a corner by Wilton. Banbridge’s first real chance didn’t come until 22 minutes when Dale Malone’s sweetly struck free kick was saved by Mc Donald. Copeland’s rebound was blocked for a corner.

2 minutes later and the home side were ahead. Timmy Grant’s rare mistake allowed for Mc Kee to chip the ball over an advancing Wilton. Town had a great chance to get themselves back into the game on the half hour mark when Mc Gerrigan smartly beat numerous Ards defenders only to deliver his final ball into the side netting. Mc Kee nearly doubled his own tally with 7 minutes of the first period remaining but his long effort fizzed wide.

With the second half only nine minutes old, Ards doubled their lead when Gorman blasted past a helpless Wilton following some scrappy goalmouth action. Bann could have got themselves back into the game 10 minutes later when Mc Gerrigan’s fierce shot was parried out for a corner. From the resultant set piece Town skipper Copeland rose highest but headed wide.

With 15 minutes of the game remaining Banbridge manager Colin Malone used all 3 of his available substitutes replacing Grant, Teggart and Mc Cartan with Walsh, Donnelly and new signing Clydesdale, hoping these 3 young players could claw Town back into the game. However it wasn’t to be and with minutes of the game remaining Picking put the final nail in Bann’s coffin with an easy tap-in.

A disappointing result for the Town, but hopefully they can pick up all 3 points on Saturday when they travel to Holm Park to face basement club Armagh City. The game has a 3:00pm kick off.

Man of the Match: Ricky Copeland

Banbridge Wilton, Hall, Brady, Copeland, King, Mc Cartan, Malone, Teggart, Grant, Whitla, Mc Gerrigan. Subs: Clydesdale, Mc Parland, Donnelly, Mc Birney, Walsh.

Ards Mc Donald, Nixon, Pike, Spence, Mc Ilhagga, Dixon, Mc Kee, Wright, Gorman, Wilson, Armour. Subs: Fitzgerald, Mc Millen, Picking.