Fourths see off Garvey challenge

Banbridge Fourths 4 LAST Saturday saw Bann take a break from their league campaign as they began their quest for McClements Cup glory. Ironically their first round tie was at Hillsborough against a Lisnagarvey Thirds side, the team Bann had beaten the previous week in the league. The Fourths were hoping to emulate the feat of Bann Thirds who won this cup last season. Both sides had changed their line-ups from the league encounter as they had to deal with unavailability due to half term holidays and injuries. Bann in particular were hardest hit with no less than six players missing for various reasons. Such was Bann's plight that had to call upon several players to play their second game of the afternoon. On a bright crisp afternoon Bann started off where they finished last week taking the game to Garvey and had a gilt edged opportunity after five minutes but captain Robin Madeley pulled his shot wide from the top of the circle. Bann's early pressure did pay off when Thomas Sturgeon finished neatly from mid-circle after a fine cross from Chris McGladdery after 15 minutes. Garvey to their credit came more into the game and were rewarded when their left winger took advantage of the space afforded to him and expertly converted on the reverse to level the scores after 20 minutes. Indeed the home side then went on to take the lead 5 minutes later when a well worked short corner switch was crashed past Jordan Dermot. Bann were struggling to find their game but they were back on level terms within minutes when Phillip Douglas despatched a cleverly worked short corner switch to level the scores again. Half time gave both sides a chance to catch their breaths and they knew the game was evenly balanced and there for the taking. Indeed extra time could not be ruled out such was the evenness of the contest. Play swung from end to end as both sides created chances and were awarded short corners but both defences stood firm with Bann probably the busier in defence. Just when it seemed that Garvey were gaining the upper hand up stepped Thomas Sturgeon to crack home a superb shot from the left hand side of the circle to put Bann back into the lead with 15 minutes left on the clock. Could Garvey respond? They had the ball in the Bann net but the umpires ruled a short corner should have been awarded and Bann managed to scramble the resultant corner away. Bann then sealed their victory five minutes from time when Brodie Forbes nipped in to finish off a superb left wing run by the marauding Ben Wilson. The locals saw out the remaining minutes to book their place in the next round and what place an all Banbridge tie with both the seconds and thirds also booking their place in the last eight.