The game got underway with both teams having half chances lurgan having the better of them when their centre half hit the Rangers crossbar from inside the box. This was the wake up call the home side needed as they started to play some good football that has took them to 3rd in table the breakthrough came soon after when good interplay between Ward, Cousins Sterritt and Thompson saw Sterritt find Thornton in the box for the striker to control the ball and volley past the Lurgan goalkeeper to make it 1-0 with confidence now high Rangers piled on the pressure looking for the second goal and they came close when cousins had a fine effort cleared off the goal line.
This game was throwing up some fine battles all over the park but the midfield battle looked to be the big test with Ward and Sterrit getting the better of their men and working hard for the team when called upon. Rangers looked solid at the back with Rodgers and Cochrane playing well at full backs and getting forward at every opportunity and Harper and Adamson in the heart of the Rangers defence making sure Blevins in the Rangers goal had a quiet first half but with 5 minutes left in the half lurgan were awarded a penalty. Their captain stepped up and smashed the ball straight down the middle leaving Blevins no chance in the home sides goal half time 1-1.
The second half got underway with rangers again taking the game to the lurgan side with Robert Baird seeing more off the ball on the left flank and proving to be a real thorn in the visitors defence the tricky winger cut inside his man after being picked out by Thompson but fired just wide. With Rangers trailing Ambassadors in the league they knew 3 points was a must in this game if they were to put any pressure on the teams above them and they thought it wasn’t going to be their day when Adamson and Rodgers both had efforts cleared off the lurgan goal line and a stunning free kick from ward was tipped onto the post by the visitors keeper.
With 10 minutes left in the match both teams were now pushing for the valuable 3 points and the game could have went either way but lucky for Rangers their in form striker Thompson was on hand to flick home his 8th goal off the season after he made room for himself inside the lurgan box this goal proved to be the winner and keeps up Rangers fine league form. Man of the match for banbridge Rangers was Scott Ward who fought for every ball and had an all round good game for the home side.
Banbridge Rangers Reserves...........2
Lurgan United Reserves..................1
Saturday 2nd January 2010 1.30pm
