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| Banbridge AFC |
1 |
| Killymoon Rangers |
7 |
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Sat 5 Sept 2009, Bob Radcliffe Cup
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| 2:30 pm Kick off |
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| Killymoon Rangers eased through the 2nd round of the Bob Radcliffe Cup last Saturday after a comfortable win against Mid-Ulster League side Banbridge AFC. Patrick McElhatton, Andy Neill and James Ferguson replaced the unavailable Stephen McElhatton and the injured duo of Ali Young and Willie Watson in the starting line-up as the Cookstown side went into the game playing on a synthetic surface similar to the one at the Sports Arena. |
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| The first half saw seven goals scored with the visitors hitting six of them to virtually secure their passage into the next round with 45 minutes still remaining. Warren Smith got the ball rolling in the 2nd minute when he headed Gary Crooks' deep cross in at the back post (1-0) and the same player doubled the lead on 5 minutes when another cross by Crooks found Trevor Brownlee who had his effort well saved by the home keeper, but the keeper could do nothing as Smith followed up to place the rebound into the net (2-0). This prompted AFC into action and on 7 minutes they had pulled a goal back after a good move down their right caught out the Killymoon defence and the cross was whipped into the net at the front post giving Gary Stewart no chance in the visitors' goal (2-1). The goals kept on coming and Killymoon regained their 2 goal advantage on 11 minutes when a long throw by David McMullan was flicked to the back post by Conall Kilpatrick and Crooks had the simple job of tapping the ball in at the back post (3-1). Kilpatrick and Crooks were also involved in Killymoon’s fourth goal as Kilpatrick released Brownlee with a pinpoint pass and the big striker crossed to McElhatton who pulled the ball back to Crooks to get his second of the game (4-1). Playing in his first season for Killymoon Brownlee has given the front line some physical presence, but until Saturday had been unfortunate in front of goal, but this all changed in the 22nd and 38th minute when he scored his first 2 goals for the club. The first came when he got onto a pass from Smith to calmly beat the outrushing keeper (5-1) and his second came about after he chased a poor attempted clearance from a home defender to beat the keeper to the ball and roll it into an empty net (6-1) to give Killymoon a five goal advantage at half time and three players one goal away from their hat-trick. (HT 6-1) |
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| AFC came out in the second half intent on gaining some pride and came close to doubling their goal tally within 10 minutes from the restart as the visitors' took time to get going. Killymoon's seventh goal came on 57 minutes Brownlee set up McElhatton and despite his first effort being saved by the home keeper the midfielder made no mistake with his second attempt to open his account for the season (7-1). On the hour mark AFC should have reduced the deficit when one of their players headed over the bar when left free 8 yards from goal. With the game over as a contest the final 30 minutes was a bit of an anti-climax with Killymoon creating a number of chances, but unable to increase their lead. The score line did give manager Don Smyth the chance to give his substitutes a good run out with Stephen Purvis returning from injury, Marc Stewart getting back to fitness and Stuart Donaghy making his first team debut. Both Purvis and Donaghy went close in the final minutes, but the game finished with Killymoon running out comfortable winners and on a plus side no more injuries were picked up, but surprisingly none of the three players who scored twice in the first half were able to complete their hat-trick. |
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| This Saturday it is back to league action with a tough away fixture at Dundela, kick-off 3pm. |
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| Killymoon |
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| 1. G Stewart |
| 2. G Crooks |
| 3. A Neill |
| 4. C Kilpatrick |
| 5. A Ferson |
| 6. D McMullan |
| 7. P McElhatton |
| 8. W Smith |
| 9. T Brownlee |
| 10. L Hunter |
| 11. J Ferguson |
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| Subs |
| 12. S Purvis |
| 13 M Stewart |
| 15. S Donaghy |
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