Rangers smash seven to go back to the summit of Intermediate B

Broomhill 1

BANBRIDGE Rangers cruised back to the top of the Mid Ulster Intermediate B League at a canter on Saturday past with seven goals against league newcomers Broomhill.

Banbridge Rangers had previously played the Richhill based team twice when in Division Three of Mid Ulster with Broomhill making the switch to Intermediate status at the start of the season.

Broomhill got off to the worst start imaginable when they conceded in the first minute with Gareth Fulton converting a Colin Cousins cross before Jason Gourley added a second goal from a Chris Chambers cross before the game was five minutes old.

Banbridge Rangers were content to knock the ball about at a slower tempo than usual and should have had an offside decision go in their favour on 12 minutes when the Broomhill striker went through on goal and slotted past Ivon Blevins into the far corner of the net.

Banbridge Rangers looked in control and created wave after wave of attack with the next clear chance falling to Fulton who saw his shot come off the left hand upright with the keeper beaten from fifteen yards out.

Rangers’ third goal of the game arrived on thirty one minutes with Chris Chambers sending in a pinpoint cross from a free kick on the half way line which was headed into the top corner by the prolific Jason Gourley.

Three minutes later Colin Cousins added a fourth goal to Rangers tally taking on the left back and slotting home after latching onto a ball over the top from Richie McMinn.

Cousins got onto the scoresheet again two minutes later only this time converting a cross from marauding full back Willie Frazer to give Banbridge Rangers a 5-1 lead heading into half time.

The second half was only seven minutes in when McCallister made a double swap, taking off Loney and McMinn and bringing John McCahon and Aaron Buchanan into the fray.

After a lengthy layoff Rangers manager McCallister will be delighted to have a player of Buchanan’s caliber back in the squad as the team heads into the final third of the season.