Loughgall 2 - 0 Banbridge Town (AET)

Loughgall lifted their third piece of silverware of the season on Tuesday night with an extra time victory over rivals Banbridge Town in the Mid-Ulster Cup final.  The teams couldn’t be separated during normal time but it took only 14 minutes into the first period of extra time for Dean Smith to grab a goal, a feat he repeated in the second half to secure the trophy success.
Winger Ryan Moffatt, signed from Town at the start of the season, tested goalkeeper William McFrederick after only 30 seconds.  Loughgall could have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute only Lukasz Adamczyk failed to connect with Darragh Peden’s header across goal.
After the half hour, Banbridge top goalscorer David Irwin wasted two good chances when he directed his weak header safely into ‘keeper Marc Robinson’s hands.  Moments later he powered a volley towards goal which forced Robinson into a fine save.
On 38 minutes Paul Alexander’s curling free kick, destined for the top corner, was superbly tipped onto the post by ‘keeper Robinson and Glenn Waddell hooked the ball off the goal line to safety.
Two minutes before the interval Neil Alderdice delivered a deep cross which Willie Herron headed just over the crossbar.
6 minutes after the break Banbridge midfielder Mark Quinn superbly beat Alderdice down the left wing before pulling the ball back to Damien McParland in the penalty area.  The midfielder should have done better with his effort as it fizzed well wide.
On 64 minutes Town ‘keeper McFrederick wonderfully pushed Peden’s header onto the crossbar and Barry Tumilty was on hand to clear the ball off the goal line.
One minute later Irwin forced Loughgall ‘keeper Robinson into a smart parry down to his left which fell to Quinn however he lashed his shot high and wide.
In injury time Banbridge found themselves reduced to ten men when Paul Alexander was dismissed for his second bookable offence.
A tense and nervy start to extra time found both sides failing to create any clear cut chances until substitute Brian Adair was released clear however he flashed his low shot across goal and agonisingly inches wide.
Just before half time in extra time the deadlock was broken when Waddell’s corner was headed by Dean Smith beyond ‘keeper McFrederick at the near post.
Striker Dean Smith secured the cup win in the 114th minute when substitute Andy Brown’s lofted cross was nodded home at the back post for his 30th goal of the season.

Loughgall: Robinson, Waddell, Alderdice (Allen 118m), Peden, Murphy, Herron, Moffatt, A Smith, Adamczyk (Adair 45m), Lavery (Brown 90m), D Smith.

Banbridge Town: McFrederick, A Evans, Trainor, Kane, Nicks, Tumilty, R Evans (Grant 105m), Irwin (Baker 80m), Alexander, McParland, Quinn.  Sub not used: Henry.

Referee: A Ball (Banbridge)