|
This Sunday Bangor will line-up in their
second successive Kirk Cup semi final with the ambition of taking the next
step to their first ever major final.
The test comes no bigger than league title holders Annadale but Bangor can
beat anyone on their day and will be hoping that Sunday is just that.
Last year they took the lead against Instonians in the semi final but
eventually went down 3-1 as the Belfast side dominated the second period.
This year Bangor must be on top form for the full 70 minutes if they want
to progress to the Boxing Day showpiece final for the first time.
So far this season Bangor have performed solidly if not spectacularly.
They have beaten Lisnagarvey and Instonians but lost to Annadale by 3-0 in
the league and will need to up their game if they are to live with the
Carryduff side and their plethora of Irish internationals.
To make the weekend even more of a challenge Bangor will face Banbridge on
Saturday at Havelock Park, less than 24 hours before the biggest game of
the season.
While it will benefit the Seasiders playing on the water-based surface the
day before the game it does seem a ridiculous decision by the Ulster
Branch given the number of free dates available in the new year due to
Irish international commitments. It will also take the focus of a league
match that Bangor would have targeted for picking up important points.
The side's final game in preparation before the semi final was a mixed bag
as they went down 1-0 to Lisnagarvey at their superb new facilities in
Hillsborough.
The opening game in the Anderson Cup, foul weather and a very bouncy new
pitch combined to make for a scrappy affair. The sides had served up two
superb matches in the two months before last Saturday but this game never
got close to rivalling them.
Bangor started the stronger but Mark Daniel, Gareth Morton and Jamie
McAuley were all guilty to not hitting the target and making the early
superiority count.
As Lisnagarvey clawed their way back into the game they appeared to have
won a penalty stroke when Jervis Fleming cleared off the line but the
umpire hadn't moved with the times like the rules and after a consultation
with his colleague had an embarassing reversal of his decision to make.
In the second period the home side's dominance really started to tell and
goalkeeper John Tormey made a number of sharp saves to keep Bangor in the
game and Gareth Kidd also played superbly in front of him.
The only goal of the game came when Philip Stirling set up Ivan Steen in
the circle and despite his first shot being saved he was on hand to bundle
home the rebound.
Bangor had a couple of late chances to sneak a point out of the game but
Daniel flashed a penalty corner drag flick just wide and Morton was
prevented from scoring from close in by a superb piece of defending.
By the time the final whistle had sounded many of the Bangor players had
already turned their thoughts to this weekend and the chance to make it a
Super Sunday, as the Ulster Branch bill it.
At Havelock Park at 1.30pm they will get their chance. Annadale are the
only team in Ulster this Bangor side has never beaten but the team are
itching for the opportunity. |