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Two weeks ago North Down shocked
Bangor by beating them 1-0 but normal service was resumed at the weekend
as the Seasiders hit back with a 6-1 win in the return league fixture.
The huge change in fortunes proves the game in Comber was just a blip and
that Bangor are indeed top dog in north Down.
Almost everything that had been so wrong in the first game between the
sides was corrected and it made for the side's most attacking display this
season.
The only sour note was another sending off for Chris Campbell but this
time he appeared to be more sinned against than sinner. It was his sixth
visit to the sin-bin this season and was awarded more by reputation than
merit.
Unlike the first game it was Bangor that took an early lead and it made a
world of a difference. In Comber North Down scored after five minutes and
held on for the rest of the game. But not this time.
After just three minutes Bangor won a penalty corner and despite the
variation seeming to go awry ace poacher Gareth Morton was on hand to
flick the ball into the goal when he reacted quicker than anyone else in
the circle. It was just the start Bangor needed and it was one-way traffic
for the remainder of the first half.
Despite being without Jamie McAuley the forwards' movement was as good as
it has been this season and it was complimented by quick ball from the
midfielders and long passes from Mr Consistent Adam Reading at the back.
All the forwards were taking turns on the right flank and causing havoc in
the North Down defence as they regularly got to the by-line and pulled the
ball back. From one such run, this time by Campbell, the lead was doubled
when Simon Hunter swept the ball in after a pass across the goal.
The pressure on the North Down goal didn't let up and goalkeeper Andrew
Coates had to make saves from Morton and Hunter at a penalty corner to
prevent Bangor running away with the game. But then came the spanner in
the works when Campbell was sent off for some 'afters' following a clumsy
tackle. Even though he seemed to be grabbed around the throat Campbell was
yellow carded and the North Down player was allowed to remain on the
field. Though the midfielder was a little lucky to escape further
punishment when he foolishly threw his stick after being sent off.
But justice was served as Bangor mucked in and made up for the extra man
North Down had with old fashioned hard work. They even managed to score
twice - either side of the half-time interval - while they were a man
short. Substitute Bill Clark grabbed the first when Mark Daniel robbed a
defender and passed to him at the top of the circle. Clarke seemed to lose
control of the ball for a second but then recovered to clip a superb
reverse stick shot past Coates into the far corner.
The fourth goal came almost immediately after the re-start when the
tireless Dowie Holley won a free-hit after another silky dribble and his
pass found Morton for a cute deflection past Coates. Bangor have a bad
habit of conceding early goals in either half so this clinical start to
the second period was more than welcome.
Next Bangor won a penalty corner when the North Down defence resorted to
GBH to stop Reading as he charged into their circle. Unfortunately Daniel
couldn't get the goal from the spot his performance deserved but it did
take a smart save from Coates to stop him.
Back to full strength and Bangor immediately gifted North Down a goal. A
penalty corner was needlessly given away and a suspiciously weak flick
from Stephen Magee found its way into the Bangor goal without much of a
fight being put up.
As if to prove their superiority Bangor then dominated the remainder of
the match while rotating some players off for a rest and using the bench
well. Teenager Ricky McMillen played the second half a right back and once
again showed maturity and grit beyond his years. The club chairman Jeremy
Macafee even got a lengthy run on the left wing were he turned back the
years with a typically all-action performance. Macafee added the fifth
when after his run had won the penalty corner he took the opportunity to
shoot from inside right and crashed the ball against the backboards.
In the closing minutes Reading added a text book penalty corner flick to
make it six making it a very bad day for Coates despite some good saves.
Morton had one last chance in the dying seconds for his hat-trick but
Coates saved well. The striker can save his goals for the last three games
of Bangor's season which starts this Saturday with a trip to Lisnagarvey.
Bangor have already beaten Lisnagarvey this season in the Kirk Cup and
only lost 1-0 to the Hillsborough side at their fabulous new facility in
the Anderson Cup before Christmas so they will travel full of confidence.
Lisnagarvey may have on eye on the Irish Senior Cup final next month and
Bangor now have experienced the bouncy surface at least once before. An
upset could be on the cards if the 'focused' Bangor side turn up. |