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FIRSTS GET OFF TO SOLID START
Bangor got the season off to a winning,
if unimpressive start, when they comfortably outplayed Portadown to win
3-0 in their opening Kirk Cup game on Saturday. A slightly weakened side -
through a few absentees and Mark Daniel's suspension - was still too
strong for Senior One side Portadown and after scoring three goals in the
first 20 minutes Bangor were a little guilty of taking their foot of the
gas and coasting to victory.
It was important to hit the ground running and not give Portadown a sniff
of an upset and this was exactly the result as Bangor had the ball in the
net in under a minute. Scott Cooper, making his full debut for the firsts,
found Simon Hunter with a good ball down the right wing and he won a
penalty corner to immediately put Portadown under pressure.
With Daniel suspended for loose lips at the tail of last season, Adam
Reading stepped up and the vice captain proved a capable deputy as he
drag-flicked the ball into the bottom left corner for the perfect start.
A second wasn't long coming as the Bangor forwards and midfield poured all
over the home defence and laid siege to the Portadown goal.
After good interplay between the returning Dowie Holly and Michael Harte
the latter won a penalty corner and Reading, full of confidence from his
first attempt, stepped up to double his and Bangor's tally with another
thunderbolt low into the goal.
The Portadown defence began to look a little dazed as Bangor continued to
dominate and any rare forays up the pitch were comfortably dealt with by
Gareth Kidd and his defence, who looked in control all day.
Venturing forward was the worst thing Portadown could do and a third
Bangor goal on 20 minutes all but ended the tie. Jeremy Macafee was on
hand to turn the ball into the goal after a bout of pinball in the circle
left him free at the back post.
Bangor started to make a raft of changes, giving everyone in the squad
plenty of pitch time, and the team's fluidity eventually started to
suffer. They reached half time with no major scares but without extending
their lead or looking likely to.
Once again, the second period was dominated by the Seasiders but some
lacklustre finishing meant the home goalkeeper was rarely troubled.
Portadown even broke into the Bangor circle a few times but new skipper
John Tormey comfortably dealt with everything asked of him to start his
reign with a clean sheet.
With the second half petering out and Bangor seemingly happy to take a 3-0
win away from home they managed to carve out the best chance of the half
when a swift counter attack nearly brought the illusive fourth goal.
Harte, who played well with his back to goal when moved up front, created
a chance for the hard-working Chris Campbell and the diminutive dynamo saw
his shot well saved by the Portadown goalkeeper. Harte then set up Macafee
from the rebound and his much closer in chance was again repelled and
Bangor had to settle for just the three.
In the other group game Lisnagarvey beat Antrim 3-0 at their new
Hillsborough headquarters so things are all square with Bangor top of the
table, albeit alphabetically. This week the Seasiders travel to play
Antrim and will want a win, solid performance, clean sheet and the chance
to go into the Lisnagarvey game in a fortnight with a Kirk Cup semi final
at stake.
Last year was the first semi final for many of the players and they are
keen to go one step further this year.
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