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The seconds made the arduous
journey to Donegal last Saturday afternoon, and suffered a slender 1-0
defeat against Raphoe seconds in Corporate Coaching Junior League One.
The seconds were a little slow to start and it was the home side that had
the better of these opening exchanges. Midway through the half Raphoe got
their goal and, it must be said, there was a little controversy about it.
It all started from a Bangor attack on the right side of the pitch, and as
the home defence were pushed back into their own circle the ball struck
the home sides sweeper, McNulty, on the foot but unfortunately the umpire
missed the infringement and failed to give the penalty corner award to the
visitors.
The upshot being Raphoe swiftly countered and seconds later one of their
forwards was one on one with the Bangor goalie, Nick Irvine. As Irvine
came out of his goal to force the attacker wide he was deemed to have
purposefully fouled and the second umpire awarded a penalty stroke. It
looked a harsh decision, particularly as Irvine appeared to have got ball
first, but the home side duly scored from the spot.
This prompted the visitors to be more purposeful in their play, and for
the remainder of the half the Bangor side created numerous opportunities.
Stranaghan went close on one occasion, just wide of the right post, whilst
Tweed ought to have tested the goalie following another flowing move on
the left. From a handful of short corners also the visitors were unlucky
not to find the net, a home foot or the goalie always thwarting the
attempts.
The second half saw the seconds continue to create further chances to
score, but it just seemed to be one of those days. Lyall was a constant
menace with his pace and trickery on the right and was at the fore with
many of these forays. He did find himself in a scoring position mid
circle, again a Raphoe defender was there closing down, Macafee fired wide
on another occasion, Gowdy had his effort saved whilst McNaught and Irwin
had short corner strikes saved.
Stranaghan turned goalward on a McMillan pass, but his attempt was blocked
also, and probably the best move involving a high pass to Stranaghan
behind the defence, in which he turned back to McNaught yards from goal
was somehow saved at point blank range by the inspirational home
goalkeeper.
Raphoe also contributed in this very open second half, and they did have
three or four good opportunities to double their advantage but Irvine was
alert to any danger. Phil McCausland and young Patrick McCalister deserve
a mention for solid defensive performances.
A disappointing result in the end, particularly so in the manner of the
goal that ended up being the decisive factor, but the team was not found
wanting in terms of effort and commitment and indeed the overall pace of
their play. At stages in the contest the seconds were encamped in the home
25, but could find no way past the Raphoe defence and in particular the
goalie and full credit must go to the home side.
Player of the match vote went to Simon Scales, who, yet again was tireless
throughout and many thanks to John Toogood for managerial duties, and to
Paul Donaldson for driving the bus. |