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At last. For three years in succession the fourths have flirted with
promotion only to be denied in the very final fixtures. For two years in
succession they have sprinted away from September, amassing what appeared
to be a sufficient clutch of points to see off key opponents but in those
last two seasons the deficit was a frustrating two points at the close of
proceedings.
On Saturday it was two points that
were required to finally clinch a slot in Junior League Three and this in
the penultimate fixture. Yet there had been a distinct undercurrent of
nervousness pervading their play in recent weeks and the visit of Down,
obdurate as always and themseves not mathematically excluded from
reckoning, added to the piquant atmosphere.
Indeed it was at Down that Davy
Shields side dropped their first points in December, following a
barnstorming start to the season of nine consecutive wins.
There then ensued a period of
relative stasis, as many games being lost as won since the turn of the
year and 10 points being earned from a possible 20. Here, home advantage
was indeed a benefit as the direct style of Down did not translate
meaningfully to the artificial surface. The home side were on the front
foot from the off.
Hamill and Wilson were on respective
flanks and Harper occupied the middle space - between them there was a
turn of pace which left the visiting defenders twisiting in their own
shoes initially. Hamill, directness personified, created the first
opening, latching on to a Cox pass to progress to the circle and earn a
short corner.
Then Wilson, returning to the fray
due to an enforced absence courtesy of a dodgy digit, picked up from
Scott and persuaded the keeper to committ, before slipping to Harper. The
goal was open and Harper nudged the ball goalward but the nudge lacked
oomph if not direction and the ball was cleared. Five minutes later he
atoned, earning the short from which Stranaghan pinged a shot low to the
keepers right.
Down responded and for a 15 minute
spell were the more voracious in midfield, winning a fair majority of ball
and despatching with haste forward. Twice Stewart had to react very
smartly to thwart runs into the circle, but he was unable to stop a
deflected short corner effort late in the half. But then, even later in
the half, Bangor regained the lead, Hamill popping up mid circle to push
home from Harper.
The third and ultimately decisive
goal came courtesy of Parker for Bangor. Five minutes into the second
period, he followed up on a snap shot from Lyle. It was a goal that seemed
to deflate the Down resisitance. Suddenly the home side were finding
veritable oodles of space. Another goal followed, Stranaghan again firing
home from a short corner.
But then, Down broke forward and
were allowed to create an opening which reduced the deficit to two. Their
was a brief period of more animated ping pong before Bangor restored the
three goal lead, Scott picking up on a loose ball to convert.
5-2 at the close and a well deserved
promotion for Shields and his assorted charges. Man of the match was
Richard Parker and many thanks to Andrew Gowdy for umpiring.
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