Revenge is a dish best served cold, and where better to have it than windy Ballykillaire! Bangor fifths will spend Christmas at the top of the league after beating Banbridge fifths 4-2, avenging their defeat earlier in the season.

Things started in the worst possible way, in the first minute a free was awarded to the visitors, some Bangor players who claimed they were unaware of the decision stood static as the forward took the free quickly, finding a free man at the far post who deflected the ball into the top corner. 1-0 down and Bangor were shocked.

The home team did start to mount a series of attacks down the right, but the Bann keeper made a string of good saves. However, he could do nothing with Bob Espey’s finish nine minutes from the interval, after being set up by Harper to bring the scores level.

Bangor were still a bit flat, not communicating as well as usual, and this led to some pacey counter attacks from the visitors, McEvoy had to make a few saves in goal, and Allan Stevenson had to deal with a tricky centre forward, but did so admirably. Paul Scott, Mark Dornan and Simon Murray struggled to create much in the first half in a tight midfield battle.

At half time Bangor felt that they could go on to get the win, but there was definitely more desire and again more width needed.

A few changes brought Calum Togneri to the fold pushing Espey back to midfield, and these fresh legs gave the home side the impetus as they roared into the lead Harper slotting in two and Togneri continuing his record of scoring in every game he has played for the fifths this season making it 4-1.

Bangor set up a lot of attacks from their defence, Matty Neill McCready, McCready, Kirkpatrick and Douglas seeing a lot of the ball and putting pressure on the opposition. Matty was unlucky not to score from a Gerry Hamill short corner.

Simon Murray was also close to scoring after some strong midfield play, Paul Scott then played a lovely ball for Togneri releasing him into a 1 on 1 with the keeper, instead of thinking about what he was going to do he pushed a shot to the keepers feet when it seemed obvious to pass to the onrushing Hamill who was perfectly placed at the back post.

In the last minute a defensive error gifted Banbridge a chance that the forward took gratefully crashing the ball in off the post to make it 4-2.

That was the end of a game that had the league leaders battling for their two points, Man of the match was influential winger Gerry Hamill.

Thanks to Timmy Campbell taking time out of his busy Saturday to umpire.