South Antrim 4ths 4-4 Bangor 6ths

HARD EARNED DRAW FOR 6THS

The Sixths were on the road again and this time their destination was Lisburn to face South Antrim who last season proved to be no pushovers.  The Sixths looked to be travelling with only ten men after Chris Eccles pulled out of the game on Saturday morning, but luckily Conner Savage was up watching the school and was happy to join the squad.

The match itself started with Bangor in complete control, and their continuous pressure paid off as they were awarded a short corner, which Duncan Morris finished off to give the Sixths the lead, and also open his account for the season.  Then it all seemed to go downhill for Bangor.  South Antrim was over running the young Bangor side using their size, age and experience.  They were awarded several short corners in a row and after ‘keeper Mark Russell made a few decent saves he was finally beaten and South had drew level.  The home side didn’t stop there and soon enough they were 2-1 up, and just before half time the Bangor ‘keeper went down too early at a short corner and was punished as South passed the ball around him to go in at half time 3-1 to the good.

A few changes were made by the Bangor captain at half time and they seemed to do the trick.  Adam Douglas was in fine form on the right and was making probing runs from defence, but on the left Warren Reid was not to be undone and his runs from defence were causing South Antrim all sorts of problems.  Up front Mark Campbell was trying his best to get on the score sheet but his shots were just wide.  Then the ball was played into Conner Savage by Colin McIlhagga, and Savage knocked it past the oncoming ‘keeper to put Bangor back into the game.

From then it was constant pressure by Bangor, with Phil Campbell leading the charge.  He went close on occasions, and new boy Nick Gillen also had a chance to level it up.  With 5 minutes left Bangor threw everyone forward, apart from Craig McDowell, who was having a solid game at sweeper, but from that Bangor attack the ball broke to South Antrim and they won a free on the edge of the circle.  From this they scored to put them 4-2 up with only a few minutes left.

Though the game wasn’t over yet, and from the push back Mark Campbell beat two men and laid the ball off to McIlhagga who slotted it past the oncoming ‘keeper to make it 4-3 with a minute to go.  South Antrim then tried to keep possession and run down the clock, but a superb tackle by Niall McEvoy got the ball away from the home side, and it was picked up by young Savage who smashed the ball high into the net to make it 4-4, and so the points were shared.  The young side showed great character and bounce back ability to earn a point from this hard fought game.

Man of the match was Adam Douglas who had a fantastic game.