Bangor 4 v 0 Civil Service
Bangor all but booked a place in this year's Anderson Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 4-0 win over Premier League strugglers Civil Service on Saturday.
The Seasiders only need a point from their last group game against Kilkeel this week to ensure they are in the hat for the semi-finals.
Even if they fail to win or draw Kilkeel will still have to beat likely group winners Lisnagarvey to progress from the group at Bangor's expense.
At the start of Bangor's game against Civil Service on Saturday they knew a win would make it extremely difficult for Kilkeel to finish second in the group but they took some time to create the chances and goals necessary for victory.
Chris Campbell opened the scoring midway through the first period but it wasn't until the final 25 minutes that Bangor added the other three goals to give the scoreline a better reflection of their dominance over Civil Service.
Playing into a vicious wind Bangor made hard work of the first half with Campbell's goal and the performances of  Stephen McClean, Dave McClune and Stewart Kirk being the only bright sparks.
Despite plenty of possession and the opportunity to attack Bangor failed to kill the game before the interval. Several players tested the Civil Service goalkeeper with Dowie Holley and Campbell both going close. But the feisty forward went one better minutes later when, following good work from McClune and McClean, he was left with a straight forward back post tap-in.
In the second period Bangor again struggled to break Civil Service down and the Belfast side even managed to create a few chances themselves but they found the home side's defence in good form. Vice captain Adam Reading, the consistent Gareth Kidd and the rapidly developing Stewart Kirk were determined to keep a clean sheet and if they were somehow beaten goalkeeper John Tormey was on hand to maintain Bangor's lead.
As expected, Civil Service burnt themselves out and Bangor were allowed a greater deal of freedom in the closing stages as they rotated the squad and introduced fresh legs. Some of these legs belonged to James Browne and he bounded on to score with his first touch, an audacious reverse stick flick into the far corner.
Just ten minutes later Browne doubled his tally and put the game out of reach of the visitors when, after Bangor squeezed Civil Service in their own half, Mark Lappin won possession and fired the ball into the striker in the circle. He then turned smartly and calmly rolled the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
There was one more goal to come and this time Holley laid the ball off to Simon Hunter in the circle and from his reverse stick shot Michael Harte was lurking at the back post for the most simple of finishes to make it 4-0.
This week Bangor make the lengthy trip to Kilkeel save in the knowledge that their fate is in their own hands against opponents they have already beaten 6-2 on one occasion this season. It will be much more difficult in Kilkeel but Bangor must still approach the game as favourites.