Bangor seconds fell to their second league defeat of the season last Saturday, to Lisnagarvey the league leaders, at a rather cold and windswept Ballykillaire.

Although the home team recognised that they faced a very good side, optimism was high before the push-back that they could go one step further and win against the team that were fortunate to get a 2-2 draw in the first league match of the season. 

Missing a couple of key players through absenteeism, injury and call-ups, captains Irwin and Scales fielded a strong, attack-minded team, with the midfield trio of Browne, Trimble and Boyd an obvious threat to the Garvey defence.

Indeed, this adventurous approach seemed to be paying off handsomely in the first half in particular. Within the first two minutes good work from Macafee, himself playing with a toe injury, secured Bangor's first penalty corner but unfortunately McNaught's strong shot was someway over the backboard, and goals for that matter.

Despite missing this early opportunity to test the Garvey defence, Bangor soon put more pressure on the visitors and a swift exchange of passes between Boyd and Browne earned the home team a second short corner, and then a third. After producing one great save from Browne's flick, the Garvey keeper allowed the same player to beat him from the third corner to put Bangor into the lead.

Not long after, Trimble, for once embarking on some dribbling practice drew a foul from the defence and won a further short corner; again, Browne's flick was well placed, at the second attempt, to give his team a two-nil lead.

With half-time approaching it nearly became a three goal cushion but for McNaught to be thwarted by the keeper's breathtaking save as the ball whistled towards the top corner of the net.

Irwin's half time team talk focused on not only the good team play of the first half but also of the importance of the next goal in the game. It nearly came from Bangor as, straight from the push back, a Browne aerial was latched onto Campbell, making his seconds debut, who pulled the ball back to Boyd whose shot was cleared to safety.

Again, soon after, Campbell nearly provided the crucial goal, deflecting a McNaught pass just wide from the edge of the circle. These close shaves seemed to influence a Garvey fight back and a series of short corners resulted from some desperate defending. From two of these, Garvey drew level, almost exact replicas as flicks found the net past a despairing Thompson in the Bangor goal.

A period of end-to-end hockey ensued as both teams pressed for the winner. McNaught wasted a good opportunity after exchanging passes with Stranaghan, some slow decision making foiled promising Bangor moves, McCausland stretching everything to keep the Garvey attack at bay and Garvey hitting the crossbar with yet another short corner. When it seemed that a 2-2 draw might be the likeliest outcome, a dubious short corner award to Garvey presented their winner, another flick dispatched to Thompson’s bottom right corner of the net, 3-2 to the visiting team and to the final whilstle.

Although disappointed at losing, and after establishing a two goal lead, Bangor can take credit in their overall performance and continued spirit in their quest for another high league position and Irish Junior Cup campaign. Man of the match was jointly won by Johnny Boyd and James Browne and many thanks to David Shields and Norman Wishart for umpiring.