Bangor 3 v 1 Instonians
Bangor Mens Hockey Club seconds welcomed Instonians seconds to Ballykillare last Saturday afternoon, and indeed if the rain had not have stopped 15 minutes into this contest then the umpires would have had no choice but to abandon.  The astropitch surface is just unable to cope with any heavy rain, as the pitch instantly floods and prevents the flow of the game.  Nevertheless, the rain stopped and the 70 minutes were played in full, the home side prevailing in the end with a 3-1 victory. 
 

The seconds have struggled this season to attain any consistency in their play and results, and so skipper Irwin was purposeful in the changing room before this fixture, a few home truths maybe just what the players needed.  From the outset, the Bangor side looked more comfortable with the skipper marshalling from the back, and Stewart Kirk pulling all the strings in the middle of the park.  Instonians threatened early on with a couple of penalty corners, but soon it was the home side who were dominating.  Seay in the Instonians goal saved his side on a couple of occasions with point blank saves, but the seconds eventually found the breakthrough midway through the half when Kirk set off on another of his marauding runs.  Approaching the visitors circle he spotted Stranaghan who had ghosted in behind the defence, Kirk’s pass was inch perfect, and Stranaghan controlled and slotted home to make it 1-0.  The goal only served to raise the confidence of the home side even further, and soon after it was 2-0.  This time it came from a short corner, a Gowdy flick being saved initially and when the ball broke at the top of the circle, Scales scored with a rasping shot. 
 

Instonians got back into it with a goal just seconds into the second half, when a high flick from the push back was forced home with the Bangor defence all at sea.  The home side continued to dominate in large patches for the remainder of the game, but were never comfortable until they got a third goal, which was scored by Kirk at a penalty corner, just reward for his overall performance.  Other clearcut opportunities were created, Boyd going close from one effort and Whiteside unlucky not to score after being teed up by Macafee.  Instonians also had enough possession in this second half, their short corners really the only opportunities they had.  The final scoreline was 3-1, giving the home side a deserved two points. 
 

The same sides meet this Saturday at the same venue in an Irish Junior Cup tie, a contest that will no doubt be played at a higher intensity.  A very different, and stronger Instonians side is expected due to their firsts having no game, so the seconds will need to be at their absolute best to progress in this competition. 
 

Player of the match on Saturday for the seconds was Stewart Kirk.  Many thanks to Andrew Walker and Noel Wishart for umpiring.