Bangor 2 v 2 Instonians

It has been quite a while coming.  So long in fact that the weekly half time exhortations of captain D.Shields reminded one of the character Dr. Pangloss in Candides Voltaire who continually proclaimed that things were all for the best in the best of all possible times. A point at home to Instonians 3rds put a welcome stop to Bangor’s hapless run of six defeats out of seven fixtures.

The captains confidence in the outlook of the good Doctor Pangloss was not so misplaced after all because Bangor have threatened to score points in recent weeks but narrowly failed. On this crisp Friday evening, they worked incessantly for some reward and were also looked favourably upon by Lady Luck at times. It was not that they did not deserve the point. Indeed, both were distinctly possible until the dying minutes. Rather, the proverbial rub of the green was with them at times as well.

All began briskly. In keeping with the evening temperature, the opening exchanges were crisp, both sides contributing to an open pattern of play with early and mostly accurate passing. Instonians were marginally the more fluent, their forward movement that bit quicker and more incisive. Indeed, within fifteen minutes, Russell was repeating his goal line histrionics of the previous week, moving around his circle as if fuelled by a surfeit of caffeine. On at least three occasions he prevented accurate shots from bulging the net , one clearance off his left foot deserving  particular  mention. One Inst short corner strike did enter the net but was ruled out as it had not hit the backboard. Truth be told, it was a capricious bounce of the pitch to blame.

Bangor, perhaps sensing that their fortunes might just change, were pushing as well. Their primary outlet was the right , where Wilson and Harper ran continuously to prompt openings. Halliday was in fine fettle in the middle, his bursts of pace freeing him on several occasions. Two short corners were earned, but no meaningful shot materialised. Then Harper nicked narrowly wide following a well disguised pass from Tweed.

As half time approached it was the visitors who gained the initiative, a short corner switch resulting in one forward too many for the available cover. 1-0 to Inst at half-time.

Displaying that Panglossian aura of calm , Captain Shields made a tactical switch which was to influence proceedings dramatically.  Moving Todd forward into midfield allowed Glenn Stranaghan, fresh from returning after his first retirement , to resume duties at sweeper. Within minutes Bangor were level . A neat move on the right culminated in Campbell playing a one two with Stranaghan and with that familiar full swing the ball was fairly pinged into the circle by Stranaghan. After an initial parry by the keeper, the ball snuck out to one side and Murray was alert to the opportunity and slotted home.

And it got better. Ten minutes later and indeed ten minutes from time, Stranaghan stepped forward to unleash a piledriver into the bottom left corner. 2-1. Instonians retaliated with urgency, half threatening on a number of occasions. Douglas , Kirkpatrick and McDowell proved obdurate opponents though and just as Bangor seemed to have drawn the most of the sting, a late bite. One ball was poorly cleared and from the resultant punt back into the circle one of three Inst forwards could have converted. One did and that was that. 2-2 and overall, a fair result.

Man of the Match – Mark Russell

Many thanks to Michael Coughlan for umpiring.