Bangor 6 v 4 Parkview

      Knowing before the game that one point would seal the promotion every player was dreaming off, the “Legends” started vibrantly against a physical Parkview side who ply their trade on the shale.  Within two minutes of the game starting the “Legends” found themselves 1-0 up after a well taken Tim Cook goal.  Immediately after Gerry Hamill converted a penalty flick to extend the lead to 2-0. 

      Alas the home side took their foot of the gas and allowed Parkview back into it.  First of all a defensive miscalculation enabled the Parkview centre forward pick the ball up in the circle and fire low and hard past custodian Mark Russell.  Then a moment of lunacy from the visitors umpire when Dale Kirkpatrick was hit above the knee from a short corner on the line, he gave a penalty stroke instead of a free out as it should have been.  With this Parkview’s centre forward added to his tally for the day and made it 2-2. 

      With the “Legends” struggling to find a way back into the game some good defensive play from Ryan Garland, Michael Claney and Alan Stevenson kept the score level until half-time. 

      After the regular half time oranges and the belief that today was their day, Bangor came out for the second half all fired up, only to be brought crashing back down to the astro-turf when Parkview took the lead through a tame deflected goal.  That wasn’t all, with the majority of the home side wondering what was going wrong, Parkview took this as an opportunity to extend their lead to 4-2, and their centre forward helped himself to his third goal of the game. 

      The record crowd at the fixture were in disbelief at what was happening.  Parkview were fighting against relegation, but beating title contenders and “Legends” 4-2 in a place which is considered a fortress in Ulster Hockey. 

      Then it happened.  All of a sudden in a magnificent move Craig McDowell ran from the half-way line and crossed the ball into the danger area, for 5^th XI danger man Gerry Hamill to get his second of the game and bring it back to 4-3.  The home side wasn’t done either, and within minutes Simon Murray had linked up well with Bob Espey who fed the ball into Gerry who smashed it past the despairing Parkview goalkeeper to equalise. 

      If that wasn’t enough, Calum Togneri scored what was goal of the game, and quite possibly goal of the season to give the “Legends” a 5-4 lead.  The ball was played in from the right and Calum picked it up and in one swift movement reversed the ball into the top corner.  The crowd went wild as the stewards struggled to hold them back.  With 10 minutes left Gerry broke through and slotted the ball past the ‘keeper again to make it 6-4 and get his fourth of the game. 

      Warren Reid came close at the end after an exquisite ball from John Mitchell, but the Parkview ‘keeper saved well to deny the home sides seventh of the game. 

      An unbelievable game of hockey and one that will live in the memory of those that were there to witness it.  After the match a member of the crowd was asked about the comeback, he responded, “I could not tell you much about it, the third to sixth goals all happened in a blaze of muggy glory for me, delirium had kicked in by that stage.”   The “Mighty Fives” were up, their third straight promotion and into Junior 3.  Man of the Match was four goal hero Gerry Hamill, and thanks to Bill Gowdy for umpiring.  Also thanks to everyone for their efforts this season, bring on Junior 3!