Premier League : Bangor 4 v 2 Lisnagarvey

BANGOR BACK IN CONTENTION FOR ALL IRELAND SPOT

Bangor twice came from behind in a thrilling game at Ballykillare to beat Lisnagarvey 4-2 and leapfrog them into fifth in the Premier League.

The Hillsborough side have a game in hand but Bangor now have a two point lead on them heading into the home straight. Hopes of a fifth placed finish and a place in the All-Ireland League are still alive for the Seasiders.

It also means that Bangor are still unbeaten at home all season and they have already picked up as many points as during the last campaign. An already impressive season can be further improved with another four or five points from the final three games of the season, starting this Saturday against Annadale.

But the admirable Bangor home record looked anything but secure in the opening 20 minutes last week. Lisnagarvey started much the sharper and could have been out of sight by half-time. Instead they went in 1-1 after Gareth Morton scored Bangor's only chance of the half just before the break.

Before the visitors took the lead they were repeatedly denied by John Tormey in the Bangor goal. He made several superb saves, showing he's still as good as any goalkeeper in the Premier League and has many seasons ahead of him. And when he was finally beaten Lisnagarvey struck the post when it was easier to score or found Stephen McLean sweeping up behind his goalkeeper to clear spectacularly off the line.

Eventually the visitors got the goal their dominance deserved and it came from the otherwise quiet Irish international Timmy Cochram. He drove from right to left before firing a reverse stick shot across Tormey into the bottom corner.

In the 10 minutes before the break finally got their act together and started to make some progress. Chris Campbell embarked on one of his surging runs and the team started to string a few passes together across midfield.

It was one of these from Mark Lappin that started the move that led to Morton's goal. He found Michael Manogue on the right flank and he powered past his opposing full-back before finding Simon Hunter on the edge of the circle. The striker turned, drew his man and played Morton in at the back post for a tap-in that he was never going to miss.

After getting out of jail in the first half it would have been expected Bangor would start the second period well but they did anything but. Their worrying habit of drifting into the second half of games continued when Lisnagarvey once again took the lead in the opening exchanges. Brian Waring was allowed so much time in the circle that once Tormey had saved his initial shot, he could still control the rebound and pick his spot to give Lisnagarvey the lead again.

It was hardly ideal but for the remaining half hour Bangor stepped up their game and outplayed the visitors. First, Hunter went close when an effort was cleared off the line after he turned well at the top of the circle and then Bangor grabbed the equaliser their refusal to cave in deserved.

Morton won and took a free on the left wing that found the marauding Michael Harte charging forward. He turned onto his reverse side at the top of the circle and hit what appeared to be a shot at goal. While it wasn't the best of shots, it turned into a superb pass as Manogue crept in to score the equaliser his all round performance merited.

Having dragged themselves back into the game it was then Bangor who kept up the pace winning the first penalty corner of the game - Lappin having his effort turned round the post. But Dawie Holley skilfully won another set-piece almost straight away and this time Bangor made it count. Skipper Adam Reading stepped up and fired his side into the lead with just 12 minutes to go.

It seemed a very long 12 minutes as Lisnagarvey laid siege to the Bangor goal. Tormey was once again called on to make a series of sharp saves and his defenders in front of him stood firm against wave after wave of Lisnagarvey attack.

And they got their reward when Bangor absorbed the pressure to break out and score their fourth in the final minutes. Harte and Holley won huge tackles at the top of the Bangor circle before the latter set off down the middle of the pitch. He didn't look like he had the legs to make it to the other end of the pitch but he struggled on and it quickly became apparent that Bangor had four men against one lone defender and the goalkeeper. And they used it perfectly. Holley moved the ball to Campbell who found Hunter who passed the ball back to Holley for a diving tap-in to seal one of Bangor's most memorable wins in the Premier League.

After losing to Instonians the previous week Bangor have once again bounced back to upset the form book and keep the All-Ireland dream alive. Now they need to produce back to back performances and get something from the game against Annadale. It won't be easy as the Belfast side thrashed them 5-0 before Christmas but it's a different matter when sides come to Ballykillare - just ask Lisnagarvey.