Anderson Cup : Bangor 3 v 2 Newry

BANGOR PROGRESS TO QUARTER FINAL OF ANDERSON CUP

They had beaten the same opposition 6-1 in the Kirk Cup earlier in the year and have swatted aside all other Senior One teams in their group during the season. That puts into context a narrow win which required player of the season, Adam Reading to seal the win with just two minutes on the clock.

It could have been even worse with Newry level in the second half and twice shooing narrowly wide of the Bangor goal when well placed.

When they face Instonians on April 18 Bangor will have to raise themselves considerably if they want to progress to the semi-finals of the competition. Because they have an excellent record at home against the Belfast side and if the real, committed and decisive Bangor side turn up they can go all the way in the Anderson Cup.

It all started so well on Saturday when the hard working Dave McLune opened the scoring after just four minutes. In one of Bangor's few free flowing moves Simon Scales found Simon Hunter on the byline and his precise cross picked out McLune in the circle. He took one touch and coolly rolled the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

That should have been the cue for the floodgates to open. Instead, it seemed to relax the visitors and gradually they got back into the game. After winning a series of penalty corners they eventually made one count and the ball sneaked between goalkeeper John Tormey and Michael Harte on the line.

Bangor regained the lead shortly before the break from their own penalty corner. After his initial effort was stopped Reading shifted the ball to his left and slid a reverse stick shot under the goalkeeper and against the backboards to make it 2-1.

Despite a stern talking to at half-time Bangor couldn't raise it in the second period and it was Newry who scored the equaliser their efforts merited. With another attack failing to be cleared, the ball eventually fell to an unmarked forward at the back post and he steered the ball past Tormey to level the scores.

This finally kick-started Bangor and they dominated proceedings for the remainder of the game. Newry did go close twice but Bangor edged nearer and nearer to the goal that would assure them a quarter final place. Chris Campbell, Hunter and Reading all nearly grabbed the all-important goal but as the clock ticked down it looked like the home side might have to settle for a draw.

But no one told skipper Reading. After Dawie Holley had skilfully won a penalty corner Reading took responsibility himself, swapped passes with Harte and fired high into the net with the Newry goalkeeper stranded. And that earned a quarter final against old rivals Instonians next weekend. Bangor will need to improve dramatically to ensure it's not their final game of the season.