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Two games into the season and Bangor are sitting second in the Podium
Sport Premier League after beating Raphoe 3-1 at the weekend.
For the second game in a row they came from behind to take all three
points. While the side's character coming back into the game and finishing
so strongly can't be faulted, they will be concerned that collectively
they played so poorly.
Still, they have four points from their first two games and a solid
platform to kick on against Instonians, their next opponents, after a
Saturday off this weekend.
It could have been much different if they hadn't scrambled their way out
of trouble against a determined Raphoe side in County Donegal. Bangor
actually started the stronger with much of the early possession but
couldn't produce any real clear cut chances.
Jamie McAuley and Chris Campbell were making good progress down the flanks
and Bangor looked comfortable with the ball but too often the final pass
went astray and moves broke down before they could test the Raphoe
goalkeeper.
And they were made to pay for this when Raphoe took the lead after 20
minutes. A mix-up at the heart of the Bangor defence - for which Mark
Lappin manfully took responsibility - opened the door for James Corry and
he skilfully lobbed John Tormey as he came off his line.
Bangor huffed and puffed for the remainder of the first period but never
really looked like equalising. They came closest when Michael Harte and
McAuley combined to slice through the Raphoe defence but Harte tried to
return another pass when he probably should have shot and the opportunity
was gone.
For much of the second half it looked much the same. Bangor were moving
the ball around with ease as Raphoe sat back on their lead but they never
looked like breaking through to equalise. Rotating personnel in midfield
and up front did little to break the pattern and as the minutes drifted by
it looked like Bangor might have made a long journey for no reward.
But Harte popped up to score his second goal of the season and suddenly
the wind was back in Bangor's sails. The ball was moved swiftly from a
left wing corner and McAuley drove into the Raphoe circle before finding
his midfield colleague lurking at the right hand post. Harte's emphatic
finish was more than enough to level the scores.
This galvanises Bangor and they immediately went looking for a second.
Campbell and McClean were combining with great affect on the right and it
was no surprise when they second goal came from one such attack. The ball
eventually fell to Michael Manogue in front of goal and he calmly beat the
goalkeeper before shovelling a reverse stick flick at the goal. His shot
was illegally stopped on the line winning Bangor a penalty stroke. The
pressure was on but there was no better man than captain Adam Reading to
absorb it and he made light work of firing Bangor into the lead.
This knocked the stuffing out of Raphoe and a third Bangor goal followed
soon after when David McClune opened his account for the season, finally
bundling the ball home after a scrappy penalty corner routine.
Bangor held on for the last few minutes but Raphoe knew the game was up
and that they hadn't been able to capitalise on a below par display from
the visitors.
The All-Ireland League starts this week without Bangor and they won't play
again until next Saturday. The result of that game against Instonians will
determine whether it is a solid start to the season or a very good one.
Some photos of the match (courtesy of Nick Craig). Click to enlarge. They
are quite big, so be patient !
  
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