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On a typical autumnal Friday evening Bangor 2nd XI travelled to Cookstown
looking for an important first win of the season but instead they came
away empty handed after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat.
The game began in rather subdued manner with the Bangor team showing the
ill effects of travel and the late start. The home side were dictating
play and the Bangor back four bolstered by the return of Andrew Gowdy had
to baton down the hatches resisting Cookstown’s recurrent attacks in the
early period. Oppurtunities were few for Bangor’s frontline and the
midfield of Hamill, Kirkpatrick and Brennan were restrained from joining
their forwards in the limited attacks due to the sustained pressure.
Eventually this pressure proved too much and from some fortuitous if not
favourable home umpiring deeming a slash tackle on Irwin as acceptable,
the Cookstown winger was allowed to proceed into the circle and cross for
a deflection at the back post much to the Bangor protests.
This, however seemed to put a spring in the Bangor step and fire them into
gear and the game began to become more open with McClune and McIllhaga
having good efforts thwarted by the Cookstown keeper. Industrious work by
Kirkpatrick in his new found pivotal role in centre midfield won a short
corner for the away side, only for the resultant flick by Gowdy being
easily cleared by the Cookstown defence. However, Bangor still went into
the break 1-0 down and looking for answers from their captain Shields.
The second half proved to be a stark contrast to the first with Bangor
taking their turn to attack, often with the final pass being the only
missing factor in levelling the score. Oppurtunities fell for Edwards and
Hamill but still a goal would not come. However, Bangor were then to be
sucker punched with a Cookstown breakout resulting in a home short corner
which was duly converted leaving Bangor with an uphill struggle. Though
Bangor were to immediately respond with a swift move involving Edwards and
McClune resulting in a neat finish by Hamill but this was to prove to no
avail with Cookstown taking the three points. Final score 2-1 and Man of
the Match was Clive Kirkpatrick. |