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Bangor Mens Hockey Club fourth eleven scored 5 goals for the second week
running as they defeated a spirited Cookstown fourths side 5-2 at
Coolnafrankey last Saturday afternoon.
The final scoreline probably flattered the visitors somewhat in what was
an evenly contested fixture throughout, but it was the clinical finishing
from the Bangor side that proved the difference. Fielding a makeshift line
up due to the schoolboys being unavailable to make the early push back,
the visitors took the lead when from the first penalty corner award John
Poole picked out his strike partner Gareth Stranaghan lurking at the far
post for a simple tap-in. The lead was soon doubled when Stranaghan was
upended by the Cookstown goalie at the top of the circle, and from the
penalty flick award, Poole despatched high into the Cookstown net. The
home side were far from being outplayed, in fact they were controlling
large parts of the play, and they deservedly pulled a goal back before the
half when they scored from close range.
Cookstown started the better side in the second period and got back on
level terms just 10 minutes in when they too were awarded a penalty flick
after goalkeeper Nick Craig had infringed one of their forwards. The game
was turned on its head however when the Bangor side scored twice within 2
minutes midway through the half. A swift Bangor counter attack resulted in
Aaron Savage sneaking the ball past the home custodian, and there was
Stranaghan right on cue to direct the ball over the goal line. A minute
later it was 4-2, and indeed a hat-trick for Stranaghan, when he swivelled
on a pass from Chris Eccles at the top of the circle and fired low into
the corner of the net. A fifth was added 2 minutes from time when Patrick
McMillan teed up Poole at a short corner, and his shot struck a Cookstown
defender on its way to goal. Cookstown did threaten the Bangor goal again
but the defence held firm, with Michael Coughlin, Ryan Agnew and Michael
Elborne all adhering to their marking tasks well. The midfield trio of
Adam Douglas, skipper Andrew Walker and Stevie Robinson were industrious
throughout, and showed tremendous honesty in their play. A hard working
performance and an excellent victory for the fourths.
Many thanks to John Tormey for helping out with umpiring duties, and to
the club selection committee, particularly Andrew McIlhagga and Nick
Craig, for the juggling of personnel which enabled 12 players to travel to
Cookstown for the fourths with the schoolboys being unavailable for this
fixture. |