Two games in quick succession, both drawn but the reaction of the Bangor players at each final whistle was markedly different.

Following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Raphoe the team trooped off with heads bowed, talking of chances missed and a failure to make Premier League survival absolutely certain.

But just three days before after a 1-1 draw away to Banbridge the Seasiders had looked elated at the final whistle - a bonus point grabbed in the most unlikely circumstances after a fantastic all round team display.

But back to Saturday. Clearly a little jaded from their efforts against Banbridge, Bangor were off the pace for most of the game against their main rivals in the relegation dogfight. What's most galling for Bangor was that on the few occasions when they clicked they looked comfortably superior to the Co Donegal men and just 15 minutes of decent hockey would have secured a win.

But it's not that easy and as the games come thick and fast the entire squad gets tested. Bangor had more of the ball in the opening exchanges but it was the visitors who took the lead. The umpire failed to spot an obvious foot, Bangor then missed the opportunity to clear and Raphoe took the lead following some ping pong in the circle.

Bangor bounced back quickly and equalised from their third penalty corner. Despite an inaccurate push out the ball moved quickly from Simon Hunter to Adam Reading and finally Gareth Morton and the striker had just enough power to sneak it under the Raphoe goalkeeper.

That was a rare moment of quality in a scrappy game but it wasn't to last. The sides traded attacks but with neither showing much shape or control of the ball the play was scrappy. Bangor did take the lead from another flash of brilliance when Reading showed exactly how a perfect short corner routine should be finished with a top corner finish to make it 2-1.

That should have been enough for Bangor but Raphoe showed more desire in the closing stages and managed to draw level again. That they did so while reduced to 10 men is to their credit. It's also another embarrassment for Bangor who were still at full strength. A break was allowed to travel too far and despite John Tormey making a good save a Raphoe forward was on hand to turn the ball home.

Bangor did have some pressure in the closing minutes but truth be told they couldn't turn it into any meaningful chance and the game petered out into a draw.

The mood had been much higher at the end of the midweek re-arranged game in Banbridge on Wednesday night. Bangor had battled hard and worked cleverly on the counter-attack against a talented Banbridge side.

They even took the lead in the second half when great work from Michael Manogue and Michael Harte on the right flank gave the latter the opportunity to shoot high into the net with the goalkeeper stranded. Bangor had further chances to extend their lead through Dave McClune and Conor Savage but couldn't kill the game off.

Banbridge came storming back in the final 10 minutes and grabbed an all important equaliser. It was tough on the Bangor defence, who were all fabulous on the night. Tormey was unbeatable against one of the best penalty corner experts in Ireland and in front of him Reading, Mark Lappin, Simon Scales and James Trimble fought like tigers to keep Banbridge scoreless.

And they nearly managed it - finally being beaten with just six minutes remaining. It was all the crueller that it came just thirty seconds after Savage's good chance at the back post.

Still, Wednesday night felt like a point gained, Saturday like two points dropped. Bangor aren't safe yet and with three games remaining need to scramble as many points as possible.

 

 

Written by Simon Hunter