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With 15 minutes to go in Bangor's game against Banbridge last Saturday all
seemed to be going well. The Seasiders were one goal up and the home side
down to 10 men.
It was therefore extremely disappointing that Bangor ended up on the wrong
side of a 4-1 scoreline and were beaten for the third successive league
game.
But where did all go wrong? Bangor got let off the hook in the opening
minutes when captain John Tormey saved a Ross McCandless penalty stroke.
After giving it away the goalkeeper then reacted well, diving to his
right, to keep the score level.
And just a few minutes later it got even better for Bangor when from their
first penalty corner Adam Reading fired home from the top of the circle.
One nil up away from home against one of Ulster top teams and everything
seemed rosy. The team were working hard and Banbridge were having a great
deal of difficulty breaking them down.
In fact, they could have extended their lead midway through the half when
Simon McCafferty had a good chance after being played through by Michael
Harte. Banbridge also threatened in the first half in what was a
fast flowing and open game of hockey for the neutral to enjoy.
Bangor knew that Banbridge would throw everything at them in the second
half and they weathered the initial storm well, limiting the home side's
chances to a minimum. Tormey was rarely called upon to make a save with
Adam Reading marshalling his troops in the backline well.
And it seemed to get even better, when with less than 20 minutes
remaining, Banbridge's frustration was epitomised by a stupid foul by
Geoff McCabe and he was sin-binned.
This should have seen Bangor ram home their supremacy and possibly extend
their lead but instead the 10 men of Banbridge levelled the scores -
McCandless finally finding his range from a penalty corner and doing from
16 what he couldn't do from seven yards, namely beat Tormey.
Banbridge were visibly lifted and went on the all out attack with Bangor
defending deeper and deeper. The Banbridge side's second came from a
sustained period of pressure and when the ball was flashed across the goal
Dane Ward was on hand to deflect it home.
Bangor had to change tack and go forward in search of an equaliser. This
left room for Banbridge to exploit on the break and they did so to good
affect, adding two more in the closing minutes.
The first was a canny deflection from veteran David McAnulty and the
second a tap-in for the youngest McCandless brother, Bruce, after good
work by McCabe, who had returned to the pitch following his yellow card.
The game was certainly a lot tighter than the final scoreline suggested
but it was another valuable example to Bangor that their effort and focus
must not dip, even when they seem in the box seat in games. Despite being
down to 10 men Banbridge kept fighting and scrapping for anything they
could get from the game and it is a lesson Bangor would do well to
remember.
This week the Seasiders host Instonians, who have just beaten reigning
champions Annadale, and they will have to raise their game to prevent it
being four premier league defeats in a row. |