|
For the third time since the start of the season, Bangor visited Cookstown
and came away with nothing in a tight game.
This encounter was in the Podium Anderson Cup and despite the strength of
the performance Bangor have started their campaign with a loss.
Whereas the last two defeats to Cookstown have been tight, low scoring
affairs, this was an end-to-end cracker with eight goals. Unfortunately
five of them went to Cookstown.
The most disappointing aspect from a Bangor perspective was that they lost
a 3-1 lead. But they were not helped by some dubious umpiring and an
eternal second half which over-ran by at least five minutes.
At one stage late in the game both sides were reduced to nine men, some
fairly dismissed, others less so, and Cookstown's pace made the wide open
spaces tell to score two late goals and win the game.
But in the first half it had looked a great deal better for Bangor after
they recovered from a poor start. Cookstown took the lead from their first
penalty corner when Gareth Cuddy fired home from the top of the circle.
The lead didn't last long as Bangor scored three unanswered goals in 15
minutes. First, Dave McClune finished from a tight angle after a pacy run
and well judged pass from Jamie McAuley. Then, Gareth Morton got the final
touch after Chris Campbell had set Michael Harte and his initial shot
looked to be heading well wide.
If that goal looked a little lucky, Morton certainly showed his finishing
prowess was anything but fortunate when he turned in another ball shelled
into the circle by Mark Lappin.
Three-one up against Cookstown away from home and everything seemed rosy
for the Seasiders. But they couldn't even get to half-time with their lead
intact. Cuddy added another from a penalty corner to reduce the difference
to just one goal at the break.
The second half was always going to be about a rearguard action and Bangor
weren't helped as the game descended into farce. Ten minutes in Cookstown
grabbed their equaliser with a swift counter attack and then with both
teams chasing the win the frustrating decision making of the officials
meant the game suffered. While some dissent and heavy challenges went
unpunished, other people were sin-binned. For the record, Ames and Cuddy
were sent off as Cookstown were reduced to nine and then to even things up
Campbell and Blease were given an enforced rest by the men in charge.
Bangor did have a few half chances to steal the lead again but couldn't
quite convert them. They were made to pay for this when Ames returned to
score from a penalty corner rebound and Keith Black then added a late,
late fifth. So late, in fact, that both teams appeared to be in shock at
still playing at least five minutes after the final whistle should have
sounded.
Bangor have no game this week - a chance to get that last minute Christmas
shopping done - and are next in action the following week against Mossley
in the Anderson Cup. They need to win their home games to progress in the
competition and this is a real opportunity to get some points on the
board. |