|
Bangor got their Premier League season off to a solid start with a hard
fought 2-0 win over newly promoted Mossley at the Glade.
It is the first year in the top flight that Bangor have begun the league
season with a win and it means they have three points on the board ahead
of this weekend's difficult game against league title holders Annadale.
It also shows the young Mossley side how tough life can be in the top
flight. Ultimately it was Bangor's greater experience and big match
nerve that told and with a goal in each half they sealed the victory.
There was also a sense of revenge for Bangor, who were knocked out of
the Irish Senior Cup at the Glade last season. As a result of that
Mossley would definitely have looked upon the game as a winnable one for
the promoted side but it wasn't to be their day.
Bangor controlled the ball in the opening stages to quieten the normally
vocal Mossley crowd. A few half chances came and went but it wasn't
until midway through the first period that Bangor opened the scoring.
The goal came from an unlikely source when Dowie Holley capitalised on a
defensive lapse, rounded the last man as if he was clued to the spot and
fired the ball past the goalkeeper and in off the post.
It was the least Bangor deserved for dominating the possession and
territory but that's not to say Mossley didn't threaten the Bangor
defence on occasion. Under the guidance of Adam Reading the defence is
beginning to take shape and they, along with goalkeeper and captain John
Tormey, will be delighted to start the league campaign with a clean
sheet. Both full backs, Stephen McClean and Simon Scales, were superb.
In the second half the game opened up a little more and Tormey had to be
alert on a number of occasions, both from open play and penalty corners,
to keep that clean sheet.
At the other end Bangor were still causing problems for Mossley, most
notably through Chris Campbell on the right flank. His tireless running
won several penalty corners and it was no surprise when Bangor's second
goal came after one of his determined runs. He crossed from the byline
and, after taking a touch to steady himself, Jeremy MacAfee marked his
return to first eleven action with a rasping shot into the bottom
corner.
This goal all but sealed victory for Bangor and although Mossley pushed
forward in the closing stages the Seasiders seemed likely to cope with
anything the home side could throw at them.
It might not prove that easy against five times league Champions
Annadale at Ballykillare this Saturday. |