Bangor Mens Hockey Club second string entertained Cookstown seconds at a bitterly cold Bangor Sportsplex last Saturday afternoon, emerging 4-2 winners in their last competitive fixture of 2009 in Corporate Coaching Junior League One. 
 

Despite the scoreline, strangely enough the game was generally a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to find any real fluidity to their play.  The arctic weather conditions probably did not help the players, but at least those brave souls who spectated were treated to some well worked goals from both sides. 
 

The seconds struggled at first, and with Phil McCausland being forced off due to injury with barely 10 minutes on the clock, David Shields instantly had to reshape his defence.  On came Dave McClune, who gave an assured performance in the sweeper role for the remainder of the game.  As the first half wore on the Bangor side slowly began to impose themselves, and indeed took the lead after good work on the right from Andrew McIlhagga.  He got past his marker and when he pulled back to John Poole around the penalty spot, the experienced front man slotted home.  Poole was again in action minutes later when he smashed a trademark strike against the woodwork, after the Cookstown defence had been breached.  The visitors did threaten towards the interval, but youngster Ryan Cherry in the Bangor goal was alert and showed sound decision making in his kicking skills at the back. 
 

The opening 15 minutes of the second half was end to end as both sides looked to build attacks with some fine pass and move hockey.  Time and again the final pass was missing, but 8 minutes in the home side doubled their lead thanks to a perfect final pass from stand in skipper Jeremy Macafee.  Good work through the midfield between Andrew McCausland and Michael Manogue, saw Jeremy Macafee released at the top of the Cookstwon circle.  When Macafee drew the defender, he spotted Gareth Stranaghan lurking yards from goal, and when the pass was inch perfect, Stranaghan made no mistake, the ball in the back of the net before the Cookstown custodian was able to react.  Within minutes however, the visitors had pulled one back as they continued to threaten with their attacking forays.  The seconds then regained their 2 goal cushion when Jonny Boyd, industrious as ever, fired a ball towards John Poole and his slight deflection flew past the Cookstown goalie.  Soon after it was 4-1 when a Dave McClune pass into the circle fortuitiously came off the stick of Stranaghan who had pulled away from his marker, the ball again deflecting to leave the goalie no chance.  With Cookstown then reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the game, due to dissent following the award of this fourth goal, the points looked assured.  However, the visitors did score again near the end, and Michael Manogue also made a tremendous goal line save for his team to deny them another. 
 

All in all, it was a hard working performance from the seconds and a much needed 3 points in the league.  The team can now look forward to a break from competitive hockey over the festive period, but no doubt team manager David Shields will want to put some work in on the training ground in preparation for the next match on 9 January, an Irish Junior Cup fixture in Cork against Bandon seconds.  Hopefully Allen Irwin and Phil McCausland will have recovered from their respective injuries and will be able to take their places in the squad down south. 
 

Player of the match for Bangor was Jeremy Macafee, and many thanks to Phillip Thomas and Graeme Laird for umpiring.

 

Written by Gareth Stranaghan