On Saturday Bangor 2^nd XI recorded a comfortable 4-2 win over Cookstown 3^rd XI.  Building on a thrilling cup win away to Bandon the previous weekend, Bangor 2^nd XI produced another free flowing performance to claim the 3 points. 

Despite controlling the first 15 minutes of the match Bangor found themselves 1-0 down following a defensive lapse at the first Cookstown short corner.  A reshuffle in midfield and defence allowed Bangor to regain control and press for an equaliser.  Parity was restored shortly before the half time whistle as Johnny McNaught latched on to a loose ball in the circle and reverse hit the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.  After a rousing half time talk by coach Davy Shields the Bangor side set about applying more purpose to their attacks in the second half.. 

Bangor replied almost immediately after the break, the umpire awarding a penalty stroke after Johnny Boyd’s shot was illegally blocked on the goal line by a Cookstown defender. Andrew Gowdy stepped up and confidently converted to give Bangor the lead for the first time in the match.  Bangor’s free-flowing passing game continued to improve as the home side looked to increase their advantage. 

Johnny McNaught was on hand to claim Bangor’s third goal, skilfully deflecting a pin-point cross from Ryan Elliot.  Elliot was again involved in the creation of Bangor’s fourth as he and Andrew McCausland combined well on Bangor’s right flank to set up an unmarked Jeremy Macafee who blasted home from the top of the circle..

Bangor held on to their lead comfortably for the remainder of the game, although Cookstown did pull a goal back after an opportunistic reverse hit shot found its way through a crowd of players into the net past the unsighted Bangor ‘keeper.

Jeremy Macafee and Johnny McNaught were jointly awarded Man of the Match. 

 

Written by Andrew Gowdy.