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Junior League 1 : Cookstown 1 v 3 Bangor GREAT WIN ON THE ROAD FOR BANGOR |
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The early part of the game was a scrappy
affair, with neither side being able to secure dominance. The Bangor
keeper, Robin Thompson and his back four of Irwin, Kerrigan, McCausland
and Cheeseball McClelland were composed in picking off the sporadic
Cookstown attacks. The midfield trio of Brennan, McDowell and Ormsby
showed a desire for the ball, McDowell in particular having another good
game in the centre of midfield.
Twenty minutes into the first half,
Bangor captain Clarke scored to put the visitors one nil up. Bangor
continued to hold the upper hand right up until half time, creating
several other chances to extend their lead. As the half time whistle blew,
Bangor remained a goal to the good and took a well deserved breather. The
talk among the Bangor team during the interval was about maintaining their
focus and concentrating on keeping their lead. As the second
half started, Bangor rotated their forward line, the timeless Stranaghan
and his young understudy McIlhagga taking a well earned rest. For
the early part of the half, the game reverted to its original scrappy
nature as both sides struggled to exert any periods of sustained pressure.
The threat from the home time was confined largely to short corners, none
of which bore fruit. With ten minutes to
go, Bangor secured a penalty corner of their own. Kerrigan’s drag
flick was forced out for a long corner from which Campbell skilfully
worked the ball back into the circle. His pinpoint pass found the
advancing Kerrigan on the left hand side, and he duly slotted home his
second goal in successive weeks. The second goal certainly rattled
Cookstown, forcing them into attack. Within 2 minutes of Bangor
scoring, Cookstown pulled a goal back. Tension grew in the Bangor
team, as Cookstown, cheered on by some vocal home support, piled on the
pressure, searching for the equaliser. Thankfully for Bangor,
the equaliser was not to come. Better still, Bangor were able to
take advantage of the now fully attack minded Cookstown team, by scoring
on the counter attack to make the game safe. With five minutes left,
Coughlin broke into the circle from left wing with determination to flash
the ball across goal. Stranaghan got a touch on the ball as it fell to
Clarke 5 yards out who casually slotted the ball through the keepers legs
to give Bangor a 2 goal advantage. The final whistle was
to blow not long afterwards, allowing the Bangor players to celebrate what
was a great result against a team who had averaged six goals per game this
season. Bangor will hope continue their good run of form into the
next couple of games to move up the junior legue one table. Thanks to Michael Claney for umpiring and congratulations to Phil McCausland who received the coveted man of the match trophy. |