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On a warmer than average November afternoon, Bangor II’s
were seeking to make it
three wins in a row against their North Down counterparts. However, to
Bangor’s
great disappointment, only a point was earned in a quite incredulous 3-3
draw.
Bangor started briskly and piled the pressure on the visitors. However,
the home side
were forced to handle an early setback as skipper Clarke was forced off
with a
hamstring injury, while in the process of winning a short corner. It was
almost a
sweet departure for Clarke though, as Kerrigan very nearly scored from the
corner won
by Clarke, being denied only by an acrobatic save from the North Down
'keeper.
Simon McCafferty came on to replace the injured Clarke and Bangor
continued to enjoy
a good spell of pressure. As a result, the home side were to earn another
corner
where Another strike from Kerrigan was saved by the North Down keeper and
Irwin was
unable to complete the follow up.
At this stage North Down were well and truly on the back foot. A third
penalty corner
followed, switched left to Stranaghan who slapped the ball home and gave
Bangor a
well deserved lead.
On 25 minutes a surge involving Irwin, McDowell and McCafferty resulted in
a further
corner being won. Kerrigan had three bites of the cherry before the net
bulged. 2-
Nil to Bangor, Kerrigan scoring for the third week in succession.
Bangor were in complete control of the game, but as is so common in such
situations,
they fell victim to a swift counter attack. The visitors pulled a goal
back and the
game was heating up.
On the stroke of half time a most bizare event occurred. An aimless North
Down cross
was deflected towards the Bangor goal. Thompson, in the Bangor goal, let
the ball run
as the contact was seemingly made well outside the circle. To the Bangor
players
disbelief, the visiting umpire awarded the goal, and the sides were level.
The home
team continued their protests at the award of a goal, and as a result,
went down to
ten men for the next fiften minutes, with McCausland being shown the
yellow card.
Half time came and Bangor had a chance to regroup. Despite all of the
excitement,
Bangor maintained their focus and put together a fine display of flowing
hockey. A
quarter of an hour into the second half Bangor won a corner following a
move
involving Kerrigan, Stranaghan, Brennan and McIlhagga. Once again the
irrepresible
Stranaghan popped up, belting the ball home from one yard out to make it 3
– 2 to
Bangor.
Unfortunately, Bangor were unable to see out the game, and in the dying
minutes the
visitors grabbed an equaliser. The goal itself came from a penalty corner,
Stephen
Magee dispatching a text book drag flick low into the corner. Final score
of an
eventful game was Bangor 3 – North Down 3.
Many thanks to David Shields for Umpiring.
Man of the Match – Richard Kerrigan
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