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Junior League 3 : Bangor 4 v 0 NICS THREE WINS ON TROT FOR THIRDS! |
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The 3rd XI went into Saturday's match with Civil Service buoyed by back to back victories. Captain Gareth Stubbings was forced to make a number of changes from the team that brought maximum points home from Raphoe last week. The changes
saw lifelong friends McMillan and McVicar re-united at the heart of
the defence after a number of years apart, as well as Keith Mulholland,
the once prolific forward, returning to the team in search of his
first goal of the season.
The home team team began the match well with the industrious midfield
of Parker, Walker and new boy Skelly dictating things in the middle of
the pitch. The passing throughout the team was slick, but all too
often the final pass was not up to the required standard.
This changed mid-way through the first half. Good pressure on the
opposing centre back by Mulholland, gave Bangor possession in the
opposition 25. Mulholland picked out Walker with a clever pass just
inside the circle, who in turn found Kyle Dunn unmarked at the far
post. The rest was made to look easy as the left winger finished with
aplomb. 1-0 Bangor.
Within ten minutes, Dunn doubled Bangor's advantage. Once again good
work by Mulholland created space on the right and his pass found the
stick of Dunn at the far post. In almost a carbon copy of his first
goal, the keeper was given no chance from close range. 2-0.
Into the second half and with a two goal cushion Bangor could afford to take the foot off the pedal and conserve some energy.
The defence stood firm and despite the majority of possession, few
chances were created by the home team. That changed following good
work by Dan McNulty and Kyle Dunn on the left, the latter winning a
short corner after finding an opponents foot in the circle. With
McMillan restored to "Number One", what came next was of no surprise
to his team mates. He scored at the second attempt. 3-0.
As the game drew to a close there was still time for a fairytale moment. The impressive Ray Parker went on a meandering run from just inside the oppostion half. As he approached the circle, he slipped the ball cleverly to Phillip Skelly. On his first appearance in the famous blue and gold shirt after 17 years in the hockey wilderness, Skelly smashed the ball low, past a flat footed keepr, into the corner of the goal.
That goal made the score 4-0, a fair reflection of the superiority
that the home team demonstrated throughout.
Man of the match was Philip Skelly.
Many thanks to Timmy Campbell for umpiring
Written by Andrew Walker
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