Bangor Mens Hockey Club thirds welcomed Portadown Hockey Club’s second string to Bangor Sportsplex last Saturday afternoon for the hosts first home fixture in this season’s Corporate Coaching Junior League Three campaign.

Following two heavy defeats on the road thus far, thirds skipper Gareth Stubbings emphasised to his team beforehand how crucial this fixture was.  His team duly responded with a crushing 8-1 victory against a hapless Portadown side.

From the outset, it was the home side that controlled proceedings.  However, it took 20 minutes for the deadlock to be broken against a resolute Portadown defence.  Good work on the right from Keith Mulholland and Robin Coughlin breached the defence and resulted in Kyle Dunn opening the scoring from close in.  It was not long after when a similar move again culminated in a stylish finish from Kyle Dunn to double the lead.  The thirds continued in the ascendancy as the half wore on, and debutant Dan McNulty got reward for his industry when he made it 3-0 following another free flowing move.  Complacency set in a little though in the thirds defence, and before the interval the visitors grabbed a lifeline when they won a penalty corner and the resultant shot evaded Ryan Cherry in the Bangor goal.

Portadown came out in the second period buoyed by their goal before the break, but any expectancy of a comeback was soon quashed in the opening 10 minutes.  That’s all the time it took for Keith Mulholland and Gareth Stranaghan to show all their experience in combining to score not one or two, but three goals.  It was no surprise that it was the latter who claimed all 3 goals and a quickfire hat trick, and not for the first time in his hockey career, Stranaghan’s glory was indebted to the spadework and tenacity of his long standing team mate Mulholland.  The thirds continued to dominate and create chance after chance.  Robin Coughlin added a seventh with a stunning strike from the top of the circle, whilst Kyle Dunn made it 8 and a deserved individual hat trick when he scored from close in.

Three important league points for the thirds after a disjointed start to the season.  A difficult trip away to a strong Raphoe thirds lies ahead this weekend.

The player of the match vote went to Kyle Dunn.  Many thanks to Phillip Thomas and Timmy Campbell for umpiring duties.

 

 

Written by Gareth Stranaghan