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On Saturday past, Bangor fourths travelled to the new pitches at
Lisnagarvey to take on a team sitting in the upper echelons of Junior
League Three. Conditions were perfect for hockey, and for the first team
this season, the fourths travelled with just 11 men. There was a
collective sigh of relief when young Mottashaw arrived, taking time out
from his Christmas shopping.
At 2.30pm, the match pushed off and the countdown on the scoreboard began.
Bangor began edgy at first, struggling to come to terms with the bouncy
water-based pitch. The home side began pressing forward but could not get
the final pass right. After ten minutes, the Bangor defence consisting off
Mottashaw, Kirkpatrick, Stranaghan and Patterson began to gain control of
the ball, and limited ‘Garvey to only a couple of hopeful passes. Numerous
interceptions and vital last ditch tackles were made on the edge of the
circle by both Kirkpatrick and Stranaghan. The midfield of Todd, Scott,
Cook and Irvine gained the ascendancy and created numerous chances for
forwards, Eccles and Parker.
About twenty minutes in, after a prolonged period of pressure, Bangor won
a free outside the area which was taken by Mottashaw. He hit hard at the
goals and Eccles gleefully deflected it into the roof of the net. 1-0
Bangor.
Bangor maintained their pressure and had numerous chances, rounding the
keeper on one occasion but unfortunately, the finish left much to be
desired. The half ended with the ball stuck in a tense midfield battle.
The second half began much the same as the first. It was a tight, closely
fought affair with pressure starting to show. After a few fouls, tempers
rose and ‘Garvey became increasingly frustrated. They created more chances
but their forwards couldn’t apply a finish to beat keeper Thompson, from
little more than 3yards. Then, after a mix up in the Bangor defence, and
an own goal narrowly averted, the ball was passed to a ‘Garvey player on
the byline who pulled it back to the top of the circle and their forward
slotted into an empty goal. A bitter blow for Bangor.
The match became scrappy and again tempers flared. Yellow cards were shown
to a Garvey player and to Bangor player, Scott, after a tussle in
midfield. Down to 10 men, neither team seemed to create many more clear
cut chances, and a draw seemed the most likely result.
With a couple of minutes to go, good work in the opposition circle by
Parker won Bangor a short corner. After quite a short debate amongst the
Bangor short corner team, Stranaghan despatched a trademark exocet towards
the goal. The Garvey keeper could do little else but deflect it into the
roof of his net. 2-1 Bangor.
Bangor held on to win 2-1 in a match between two very closely matched
teams. The entire Bangor team performed well and should collectively
receive the plaudits, but Dale Kirkpatrick, who put in an assured
defensive display, was voted man of the match. |