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With a defeat in the cup last week, Bangor 4s travelled in a determined
mood to Brook
Activity Centre to play, bottom of the league, Harlequins. Two points from
this
encounter were essential if the Bangor side intended to push up the league
table.
Bangor got off to a slow start in the game, as Harlequins exerted pressure
down both
flanks. Bangor struggled to gain any kind of foothold in the game as their
passing
game was unusually wayward. The Bangor defence of Mottashaw, Stranaghan,
Patterson,
Kirkpatrick and Thompson were kept busy as Harlequins attacked
relentlessly. The home
side's early dominance paid dividends twenty minutes into the game when
their centre
forward profitted from some poor Bangor marking to slot past Thompson and
give 'Quins
the lead.
The goal seemed to give Bangor the kickstart they needed and they began to
fight their
way back into the game. A Stranaghan short corner strike sailed high into
the net,
deflected by a Quin's stick, but this only, somewhat bizarrely, resulted
in a long
corner. The Bangor midfield of Todd, Scott, Irvine and Walker started to
come more
into the game and a neat move found Reid in the circle, who flashed a shot
straight
against the post. Despite the improvement in Bangor's play, Quin's still
remained an
attacking threat and kept Bangor 'keeper, Thompson, on his toes for the
rest of the
half. Seconds before half time, Bangor earned a short corner thanks to
some good work
from Snodden in the circle. Walker pushed out to Todd, who stopped for
Stranaghan to
rifle in to the bottom right corner. No doubt about this one! The half
time whistle
went seconds afterwards.
After a constructive debate in the Bangor goal at half time, led by Bangor
captain
David Shields, the away side started the second half determined to up
their efforts.
Douglas and Coughlin came off the bench to shore up the defence, Coughlin
in
particular being handed the difficult task of marking the Harlequins
danger man on the
right side of midfield.
With more flow to their game, Bangor were creating more and more chances.
Todd,
Snodden and Walker in the midfield were becoming increasingly influential,
setting up
attacks down both channels through Reid and Irvine. Reid was particularly
effective
down the right side and it was he who blasted past Russell in the Quin's
goal to give
Bangor the lead.
As the second half progressed, Bangor went from strength to strength
creating chances
almost at will. Reid, Irvine and Scott all missed chances to increase
Bangor's lead
and with only 1 goal in it, the game was never secure. It was Stranaghan
who provided
the third Bangor goal thanks to another crisp short corner strike.
Quins attempted to fight back but were unable to convert as the Bangor
defence stood
strong. Thompson showed his worth on several occasions, but most notably
when
stopping a point blank shot from Quin's forward Hamill. Patterson and
Douglas were
both having fine games as Harlequins struggled to create anything in wide
positions.
Bangor rounded things off with another goal from midfield dynamo Irvine,
taking his
tally for the season to a very healthy, nine goals. The goal came from a
great pass
from Todd to Reid who surged down the right side, drawing the defender,
before
squaring the ball to Irvine who slapped the ball under the onrushing
Quin's 'keeper.
Final score was 4-1 to Bangor after a very effective second half display.
Man of the
match was Warren Reid (despite the open net miss!).
Many thanks to Andrew McIlhagga for travelling with the team to umpire. |