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FOURTHS STRUGGLES CONTINUE
Bangor fourths travelled to Kilkeel on Saturday past hoping to earn their
first
points of the league season. The lineup was relatively strong and optimism
was high
as the visitors took to pitch under bright sunshine.
The opening period of the game was quite scrappy as both teams struggled
to find any
sort of rhythm to their play. Even still, Patterson in the Bangor goal had
to be
alert on several occasions as the home side threatened. Martin too, at
centre back,
was having a fine game, shackling the dangerous Kilkeel centre forward.
However, as
is so often the case, a set piece was to break the dead lock.
Unfortunately for
Bangor, it was the home side who took the lead following a well worked
short corner
routine.
As Bangor regrouped, a tactical change in the Bangor line up helped the
visitors to
get back into the game. For the remainder of the half Bangor were in the
ascendancy
and battled hard to make it count. A well deserved equaliser came when
Bangor
themselves were awarded a short corner. A switch from Stranaghan to Scott,
set up
Cook, who fired home, aided by a deflection by the predatory Harper.
Following the
goal, the game reverted to it's initial pattern for the remainder of the
half, both
teams happy to reach the interval on level terms.
The half time team talk for Bangor, like its pre-match predecessor, was
full of
belief that the team could, and really should, take something from the
game. The
beginning of the second half certainly reinforced that theory. As Bangor
upped the
tempo, the home defence came under increasing pressure. The speed of the
Bangor
forward line, in the shape of Savage, Espie and Harper, worried the
Kilkeel backline
all day, but the ball just wouldn't drop for the Bangor attackers to turn
threat into
reality. The Bangor midfield came more into the game as the match
progressed. Irvine
and Scott ran tirelessly as usual, and Reid, who was excelling in a right
midfield
berth, was beating players at will. It was from a clever run by Reid, fed
by the ever
reliable outlet of Parker on the right, that the visitors were to force
another short
corner. This time, no switch was needed. Cook's solid strike was stopped
and struck
by Stranaghan at the stop of the circle. The familiar thud of backboard
and Bangor
were in the lead!
The ecstasy was short lived for Bangor however as Kilkeel were to equalise
within 2
minutes of the restart. As the entire Bangor team stopped waiting for the
umpire's
whistle for a high ball, the Kilkeel left winger stole in and bundled the
ball over
the line. The goal stood and disbelief enveloped the Bangor players. It
was to get
worse. A few minutes later, with Bangor still reeling, Kilkeel were to
score a third.
No time remained for Bangor to get back on level terms and the game was
lost.
It was very tough luck on the Bangor team who definitely deserved
something out of
the game. Hopefully if the team can stay settled over the next few weeks,
they can
pick up some quick points. If not, then they will face a repeat of the
relegation battle
of the previous year.
Thanks to David Shields for umpiring. |