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With the league calendar almost complete for the season,
Bangor 5's
played host to Civil Service 4's on a windy afternoon at Ballykillaire
on Saturday 8th March.
Going into the game with only 1 point from 16 games this year Captain
Nick Craig decided to make a number of positional changes in an effort
to grind out a result. Neil Martin and Tom Calvert, normally found
defending the Bangor circle were pushed to midfield, with Rory Porter
being pushed from midfield to attack, Chris Agnew and Geoff Mitchell
came in at the back.
The match began with Civil Service pressing for a early goal. Forcing
the ball across the circle from the right hand side the first save of
the game was required from Nick Craig at the Bangor left hand post
from a strong shot from the Civil Service Right Wing. Service
continued to press and eventually forced a short corner after the ball
hitting some Bangor feet but it came to nothing with the shot being
screwed to the right of the Bangor post.
Service continued to press but some exceptional defending from Ryan
Agnew, released the Bangor midfield on the break. Calvert, Martin and
Dorman, pressed up the pitch and forced the ball into the Service
circle with Mount drawing the keeper and releasing the ball to Adam
Watson who slotted the ball home for the 1st goal.
Service immediately came looking for the equaliser but some strong
defending from the wing backs, Chris Agnew and debutant Mark Douglas
with Geoff Mitchell sweeping in behind keep the score at 1-0 to Bangor
at the half time interval.
The second half began much like the 1st half ended with Service
pushing for the equaliser and forced a couple of short corners, both
of which were well defended by the Bangor defensive corps. Another
defensive play from Chris Agnew released Tom Calvert on the Bangor
left. Some neat interplay with Martin and Dorman in the midfield
released Rory Porter on a mazey run through the Service defense. His
pass found Watson again on the left whose initial shot was parried by
the Service keeper but the rebound was thumped home by Nathan Mount
following up to make it a 2-0 lead for Bangor.
Service were immediately caught napping at the back. Martin
intercepted the ball in midfield and released Calvert who sped up the
pitch into the Service D where he fired a shot from the top of the
circle. Once again this was parried by the service keeper but Rory
Porter was on hand to spank home Bangor's 3rd.
At 3-0 up and 10 minutes to go complacency began to set in and Bangor
soon found themselves under relentless pressure from the Service
attack. They forced another short corner which was cleared to safety
past the right post by Geoff Mitchell and the resultant long corner
required a save from Craig at the left hand post.
In the dying stages Service had one more opportunity to grab a
consolation goal, forcing a save from Craig at the left hand post who
then made a diving save to the right hand post to deny the rebound.
3-0 it finished giving Bangor a much deserved and much needed win. The
commitment from everyone was exceptional and this sort of teamwork
will stand the 5's in good stead in their quest to return to Junior 4
next season.
Many Thanks to Andrew McIlhagga for umpiring
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