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Bangor 6th travelled to Shaws bridge on Friday past to face Instonians
5ths in freezing conditions. This week the 6ths had a decidedly more
experienced line up, welcoming back Rory McMillan to defence and Mark
Dornan into midfield. Following a string of disappointing results in
recent weeks, a change of tactics was employed in an effort to gain
some much needed points.
The early period of the match was a close contest, with both teams
sounding each other out and play largely restricted to the midfield
area. However with the change in tactics Bangor had found some
confidence. The reorganised midfield consisting of Calvert, P Dornan,
and Taylor were competing well and putting the Instonians defence
under pressure with probing breaks. On 8 minutes Bangor went ahead
following a defensive intervention by M Dornan in middle of the pitch,
passing to Calvert on the left who managed to beat several of the
onrushing Inst defenders to venture into the circle. He layed the ball
off to J Currie who skilfully placed the ball under a sprawling
'keeper into the back of the net to round off an excellent team move.
This inspired the Bangor team, who were unaccustomed to taking the
lead so early in a game. Instonians tried to pressurise the Bangor
defensive line of Morris, McKee, McMillan, and a deputising McNulty.
However, through a combination of hard work and incisive tackling
Bangor were able to keep the opposition at bay. As the half progressed
the play switched from end to end – Bangor seeking to extend their
lead, Inst trying to get back on level terms. With play becoming
increasingly stretched, Instonians capitalised on a missed tackle on
the left. The ball was played into the penalty area and despite some
desperate defensive work Bangor were unable to clear. An Inst attacker
cut the ball back from the by-line to his colleague who was able to
draw the scores level on 22 minutes. Despite this goal, Bangor
continued on with successive attacking runs – the forward line of
Campbell, Mount and Currie combining well to work the opposition
defence. But five minutes later Bangor conceded again in a similar
manner to the first. Bangor were pressing forward and a mistake
enabled Instonians to break with superior numbers and score a
straightforward 4 on 2 move to give a 2-1 advantage to the home team
at half time.
Bangor began the second half in a determined manner and again the game
moved from end to end. P Dornan was linking midfield and forward play
well, and Instonians were taking more notice of this threat.
Successive moves enabled Bangor to encroach into the Instonians half.
A move down the right involving Morris and Taylor found P Dornan, who
in turn passed to Campbell on the edge of the circle. Campbell did
well to retain the ball, winning a penalty corner following a
defensive infringement. Bangor scored from a well worked move on 46
minutes, switching to M Dornan whose shot found the bottom right hand
corner. Following the restart Bangor were subject to another period of
sustained Inst pressure and repeated attacking breaks, but the defence
and midfield were combining well to quell these moves. Bangor moved
forward with another attacking move which Instonians again managed to
foil. The home side broke quickly with superior numbers and despite
the best efforts of the defence, Instonians again went ahead on 53
minutes. Bangor didn't let the feads drop however and fought back,
almost immediately, to equalise. Calvert and Mount combined well on
the left forcing another penalty corner. Peter Dornan switched the
ball back to Brian McKee who smashed the shot into the bottom left
corner of the goal. Having got back on even terms Bangor were in the
ascendancy. The team worked hard to stifle further Instonains breaks
and repeated attacking moves went unrewarded. But the home team were
to have the last word. In the last 10 minutes Bangor threw men forward
in search of a winning goal which left them succeptible to the counter
attack. Bangor were caught on the break on 63 minutes and 67 minutes
putting the result beyond doubt.
Despite a fantastic team effort Bangor were made to pay for their
mistakes and will be extremely disappointed not to have got something
from this game, as they could have argued they were the better team.
Still a good performance though and one the team should try and build
on in the coming weeks.
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