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The 6th XI hoped to kick-start this years league campaign into gear
with a home tie against Mossley 5ths on the gravel at Ballymacormick
Playing Fields on Saturday past. However the team's enthusiasm was
quickly damped by a strong visiting team and horrendous playing
conditions.
The match started as a tentative affair, with both teams trying to
come to terms with the playing surface as quickly as possible. The
early part of the game saw play largely restricted to the midfield
with occasional attacking bursts at both ends. Mossley reaped the
rewards of a breakdown in play in midfield after 12 minutes following
a move down the right. A fortuitous pass somehow managed to evade
Bangor defence to enable a Mossley player to nip in and score at the
back post. Yet again Bangor had conceded an early goal. Following the
goal Bangor rallied, and the defensive line up of Morris, McKee,
Dorman, and Walker were put under heavy pressure but through good work
were able to keep Mossley at bay. As the first half progressed the
playing conditions deteriorated dramatically, making it difficult for
both teams to exert any influence on the game. Bangor's midfield trio
of Calvert, Dornan, and McNulty worked hard to interrupt repeated
Mossley attacks and push Bangor forward. Indeed Bangor started getting
some success with attacking moves down both flanks. Several moves down
the right involving Morris, Calvert, and Taylor enabled Bangor to
exert some pressure on the opposition and were unlucky not to be
rewarded due to timely interventions by the Mossley defence. Towards
the end of the half however, Mossley seemed to be coping better with
the conditions breaking up all Bangor's attacking moves. Mossley
caught Bangor on the break, and despite the best efforts of the
defence Bangor were unable to clear the ball and Mossley were awarded
a penalty corner. Despite the best efforts of 'keeper Patterson,
Mossley capitalised scoring a scrappy goal shortly before half-time.
Following the break Bangor were in familiar territory, again having to
push forward in search of goals. However the second half started in
similar fashion to first, with both teams struggling to cope with the
ever deteriorating playing conditions. Bangor's forward line
consisting of Campbell, McCalister and Currie worked hard to try and
find gaps in the Mossley defence, however Mossley were equal to the
task. As the end of the game drew near, Bangor pushed forward in
search of goals with McKee and Dornan combining well in midfield. This
tactical switch helped Bangor exert more influence on the game,
limiting Mossley to occasional breakaway attacks. However Bangor
efforts went unrewarded, with Mossley scoring another breakaway goal
at the end of the half to kill off any hopes of a Bangor comeback. The
Bangor team will have felt a little aggrieved not to have got some
reward for their efforts, but Mossley coped better with the difficult
conditions to win the game.
Many thanks to Ryan Agnew for umpiring. |