LURGAN CELTIC 1-2 BANGOR

Bangor had to dig deep to come from behind to beat a determined and well organised Lurgan Celtic side in this enthralling 1st Division match in Lurgan. Having fallen behind to Ronan O'Hara's first half opener, Bangor changed personal and tactics in the second period and were rewarded with goals from Paul Harbinson and Ryan Brown 2. The home side had a glorious chance to retake the lead after Bangor's first goal, but Magennis' penalty was brilliantly saved by Ryan Brown 1.

Bangor found themselves on the back foot immediately with Dwyer Hill combining well with McCourt, but the midfielder saw his 10 yard effort parried to safety by Ryan Brown 1.

The visitors' best chance of a fairly lacklustre first half arrived in the 13th minute when Andy Morrow controlled Paul McDowell's lofted forward pass before acrobatically shooting from 14 yards, forcing Fox into a save low to his left.

Lurgan Celtic found themselves a goal to the good after 26 minutes thanks to Ronan O'Hara. The forward gathered the ball on the Bangor byeline before cutting back past the tackles of Collier and Munn and firing the ball into the bottom left corner past the exposed Brown 1.

The game began to descend into a scrappy affair, with Bangor struggling to find any sort of rythm or cutting edge to trouble Fox in the home goal. In fact it was an own goal which almost drew the scores level on the stroke of half time, but Beggs' corner was delfected just wide of the Celtic goal by a scrambling defender.

Half-time: 1 - 0

Bangor emerged for the second half with Ryan Brown 2 replacing James Bell and the team reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation. The change paid off instantly when Paul Harbinson powered home a header from 8 yards after Brown's corner had been helped on by McDowell at the front post.

The visitors were beginning to stamp their authority on the game, but still had to be alert in defence with Paul Harbinson denying Dwyer Hill 10 yards from goal with a superbly timed last ditch tackle.

Fox was called into action on the hour mark when Glenn Hand's crossfield pass allowed Ryan Brown 2 to shoot from 18 yards, forcing the 'keeper into a save low to his right.

The game was then held up for 5 minutes when Lurgan Celtic defender Murphy had to be stretchered off with what looked like a nasty leg injury.

It was the same combination of Hand and Brown 2 which caused the home side problems in the 68th minute, but the Bangor substitute couldn't get a clean enough connection from 6 yards to capitalise on Hand's inviting cross.

Lurgan Celtic introduced former Bangor favourite Kenny Camlin into the game in the 79th minute and it was Camlin who won his new side a penalty 30 seconds after coming on. The bustling forward drew a challenge from Ryan Brown 1 as both raced to get to Hill's clever pass, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Magennis stepped up but saw his shot superbly pushed away by a full-stretch Brown flying to his left.

This gave Bangor the perfect incentive to chase the winning goal which arrived 5 minutes from time. Colin Beggs' throw from the left was flicked on by David Irvine before Ryan Brown 2 reacted quickest to sweep home the ball from 6 yards in a crowded goalmouth.

Full-time: 1 - 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Collier, Beggs, Munn, Bailie, Harbinson, Hand, Irvine, Morrow, McDowell (Forsythe), Bell (Brown 2). Subs not used: Emerson, Key.

Scorers: Harbinson ('47), Brown 2 ('85)
Booked: Munn, Collier, Morrow

Lurgan Celtic: Fox, Murphy (Cassidy), McClurg, McAnnallen, Burns, Lawless, McCourt, Magennis, O'Hara (Camlin), Hill, Downey. Subs not used: McGribbon, Creaney

Scorer: O'Hara ('26)
Booked: McCLurg, Lawless, Camlin

SITE FEATURES:


Trophy Tour 1993


Zeke Rowe Goal


Do you remember