Bangor v Tobermore United

An 89th minute goal from Andy Morrow salvaged a point for a Bangor side still searching for their first home league win of the season. After a dour first half which saw Bangor lose Paul McDowell to a serious looking injury, David Irvine gave the home side the lead from the penalty spot. Tobermore seemed to be heading for the win when Jonathan Young and then Paul McIvor made the most of poor defending, but Andy Morrow headed a late equaliser to spare Bangor's blushes.

Bangor began well with Paul Harbinson watching as his goalbound header was deflected just over the crossbar after a dangerous inswinging corner from Andy Forsythe after 4 minutes.

The home side were forced into an early change when McDowell was stretchered off with a leg injury following a nasty collision with the wall surrounding the picth, and it was substitute Ryan Brown 2 who helped create Bangor's next chance in the 16th minute. The forward combined on the right wing with John Bailie before the ball was played into the penalty area towards Morrow. The Bangor captain turned his marker and fired in a low cross which no Bangor player could get the decisive touch to.

Tobermore threatened the Bangor goal in the 24th minute when McIvor created a glorious opening for Crockett, but the midfielder could only pull his 14 yard effort wide of the target.

Bangor found themselves camped deep in the Tobermore half but struggled to create any clear cut chances with the visiting defence holding firm.

Having weathered the storm, Tobermore came closest to opening the scoring in a flurry of chances moments before half time. Niall Cooke found himself in acres of space in the Bangor defence and capitalised by prodding the ball past the exposed Ryan Brown 1, but thankfully for Bangor, Stephen Collier was on hand to clear the ball off the goal line. The ball eventually found itself back in the Bangor penalty area where Cooke was again left unmarked as he crashed a shot against the post before Crockett's rebound effort was well blocked by Ryan Brown 1.

Willard Moore in the Tobermore goal was finally called into action on the stroke of half time when he had to stand tall to block Andy Morrow's close range effort after the forward benefited from good play by Forsythe.

Half-time: 0 - 0

Like in the first half, Bangor began brightly and could have snatched the lead in the 49th minute. A suspiciously off-side looking Ryan Brown 2 collected David Irvine's through ball, but the forward's low shot was well blocked by the on-rushing Moore.

A minute later, Bangor were awarded a hotly disputed penalty when McQuillan was adjudged to have handled the ball in a crowded goalmouth. David Irvine calmly dispatched the penalty into the bottom left corner to give his side the lead.

The lead only lasted 3 minutes as Tobermore levelled the scores through Jonathan Young. Naill cooke outpaced Paul Harbinson on the right flank before pulling the ball back for Ian Crockett. The midfielder seemed to miss-hit his 16 yard shot, but the ball fell kindly for an offside looking Young who diverted the ball into the net from 6 yards.

Tobermore found themselves in the lead in the 63rd minute when Paul McIvor capitalised on some poor defending to fire the ball home after Bangor failed to properly clear a Paul Owens freekick.

Bangor responded by replacing Munn and Forsythe with Emerson and Beggs, as the Seasiders changed to a more attacking formation to try and salvage something from the game.

The gamble of pushing forward left gaps in the Bangor defence and Tobermore almost made the home side pay in the 75th minute. Stewart McCallum headed the ball across goal for Niall Cooke, but his 6-yard header was superbly saved by Ryan Brown 1 to keep Bangor in the game.

With time running out, Glenn Hand did well on the right to stay on his feet after a wild lunge from McQuillan. The pacey winger sent over an inch perfect cross for Andy Morrow to power a header into the top right corner from 10 yards.

Bangor were not finished there and spent the 3 minutes of injury time forcing a series of corners and free kicks around the visiting penalty area. One of Beggs' inswinging corners was met by Paul Harbinson, but his headed effort flew just wide of the left hand post.

Full-time: 2 - 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Collier, Bailie, Munn (Emerson), Bell, Harbinson, Hand, Irvine, Morrow, McDowell (Brown 2), Forsythe (Beggs). Subs not used: Rosson, Rezai
Scorers: Irvine (pen. '50), Morrow ('89)

Tobermore Utd: Moore, Walsh, McQuillan, Boyle, McCallum, Pattison, Owens, McIvor, Cooke (McDaid), Crockett (McDonald), Young. Sub not used: Lamont.
Scorers: Young ('53), McIvor ('63)
Booked: McQuillan

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