BANGOR 1 - 2 BALLYCLARE COMRADES

Bangor's unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of a determined Ballyclare side in this hard-fought cup semi-final. Ballyclare got off to the best possible start when Kyle Agnew was left with a simple tap-in after a disastorous mistake from Colin Beggs. Bangor levelled the scores late in the first half when Joe McRoberts headed into his own net, but former Bangor man Eddie Hill was to have the final say, as his second half effort flew in off the post to seal the Comrades place in their first final for 20 years.

The Comrades began brightly with Evan Forsythe forcing Ryan Brown into a fine save low to his right to beat away the defender's 20 yard effort after only 2 minutes.

Bangor's first foray up field minutes later almost resulted in a goal when Andy Forsythe's dangerous left wing cross just evaded Andy Morrow and had to be pushed around the post by Ian Mannus.

Disaster struck for the Seasiders in the 8th minute when a long punt upfield caused havoc in the Bangor defence. As Ryan Brown 1 came out to gather, Colin Beggs flicked the ball high over the on-rushing keeper, leaving Kyle Agnew with the simplest of finishes into the open goal.

Conceding so early seemed to kickstart Bangor into action as the Seasiders began to force the Comrades onto the back foot. David Irvine did well to rob possession from Gilmore, but his shot from 18 yards was smoothered by Mannus at the second attempt.

A fine display of possession football almost resulted in a goal for Glenn Hand in the 22nd minute. James Bell orchestrated the move, keeping the ball flowing across the pitch before picking out Andy Morrow in the penalty area. The Bangor captain flicked the ball to the right flank where Hand beat his marker, but he couldn't keep his shot down as it fizzed just over the crossbar from 14 yards.

The Seasiders forced a number of corners, but no one in a Bangor shirt was able to add the finishing touch to some dangerous crosses from Bell and Beggs against a resolute Ballyclare defence.

Bangor got the equaliser they deserved in the 37th minute when Joe McRoberts powered a near post header into his own goal following an inswinging James Bell corner.

Ballyclare still posed a threat in attack with Smith blazing over the crossbar from 18 yards and the lively Agnew forcing a fine save from Brown with a stinging drive.

Half-time: 1 - 1

The second half started in a similar fashion, with Ballyclare scoring after 8 minutes. Eddie Hill collected the ball in the Bangor penalty area before turning Paul Emerson and firing a cross-cum-shot which flew across goal and in off the far post.

Ryan Brown 1 was again in action moments later when he had to fall to his left to push a long range Craig McClean effort around the post.

Ian McGrath was next to test the Bangor keeper from 25 yards when his freekick in the 57th minute was gathered at the second attempt by Brown in increasingly wet conditions.

Ian Mannus produced a superb save to keep his side's lead intact when he dived full stretch to claw away David Irvine's close range header from an Andy Forsythe freekick on the hour mark.

Bangor changed their formation, bringing on Ryan Brown 2 for John Bailie and throwing Paul Harbinson up front. The move almost paid off the in 75th minute when Forsythe's freekick was headed on by Harbinson, but James Bell's shot was blocked by a crowd of bodies, and again, no Bangor player was able to force the ball home.

As Bangor pushed further and further forward in search of an equaliser, the Ballyclare forwards were left with more room, and but for misjudging their runs on several occassions and being caught offside, they could have added to the scoreline.

Paul Harbinson almost grabbed the equaliser in the 82nd minute, but James Bell's cross was a fraction to high for the towering make-shift forward as he could only send the ball just over the crossbar from 10 yards.

Moments later, a long Colin Beggs throw-in wasn't properly cleared, but Harbinson's close range shot was well saved by Mannus as the Ballyclare defence struggled to hold on under the pressure.

On the stroke of full-time, Stephen Collier came within inches of sending the game to extra time when his thundering 25-yard volley swerved and crashed into the upright with Mannus at full-stretch.

Kyle Agnew had a glorious chance to seal the game a minute later when he found himself clean through on goal, but Ryan Brown 1 did well to smoother the danger at the forward's feet.

That miss almost proved costly when Andy Forsythe's 93rd minute corner was deflected agonisingly wide of the post. This marked the last action of the game and sparked jubliant scenes for the Comrades and dejection for the Bangor players.

Full-time: 2 - 1

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

Scorer: McRoberts O.G ('37) Booked: Collier, Morrow

Ballyclare: Mannus, McGrath, Forsythe (Higgins), McClean, Caldwell, Gilmore, Smith, McRoberts, Agnew, Hill (McKay), Bell. Sub not used: Mullholland

Scorers: Agnew ('8), Hill ('53) Booked: Bell, Gilmore, Higgins

SITE FEATURES:


Charlie Tully


Harry Baird


Pre-War History