Coagh Utd. 1-2 Bangor, Carnegie First Division

It was a tale of two halves at Hagan Park on Tuesday evening as Bangor came from a goal down to defeat a spirited Coagh United side. Having gone behind to a first half Coagh goal, Bangor had goalkeeper Ryan Brown to thank for keeping the score down as he made a string of magnificent saves. The second half saw the tide begin to turn, allowing the other Ryan Brown to equalise before the outstanding Andy Morrow grabbed a controversial winner.

Bangor had a great opportunity to open the scoring within the first 5 minutes when Marty Verner was on the end of a low Ryan Brown 2 cross from the right. But from 5 yards out, Verner saw his effort superbly blocked by goalkeeper Johnny Pollock's despairing dive.

The home side took the lead in the 10th minute when the lively Scott McCordrick glanced the ball with his head into the far corner after meeting Dallas' inswinging corner at the near post.

Ryan Brown had to throw himself to his left moments later to hold onto McCordrick's stinging 20 yard shot after the forward collected a poor clearance from the Bangor defence.

Andy Forsythe had a good opportunity to level the scores in the 17th minute, but the winger could only direct his back post header straight at Pollock after Bailie had supplied the right wing cross.

That was to be Bangor's last attempt on goal in the first half, and Stuart Dallas came within inches of doubling his side's lead when the youngster dragged his 16 yard shot just wide of the left hand post after making a surging run into the Bangor penalty area in the 26th minute.

A couple of minutes later, Ryan Brown had to be off his goal line quickly to bravely block Scott McCordrick's effort after the forward had capitalised on a fortuitous ricochet.

The same striker was out of luck in the 38th minute as he again found the Bangor goalkeeper in top form. Latching onto Ferguson's cross from the right, McCordrick saw his close range header superbly pushed over the crossbar to safety.

Moments before half time, Bangor again escaped but this time had the woodwork to thank as Ferguson's miss-hit shot looped up high before bouncing off the top of the crossbar.

Half-time: 1 - 0

The second half began as the first ended with McCordrick blazing over the bar when well placed and Dallas forcing another fine save from Brown.

Bangor began to push forward and found an equaliser on the hour mark. Andy Forsythe combined effectively with Colin Beggs to pick out Andy Morrow on the edge of the Coagh penalty area. The Bangor captain turned his marker before firing a vicious shot which Pollock could only push straight up in the air, and with the 'keeper stranded on the ground, the alert Ryan Brown 2 was on hand to stab the ball home from point blank range.

A minute later, Andy Morrow sent a 25 yard freekick agonisingly wide of the left hand post with Pollock rooted to the spot.

At the other end of the pitch, a slip by Harbinson allowed Scott McCordrick to race through on goal, but as before, Ryan Brown stood tall to make an outstanding save to keep his side in the match.

That save seemed to boost Bangor as the Seasiders launched attack after attack on the Coagh goal. David Irvine, now dominating the midfield, fired a 25 yard thunderbolt which Pollock managed to push onto the post before smoothering the loose ball in the 73rd minute.

Set up by the impressive Colin Beggs, Marty Verner created space for himself down the left wing before crossing the ball towards Ryan Brown 2 moments later. From close range, the Bangor winger seemed certain to score again, but this time his effort was somehow blocked and cleared on the goal line.

In search of a winner, Bangor brought on Melly and Fitzgerald in place of Gardiner and Brown 2, and it was those two substitutes who combined to set up the winning goal in the 81st minute.

Dominic Melly's low 22 yard shot fell to Darren Fitzgerald who rolled the ball on for a suspiciously offside looking Andy Morrow. The Bangor captain remained calm to pick his spot from 10 yards, hammering past the exposed Pollock.

Bangor had a few anxious moments in injury time as Coagh won a number of corners, but the visiting defence held firm to claim a valuable 3 points.

Full-time: 1 - 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie, Beggs, Gilmore, Brown 2 (Fitzgerald '80), Harbinson (Collier '68), Gardiner (Melly '75), Irvine, Morrow, Verner, Forsythe. Subs not used: Rezai, Bell

Scorers: Brown 2 ('60), Morrow ('81) Booked: Verner

Coagh Utd: Pollock, Ferguson, Thornton, Calderwood, Hawe, Wardell, Dallas, Reid, McCordrick, McMenemy, Scott.

Scorer: McCordrick ('10) Booked: Thornton

Referee: Mr E Shanks

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