Bangor 3 - 3 Donegal Celtic

With Bangor looking to bounce back after a series of disappointing results, a determined team effort gained the Seasiders their first point of the league campaign.

Bangor started the match with a show of urgency and class and should have been a goal up within the first 30 seconds. David Officer gathered the ball on the left before neatly passing to Brian Russell in the penalty area. Russell laid the ball into the path of Ryan Brown 2, but from 8 yards, the winger blasted wastefully over.

Bangor continued to force the early pace of the game and were unfortunate not to take the lead after 10 minutes when a well-worked John Douglas corner was headed goal-wards by Andy Morrow. Fortunately for Donegal Celtic, Sean Fox was stationed at the back post to head the ball to safety off the goal line.

It was Bangor again who could have scored on 22 minutes when Andy Morrow forced Stephen Harbinson in the Celtic goal to dive to his right and cling on to a powerful shot from the right corner of the penalty area.

With the Bangor defence carefully marshalling any Donegal Celtic threat, Bangor took the lead which they deserved after 34 minutes. Good perseverance by Ryan Brown 2 on the left flank saw the ball break to David Officer. Officer sent a pinpoint cross into the penalty area where Lee Feeney headed home from 8 yards.

Searching for an equaliser, it was Donegal Celtic who finished the half stronger. Michael McClean headed a deep free kick wide of the left post before Paul McDonald volleyed straight at the injured Ryan Brown 1 from 25 yards.

Half Time: Bangor 1 – 0 Donegal Celtic

Donegal Celtic began the second half like they ended the first. Noel Cardwell collected the ball after Officer mis-controlled. The burly midfielder burst down the right flank before dragging his shot wide of the left upright.

Having weathered a few half chances, Donegal Celtic got the goal they deserved on the hour mark. Cardwell hammered high into the net from 4 yards after a Celtic player headed goal-wards from a deep Bonnar cross.

A minute later and Cardwell could have doubled his tally. A deep cross this time from the left, allowed Cardwell to rise above a defender but the powerful header was tipped over the crossbar by Ryan Brown 1.

The resultant corner brought about Donegal Celtic’s second goal. The corner was half cleared to Corrigan who, from the edge of the area, badly sliced a shot towards the corner flag. Fortunately for Celtic, the ball fell to Sean Fox who drilled the ball low into the box where the unfortunate Ryan Brown 2 deflected the ball into his own goal.

In search of getting something from the game, Bangor replaced Brown 2 with Jim McCloskey after 65 minutes.

After forcing a succession of corners, Bangor levelled the scoring thanks to a well-worked team goal after 74 minutes. The move started with the impressive Feeney beating two men and sliding a perfect pass into the path of Morrow. The Bangor captain turned his marker just inside the penalty area before back-heeling the ball allowing David Officer to thump the ball home low past Harbinson from 8 yards.

Officer could have scored again a few minutes later when John Douglas broke free of the Celtic midfield. Douglas fed the ball through to Officer just inside the left edge of the penalty area, but the winger’s shot was just inches wide of the angle of bar and post.

With only 8 minutes left to play, Bangor took the lead through Andy Morrow. Lee Feeney gathered the ball on the edge of the 18yard box before skilfully flicking the ball past his marker and volleying towards goal. The forward’s powerful shot was deflected onto the bar allowing Morrow to squeeze home the rebound from 2 yards.

The lead only lasted a minute as Donegal Celtic equalised thanks to another own goal. This time it was Andy Massey who hit the ball into his own after a low cross from Cardwell on the right wing.

In the dying seconds, Celtic almost grabbed the winner when both Cardwell and Lyons headed wide when well placed.

Full time: Bangor 3 – 3 Donegal Celtic

Bangor: Brown 1, Nicholl, Douglas, McStravick, Massey, Russell, Brown 2 (’65 McCloskey), Kerr, Morrow, Feeney, Officer. Subs not used: Clifford, Cleary.

Scorers: Feeney (’34), Officer (’74), Morrow (’82)
Booked: Officer, Massey, McCloskey

Donegal Celtic: S Harbinson, Corrigan, M Harbinson, McClean, Bradley, Allsop, Fox (‘88 Annesley), Cardwell, Lyons, McDonald (’77 Duff), Bonnar. Sub not used: Hanna

Scorers: Cardwell (’60), Brown 2 o.g (’61), Massey o.g (’83)
Booked: McClean, Cardwell, Bradley, Allsop

Referee: Mr Ken Ginnett

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