BANGOR 4-0 LURGAN CELTIC, Carnegie First Division.
Clandeboye Park, Saturday 16th February 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson
Two goals in either half were enough to give Bangor a well
desvered victory in this Carnegie 1st Division fixture. Marty
Verner bagged another brace in the first half before Dom Melly
and Andy Morrow completed the rout in what was a highly
impressive and professional performance.
Marty Verner was gifted the opportunity to open the scoring
in the 5th minute from the penalty spot after his acrobatic shot
had struck a defender's hand. Despite loosing his footing as he
struck the ball, Verner was able to direct his shot high into
the net to give the striker his 5th goal since his return to
Clandeboye Park.
The deadly striker grabbed his second goal of the game in the
19th minute from close range as he made sure Andy Morrow's
impressive play of the left wing went rewarded.
Bangor were beginning to turn on the style as they pressed
forward in search of a third goal. Some fine play from James
Bell and a skillful Verner flick gave David Irvine a shooting
opportunity from 18 yards, but his left footed shot was well
blocked by 'keeper Ciaran Fox.
Andy Morrow and Andy Forsythe combined well in the 28th
minute to cut open the visiting defence, but Morrow could only
direct his low shot wide of the post from 16 yards following
Forsythe's clever pass.
The Bangor captain was proving a handful for Pat McGibbon at
the heart of the Lurgan Celtic defence, and a delightful
exhcange of passes between Verner and Morrow allowed Verner to
bring a fine save out of Fox from close range after 30 minutes.
The ball broke back into open play where Bangor passed the ball
from wing to wing before creating an opening for Morrow who
forced Fox into another smart save.
David Irvine was denied a goal in the 43rd minute as his
spectacular right footed bending shot from 25 yards beat Fox
before crashing off the inside of the left hand post and
bouncing clear. Again Bangor were able to retain possession, but
this time James Bell's 18 yard shot flew over the crossbar as
the home side looked to find another goal that their play
deserved.
A lapse in concentration on the stroke of half-time gave
Lurgan Celtic a sight on goal from a tight angle. Stephen
McArdle's 10 yard shot struck Craig Gilmore, diverting the shot
against Ryan Brown's body as the Bangor 'keeper threw himself
across goal.
Half-time: 2 - 0
Carl Rezai, continuing in the right back position, impressed
again and it was his vision that created another chance for
Bangor in the 54th minute. Dominic Melly combined well with
Rezai down the right allowing the former-Halifax Town player the
chance to cross. The dangerous cross picked out Morrow who laid
the ball off for Irvine, but again Fox was equal to the
impressive midfielder's effort.
Minutes later Andy Morrow had a chance to add to the score
when he picked up Verner's pass, who in turn had been set up by
a glorious cross-field ball from Irvine. The Bangor captain
strolled around the goalkeeper, but his left footed shot from 12
yards was well blocked on the line by a covering defender.
Bangor's third goal finally arrived on the hour mark through
Melly. The right winger raced through on goal to pick up Paul
Harbinson's perfectly weighted raking pass before firing in a
volley which squirmed under the body of Fox and into the net.
The home side weren't content with a three goal lead as
Irvine again forced the best out of Fox a minute later before
Andy Forsythe's follow up was couragesouly blocked by a
committed defender.
Bangor were able to change players around as Tony Smith and
Ryan Brown 2 replaced Marty Verner and John Bailie repsectively
using up Bangor's only 2 available substitutes.
But it was Lurgan Celtic who almost capitalised on the
changes in the 75th minute. Ryan Brown 1 did well to beat away a
shot from 16 yards, but the rebound fell invitingly for Dwyer
Larvery. The winger composed himself from 10 yards before his
shot was superbly blocked on the line by a combination of Bell
and Brown 2.
The Seasiders continued to press forward with Morrow and Bell
trying their luck from distance, but it was Morrow who grabbed
his 11th goal of the season on the stroke of full-time. James
Bell's floated freekick was headed onward by Irvine, allowing
Morrow to rise and flick the ball over the on-rushing Fox and
into the back of the net to mark an impressive performance.
Full-time: 4 - 0
Bangor: Brown 1, Rezai, Bailie (Brown 2), Gilmore, Bell,
Harbinson, Melly, Irvine, Morrow, Verner (Smith), Forsythe.
Scorers: Verner ('5, '19), Melly ('60), Morrow ('90) Booked:
Forsythe
Lurgan Celtic: Fox, G Murphy, McAvoy, McAnnalen, McGibbon
(Lawless), Gowdy (McCourt), R Murphy, Magennis, McArdle,
Maguire, Lavery. Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Fearon, Creaney
Booked: G Murphy, McAvoy, McAnnalen
Referee: Mr H. Carville. |
