BANBRIDGE TOWN 1-3 BANGOR

A real Christmas present for the travelling Bangor supporters who witnessed a solid all round performance by a Bangor team which is now starting to play like a team. Three cracking goals for Christmas before half-time helped the Seasiders climb further up the league table.

Bangor were served an early warning in the first minute when Alan Evans dragged his shot wide of the left upright when well placed. Minutes later, against the run of the play, Banbridge’s Alan Quinn had a goal ruled out for offside by referee Adrian Ball.

After 14 minutes, Bangor’s first real chance came through the hard-working Kenny Camlin. A pinpoint cross from Clifford on the right wing picked out Camlin at the back post, but the forward’s header fell just the wrong side of the post.

Bangor got the goal they deserved after 30 minutes, and what a goal it was. Gary Clifford managed to charge down a clearance deep in Banbridge territory. The loose ball fell to John Douglas 30 yards from goal. From the angle, Douglas cracked an unstoppable shot into the top left corner leaving the Banbridge ‘keeper with no chance.

6 minutes later and Bangor had doubled their lead. Some neat passing in midfield allowed Camlin to break free down the middle. A perfectly-weighted pass through the heart of the Banbridge defence allowed Andy Morrow to race clear of his marker and coolly slot the ball home past Haveron.

After 40 minutes Bangor extended their lead further through another sublime goal. Grant Dunlop fought hard in midfield to win back possession. The on-loan midfielder beat 2 defenders before thumping an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner from all of 25 yards.

Half-time: Banbridge Town 0– 3 Bangor

The second period began scrappily with Jackie Kerr and Alan Quinn both picking up bookings.

Banbridge looked lively after the break but the Bangor defence, protected magnificently by the impressive Jackie Kerr, was under no real danger.

But after 65 minutes, Banbridge were thrown a lifeline when referee Adrian Ball adjudged McStravick to have hauled Irwin to the ground in the penalty area. Irwin picked himself up and slammed the ball home past a fully stretched Brown.

After 71 minutes, Brian Russell brought the best out of the Banbridge goalkeeper. Collecting Camlin’s pass on the left flank, Russell came in field before shooting from 20 yards. Haveron threw himself to his right to beat the shot away to safety.

Haveron was again called into action after 86 minutes when he did well to block a point blank header from Morrow after a good cross from the right by substitute McCloskey.

In the closing minutes of the match, some resolute Bangor defending prevented Banbridge from pulling back another goal. Jim McStravick was in the right place at the right time to clear at goal bound Snedden header off the line with Brown beaten.

Full-time: Banbridge Town 1 – 3 Bangor

Bangor: Brown, Clifford, Larmour, McStravick, Massey, Dunlop, Douglas, Kerr, Morrow, Russell (McCloskey), Camlin (Officer). Sub not used: Nicholl
Scorers: Douglas (’30), Morrow (’36), Dunlop (’40)
Booked: Kerr, McStravick.

Banbridge: Haveron, Quinn, Treanor, Larkin, Crothers, Rees (Grant), Evans, Irwin, Montgomery, Kerr (Snedden), Moffitt.
Scorer: Irwin (’65 pen.)
Booked: Quinn, Treanor

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