BANGOR 1 - 4 CRUSADERS

League leaders Crusaders made a further stride towards an immediate return to the Carnegie Premier League with a comprehensive 4 – 1 defeat of Bangor.

Crusaders had the first chance of the match after 10 minutes through Chris Morrow. Morrow advanced down the left wing before sending a looping cross over the head of Ryan Brown in the Bangor goal. Fortunately for Bangor, Gareth Larmour was on hand to hook the ball clear on the goal line.

The break through came after 18 minutes thanks to a 35-yard free kick from Colin Coates. The defender’s powerful effort took a deflection off the Bangor wall, sending the ball out of the Ryan Brown’s reach and into the top corner of the net.

A fine Ryan Brown save denied Garth Walsh from doubling the Crusaders lead. Walsh evaded Cullen Feeney on the left wing before cutting in field and shooting from 20 yards. Despite the shot taking a slight deflection, Brown managed to push the ball away to safety.

Bangor’s best effort of the half fell to Grant Dunlop after 28 minutes. A long ball forward from Massey was headed on by Brian Russell towards Grant Dunlop. The midfielder shot first time but unfortunately for Bangor, the powerful effort clipped the wrong side of the post.

2 minutes later, Crusaders had extended their lead through Chris Morrow. A Garth Walsh free kick from the left picked out Morrow who rose above his marker and headed the ball home past the helpless Brown.

After 33 minutes, Neil Armstrong denied Jim McCloskey the chance to get Bangor back into the game. A long Feeney throw from the right was gathered by Morrow who laid the ball off for McCloskey. Armstrong did well to block the winger’s low 8-yard shot with his feet.

Crusaders grabbed their third goal of the half after 40 minutes through Darren Sterling. A corner from the left side was allowed to travel across the Bangor goal to Sterling at the back post. Sterling set the ball up for himself before acrobatically scoring past Brown.

As the first half drew to a close, Bangor were again denied by some last ditch defending. A McCloskey free kick caused havoc in the Crusaders penalty area allowing McStravick to stab the ball past Armstrong, but not past Magowan on the goal line.

Half time: 0 – 3

Garth Walsh superbly scored Crusaders fourth goal6 minutes into the second half. The former Glenavon man drilled a first time volley from 25 yards past Brown after the ball had only been half-cleared by the Bangor defence.

Second half substitute Kenny Camlin, who replaced David Officer, scored his second goal in two weeks after 56 minutes. A powerful Jim McStravick header was collected by Camlin who slammed the ball home from 16 yards past Armstrong.

Bangor were fortunate not to concede a fifth goal as Garth Walsh and Darren Sterling contrived to waste a glorious opportunity. Sterling thumped the ball forward to Morrow who touched the ball on for Walsh on the left side of the penalty area. Walsh stabbed the ball back across goal but Sterling made little contact with the ball, allowing the ball to trickle against the post before being cleared by Feeney.

A fine Armstrong save denied Bangor a second goal after 63 minutes. Kenny Camlin’s accurate corner from the right picked out Grant Dunlop who rose above his marker 8 yards from goal. Armstrong reacted quickly to palm the ball over the cross bar for another corner.

Bangor were dealt a blow by referee David Best who adjudged Cullen Feeney’s strong tackle as one worth of a second yellow card therefore reducing Bangor to ten men for the second week in a row.

Darren Sterling was again guilty of wasting a good chance to further extend the Crusaders lead. The Crusaders front man latched onto a poor clearance as he raced through one-on-one with Ryan Brown. Thankfully for Bangor, Sterling skewed his shot well wide of the upright.

Crusaders were reduced to ten men as David Best sent off David Munster for retaliating to an Andy Morrow challenge, who was booked as a consequence.

Full time: 1 – 4

Bangor: Brown, Feeney, Larmour (Douglas), Massey, McStravick, Dunlop, Kerr, Russell, Morrow, McCloskey (Nicholl), Officer (Camlin).

Scorer: Camlin (’56)
Booked: Massey, Russell, Morrow
Sent Off: Feeney

Crusaders: Armstrong, Magowan, McBride, Dunne, Spence, Coates, Munster, Shaw (Livingstone), Sterling (Crawford), Morrow, Walsh (Beggs).

Scorers: Coates (’18), Morrow (’30), Sterling (’40), Walsh (’46)
Sent off: Munster

Referee: David Best

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