BANGOR 3-2 BALLYCLARE COM.

In a lively match which saw Bangor secure their 1st Division status, Ballyclare were plunged into deeper trouble at the bottom end of the table, losing by the odd goal in 5.

With only 4 minutes played, it was Bangor who could have opened the scoring. Barry Holland’s right wing cross was headed clear but only as far as Grant Dunlop on the edge of the penalty area. Dunlop’s first time volley was well gathered by Huxley, low to his left.

Ballyclare missed a glorious chance to open the scoring after 9 minutes. Ronnie Burns broke free on the right flank before sliding the ball across goal to the unmarked Galbraith. From 6 yards out, Galbraith somehow managed to miss kick the ball allowing Brown to recover and smoother the ball.

After 11 minutes, Bangor were awarded a penalty after Evan Forsythe slid in late on Andy Morrow. Cullen Feeney stepped up and slammed the ball home to notch up his 5th goal of the season.

The Comrades levelled the scores 4 minutes later through Stuart Galbraith. A short corner on the left caught home defence sleeping, as Hamilton’s cross was allowed to travel through to Galbraith at the back post. Galbraith sent a looping header back across goal which Grant Dunlop couldn’t keep out of the top corner of the goal.

The end-to-end nature of the match continued after 20 minutes when Cullen Feeney went close to scoring. Barry Holland’s corner from the left was met by Feeney, but his glancing header floated just over the angle of the woodwork.

Bangor regained the lead on the half-hour mark through the hard-working Andy Morrow. A Holland corner from the left was cleared as far as David Officer 20 yards from goal. Officer’s powerful volley was blocked by a defender, with the rebound falling to Holland on the left. Holland’s cross towards the back post was met by Cullen Feeney, but his 6 yard header was brilliantly blocked by Huxley. Unfortunately for the former-Bangor ‘keeper, the ball fell to Morrow who gratefully poked the ball home.

The visitors had a great chance to level the scores again a minute later, but Ryan Brown did well to block Ricky Higgins’ 18 yard shot when well placed.

Andy Morrow almost extended Bangor’s lead after 34 minutes. Cullen Feeney broke from midfield before sliding the ball to Barry Holland on the right flank. Holland sent a neat pass into Andy Morrow’s feet on the right corner of the penalty area. Morrow skilfully turned Evan Forsythe before shooting just wide of the left hand post.

Half time: 2 – 1

Ballyclare began the second half at a lightning pace and could have scored within the first minute. Ronnie Burns collected a Bangor clearance 12 yards from goal on the left. Fortunately for Bangor, Brown was able to parry the forward’s snapshot for a corner.
In response to this, Bangor again almost stretched their lead a minute later. Cullen Feeney played the perfect through ball to Kenny Camlin who burst past Emerson to collect the pass. Unfortunately for Camlin and Bangor, the bustling forward’s shot drifted just wide of the left hand post.

Camlin was again unlucky not to score after 55 minutes. A blocked Dunlop shot fell to Camlin on the edge of the penalty area. Camlin controlled before unleashing a blistering effort which cracked off the crossbar before bouncing to safety.

On the hour mark, Ryan Brown had to be at his best to deny Adam Hamilton from levelling the scores. The former-Bangor player’s powerful 20 yard effort was acrobatically pushed away to safety by Brown as Ballyclare heaped the pressure on the home side.

Ballyclare found the equaliser after 65 minutes thanks to Ricky Higgins. Adam Hamilton swung in a free kick from the left touchline towards the penalty spot where Higgins rose highest to head the ball into the bottom left corner.

Only a minute later, Bangor had regained the lead. Andy Morrow controlled a long ball before laying it off to Camlin. Camlin’s low shot was well pushed around the post for a corner. Camlin took the resulting corner and managed to swing the ball directly into the top corner of the net past Huxley.

Andy Forsythe almost scored for the Comrades after 70 minutes when his lofted shot from a tight angle on the left dipped over Brown but fell just the wrong side of the far post.

Bangor should have sealed the victory after 84 minutes. Again Andy Morrow did well to hold up a long ball before sliding the ball into the path of Barry Holland 8 yards from goal. Under pressure from a defender, Holland could only direct his shot straight at Huxley who blocked the effort with his legs.

On the stroke of full time, Ballyclare tested the Bangor defence’s resolve. First it was Stuart Galbraith who came close to scoring with a dipping 25 yard effort which flew just over the bar, before the Comrades forced a series of corners. With everyone bar the taker in the Bangor penalty area, it was Alan Huxley who rose highest to head the ball just wide of the left post.

Full time: 3 – 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Nicholl, Larmour, Cheevers, Massey, Feeney, Holland, Dunlop, Morrow, Camlin, Officer. Subs not used: Douglas, Brown 2, Kerr.

Scorers: Feeney (pen. ‘11), Morrow (‘30), Camlin (‘66)
Booked: Officer, Nicholl

Ballyclare Comrades: Huxley, Caldwell, Hamilton, E Forsythe, Emerson, McClean, Higgins, Galbraith, Burns, Hill (Parkhill), A Forsythe (McDowell). Sub not used: McKinney
Scorers: Galbraith (’15), Higgins (’65)

SITE FEATURES:


Colin Bateman 1993


Trophy Tour 1993


Brian Mulgrew