ARDS 1-2 BANGOR

A goal in either half from David Irvine won his side a valuable 3 points against local rivals Ards in this hard fought derby. The Bangor midfielder hit home an Andy Morrow cross in the 20th minute, but Craig McMillen levelled the scores 5 minutes later. Irvine grabbed his 8th goal of the season when he headed home James Bell's corner in the 66th minute. An 87th minute penalty gave Irvine a glorious chance for a hat-trick, but he blazed his effort high over the bar.

Ards had a glorious chance after only 90 seconds when former-Bangor player Aaron McKee fired his 18-yard shot over the crossbar after good play from Johnny Roy on the right flank.

Bangor's first foray into Ards territory arrived moments later when Andy Morrow's inviting cross just evaded James Bell who had taken up a good position at the back post.

A Johnny Cleary freekick in the 13th minute caused havoc in the Bangor defence when the ball was spilled by Ryan Brown 1. Justin McBride pounced on the loose ball but his 14-yard effort was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.

Bangor took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to some determined play from James Bell. Chasing a long Brown kick to the corner flag, Bell out fought Pike for possession before slipping the ball to Morrow. The Bangor captain beat his marker before squaring the ball to Irvine who fired home from close range.

The 'visiting' team could have doubled their advantage 4 minutes later when Glenn Hand's low cross from the right was almost diverted past McDonald at his near post by Spence with 4 Bangor players ready to pounce in the penalty area.

Ards found themselves level a minute later when Craig McMillen latched onto Cleary's long ball over the head of Stephen Collier. The nippy winger advanced on goal before poking the ball past the on-rushing Brown and into the net.

The impressive Irvine was proving a constant thorn in the side of the Ards defence, and it was his header from a Collier cross which forced McDonald into a smart save high to his left after 32 minutes.

At the other end, Ryan Brown 1 produced a fine save when he got his fingertips to Ryan Hyland's 10 yard header to push the ball onto the crossbar after a delicate cross from McBride.

Andy Morrow almost added to his catalogue of stunning goals in the 37th minute when his curling effort from 22 yards and to the left of the penalty area flew just wide of the far post with McDonald scrambling across his goal.

Half-time: 1 - 1

Bangor began the 2nd half well with James Bell and Andy Forsythe forcing McDonald into low saves from long range in the first 5 minutes of play.

Justin McBride forced Ryan Brown 1 into a super save in the 52nd minute when he gathered the ball after Craig McMillen's shot had been blocked. The Bangor 'keeper flew to his right to push the ball away, and with the goal gaping, Ryan Hyland send his headed effort ino the side netting from a narrow angle.

For the first time in the match, Bangor really began to assert themselves and control the game. The Seasiders' domination paid off in the 66th minute when David Irvine displayed his aerial prowess to head home James Bell's inswinging corner to give Bangor the lead.

A superbly timed last ditch tackle from Glenn Hand denied substitute Ryan Newberry a shot on goal in the 84th minute. The Ards youngster made the most of a slip by Collier, but as the forward advanced on Brown and shaped to shoot, Hand slid in to take the ball away from the substitute's feet.

Bangor were gifted a glorious chance to seal the game in the 87th minute when Andy Morrow was hauled down in the penalty area after he combined well with substitute Ryan Brown 2. David Irvine stepped up, but he blazed his shot high over the crossbar as the midfielder missed out on a deserved hat-trick.

Luckily for Bangor the miss did not prove costly, with Ryan Brown 1 falling to his left to gather David Wright's low 20 yard shot in the 90th minute as the Bangor defence, marshalled superbly by Harbinson and Emerson, held firm.

Full-time: 1 - 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Collier, Beggs, Bailie, Emerson, Harbinson, Hand, Irvine, Morrow, Bell (Brown 2), Forsythe. Subs not used: Rosson, Melly, Rezai, Kee

Scorer: Irvine ('20, '66)
Booked: Irvine, Beggs, Emerson, Morrow

Ards: McDonald, Nixon, Pike, Spence, Wilson, Cleary (Newberry), McMillen (Cully), Roy (Wright), McBride, McKee, Hyland. Subs not used: Johnston, Sharrat

Scorer: McMillen ('25)
Booked: Cleary

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Harry Baird


League Cup 1993


Jonny Magee