Bangor 4 - 3 Banbridge Town
Carnegie First Division 29/12/07
A late BJ McMenamin goal gave Bangor their first home
league win of the season in this highly entertaining seven
goal thriller. Marty Verner marked his return to Clandeboye
Park with two first half goals, added to by David Irvine to
put Bangor into a commanding position. But two defensive
lapses gifted Banbridge a route back into the game before
the scores were levelled after the half time interval as the
visitors pushed forward for a winner. Instead it was Bangor
who found the winner when McMenamin brilliantly scored his
first goal for the Seasiders to seal a memorable win.
It was a dream start for the home side when the unmarked
Marty Verner headed home Andy Forsythe's pinpoint corner
inside the opening 2 minutes - giving the returning striker
his 30th goal in 35 appearances for the Seasiders.
Bangor continued their bright start as Dominic Melly
forced William McFrederick into a smart save from distance
before David Irvine brought out the best in the 'keeper when
his dipping 20 yard shot had to be superbly tipped over the
crossbar in the 8th minute.
Banbridge's first chance of the match arrived in the 13th
minute when Aaron Baker wastefully blazed high over the
crossbar from 14 yards following a corner which fell
invitingly for the striker.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 18th minute
in spectacular fashion. Good work from James Bell picked out
Marty Verner down the left flank. The lively forward cut in
field and fired in a low cross which needed McFrederick's
intervention to deny the on rushing Morrow and Brown 2. The
ball was only cleared as far as David Irvine on the left
corner of the penalty area, giving the midfielder the
opportunity to curl a delightful effort into the top right
corner of the goal.
Irvine almost had another goal moments later when he
found himself on the end of an Andy Morrow cross from the
left wing. But from 10 yards out and under pressure from a
covering defender, Irvine could only send his header just
wide of the foot of the left hand post.
Banbridge hit back in the 22nd minute through talisman
David Irwin. Paul Alexander did well down the left flank
before sending in a cross which evaded Paul Emerson, giving
Irwin the simple chance of slotting home from close range.
Marty Verner grabbed his second goal of the game on the
half hour mark when he found himself clean through on goal
after Andy Forsythe had won back possession in midfield. The
striker rounded the visiting 'keeper before superbly
clipping the ball home from a tight angle.
Bangor could have added to their lead moments later after
some quick thinking from Ryan Brown 1. Having acrobatically
caught a dangerous cross, the Bangor 'keeper punted the ball
upfield catching the visiting defence off guard. The ball
fell to Verner who in turn picked out Andy Morrow, but the
Bangor captain's turn and shot from 14 yards was well
blocked by McFrederick.
Despite dominating the early running of the half, Bangor
found themselves going in at half-time only a goal to the
good after Banbridge pulled back a goal in the 35th minute.
Ryan Evans did well to beat Forsythe down the right wing
before sending in a low cross which was missed by Johnny
Rosson, allowing Aaron Baker the easy opportunity to hit
home from close range.
The visitors finished the half strongly with Ryan Brown 1
having to be on top form to keep out efforts from Baker and
Alexander after the Banbridge attackers had exploited the
wide spaces down the flanks caused by a narrow Bangor back
three.
Half-time: 3 - 2
To try and counter the Banbridge threat, Bangor changed
their 3-5-2 formation to 4-4-2, but this move couldn't stop
a rejuvenated Banbridge side after the interval.
The impressive Paul Alexander combined well with David
Irwin to setup Aaron Baker in the 53rd minute. Luckily for
Bangor, the former Portadown forward could only send his 18
yard effort wide of the target.
Ryan Brown 1 had to produce an impressive instinctive
block on the hour mark to keep out a low Ryan Evans freekick
from the left flank. The low cross was dummied by a couple
of attackers leaving the Bangor 'keeper with little time to
stick out a leg and keep out the goalbound effort.
Banbridge continued to look dangerous and it was
Alexander who was again the provider when he did well to
give Irwin a sight on goal. But, from a narrowing angle on
the left, the Banbridge captain could only drag his shot
across goal and wide of the target.
The visitors got the goal they deserved in the 74th
minute in bizarre fashion. Aaron Baker found himself
unmarked in the Bangor 6 yard box following a cross from the
right wing, but with the goal at his mercy the forward badly
scuffed his effort. Bangor substitute Paul Harbinson reacted
quickly to try and clear the danger, but the defender saw
his clearance rebound off Baker and bounce into the goal.
Bangor began to reassert themselves after weathering the
prolonged Banbridge storm, and McFrederick had to move
quickly to hold onto Andy Morrow's headed effort following a
James Bell freekick in the 78th minute.
The home side replaced the injured Irvine with Tony Smith
and Forsythe with BJ McMenamin. And it was the two
substitutes who combined to give Bangor an important victory
in the 90th minute. Gathering the ball from a half clearance
30 yards out, the nippy Smith did well to advance past a
couple of defenders before squaring the ball to McMenamin.
The on-loan winger settled himself on the edge of the
penalty area before superbly lashing a shot past McFrederick
and into the corner of the goal to end a memorable match.
Full-time: 4 - 3
Bangor: Brown 1, Rosson, Bailie, Emerson, Bell, Melly
(Harbinson), Brown 2, Irvine (Smith), Morrow, Verner,
Forsythe (McMenamin) Subs not used: M Brown, Kee.
Scorers: Verner ('2, 30), Irvine ('18), McMenamin ('90)
Booked: Morrow
Banbridge Town: McFrederick, A Evans, Trainor (P Evans),
Copeland, Henry, R Evans (Boyle), Irwin, Baker, McParland,
Alexander. Subs not used: Kane, Grant, Hooks
Scorers: Irwin ('22), Baker ('35, '74) Booked: A Evans |
