KILBRIDE SWIFTS 1-4 BANGOR

Steel & Sons Cup Preliminary Round
The Clughan, Ballyclare
Match Report by Neil Watson
Saturday 26th August 2006

Bangor secured their progression into the 2nd Round of the Steel and Sons Cup with a comfortable victory over Kilbride Swifts.

Forcing the early running of the game, it was Bangor who created the opening chance of the match after 6 minutes. Ryan Brown 2 and John Bailie combined on the right flank to create a chance for Andy Morrow, but his effort flew inches wide of the left post after a delightful cross from Brown.

The home side’s offside trap was caught out after 20 minutes as Paul McDowell timed his run perfectly to latch onto a Camlin pass. The Bangor forward managed to poke the ball past the advancing keeper only to see a covering defender clear the ball off the line despite pressure from Ryan Brown 2.

After 24 minutes, a mistake by Kilbride keeper Chris Hynds almost gifted Bangor the lead. A Stephen Munn free kick from the left slipped through the keeper’s grasp but luckily for Hynds, the ball fell just wide of the right hand post.

Bangor finally got the goal that their ascendancy deserved after 35 minutes. Good build up play between McDowell and Irvine created space just inside the penalty area for Andy Morrow. The Bangor captain picked out Jackie Kerr to his left, who made no mistake slotting home from 8 yards.

Moments later, Bangor should have doubled their advantage through Ryan Brown 2. A superb through ball from Andy Morrow allowed Brown to advance on goal from the right wing. Unfortunately for Bangor, Brown’s shot flew agonisingly wide of the left upright.

Half-time: 0 – 1

Bangor continued to control the match after the half time interval, and could have extended the lead again through Ryan Brown 2. Paul McDowell beat the Kilbride ‘keeper to the ball wide on the left wing before centring the ball towards Brown. Despite the absence of the goalkeeper, Brown shrugged off the challenge of two defenders but couldn’t connect fully with the cross, sending his headed effort wide.

In a rare attack on the Bangor goal, the home side found themselves on level terms thanks to Nicky Clement after 49 minutes. A long ball out of defence from Roy McMaster evaded the Bangor back line, allowing Clement to gather the ball and slot past the exposed Ryan Brown 1.

Bangor sought to regain the lead immediately but were denied by the woodwork. A Kenny Camlin in-swinging corner was glanced goal-wards by Paul McDowell but the forward’s effort bounced clear off the crossbar.

After 65 minutes, the same corner kick routine gave the visitors the lead. This time McDowell’s glancing header was accurate enough to beat Hynds and fly into the top left corner of the goal.

2 minutes later Bangor had put the game beyond doubt thanks to Kenny Camlin. Andy Morrow’s cross from the right was flicked on by McDowell, allowing Camlin to head past Hynds from 6 yards.

David Irvine was then twice denied by the Kilbride keeper inside 5 minutes. Gathering an Andy Morrow through ball, Irvine saw his shot from 10 yards blocked by the keeper’s feet while moments later a fine diving save denied the Bangor midfielder converting a McDowell cross from the left.

With only 2 minutes remaining, Kenny Camlin notched up his fourth goal in three games to seal the victory. A neat exchange of passing between Camlin and Kerr freed Camlin on the left corner of the penalty area where the forward thumped a low shot under the body of the Kilbride keeper and into the net.

Full time: 1 – 4

Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie, Larmour, Emerson (Rosson), Munn, Kerr, Brown 2 (Nelson), Irvine, Morrow, McDowell, Camlin.
Scorers: Kerr (’35), McDowell (’65), Camlin (’67, ’88)
Booked: Morrow

Kilbride Swifts: Hynds, McMaster (Warnock), Gourley (Agnew), Beckinsale, Harder, Gilmore, Middleton, Kitson, McGroggan (Leitil), Clement, Simms
Scorer: Clement (’49)
Booked: Gourley