RACEVIEW 0-1 BANGOR

CREST TEAMWEAR STEEL & SONS CUP
Match Report by Neil Watson
Thursday 31st August 2006

Bangor booked their place in the 3rd round of the Crest Steel and Sons Cup with a hard fought victory over a determined Raceview side.

It was the home side who almost took the lead in the 15th minute. Richard Forsythe struck a free kick from the halfway line which evaded Ryan Brown’s attempted punch but thankfully for the Bangor ‘keeper, the ball bounced wide of the post.

2 minutes later, Raceview ‘keeper Noel Kerr was forced into a smart save from a Kenny Camlin 20 yard shot after the Bangor forward cut in from the right flank.

Both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances, with possession often being needlessly lost in approach play.

The first opening created by good football arrived after 41 minutes. Bangor patiently kept possession, stretching the Raceview defence. This left a gap on the left wing for Gareth Larmour to advance. Larmour crossed for Andy Morrow who turned his marker before shooting from 16 yards – forcing Noel Kerr into a fine save low to his right.

Half-time: 0 – 0

Bangor began the second half with a point to prove, and could have taken the lead after 48 minutes. David Irvine gathered a Camlin pass before evading the Raceview challenges en route to the penalty area. From a narrowing angle, Irvine couldn’t direct his shot inside the post.

The deadlock was finally broken after 55 minutes thanks to Peter McKenna. The former Carrick player forced Noel Kerr into a superb save as Kerr pushed McKenna’s 25-yard drive onto the crossbar. The rebound fell to Andy Morrow who rolled the ball back across goal for the advancing McKenna to bundle the ball home for his first goal for Bangor.

Another strong David Irvine surge forward almost gave Bangor their second goal after 68 minutes. Irvine again evaded the Raceview defence but this time Kerr was quickly off his line to block Irvine’s effort. The rebound fell to Morrow, but the Bangor captain’s shot lacked any power to trouble Kerr.

Noel Kerr was again to deny Irvine after 78 minutes. This time it was Andy Morrow who danced round the Raceview back line before laying the ball off to Irvine but the Raceview ‘keeper did well to block the Bangor midfielder’s effort.

Full-time: 0 – 1

Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie, Larmour, Munn, Emerson, Kerr, Camlin (Brown 2), Irvine, Morrow, McDowell, McKenna. Subs not used: Nelson, Rosson

Scorer: McKenna (’55)
Booked: McDowell

Raceview: Kerr, Forsythe, Redmond, Hunter, Adams, Robinson, Boyd, Hume, Ritchie, Miller, Hanna. Subs: Montgomery, ???, McBurney.

Booked: Boyd