BANGOR 1 - 2 EAST BELFAST (AET)

CREST TEAMWEAR STEEL & SONS CUP
Match Report by Neil Watson
Saturday 30th September 2006

Bangor crashed out of the Steel and Sons Cup at the hands of East Belfast. The visitors grabbed a 94th minute equaliser before sealing the victory in extra time despite being reduced to 10 men.

With 10 minutes played, Kenny Camlin tried his luck from 30 yards but the forward’s dipping shot flew just over the crossbar.

East Belfast created their first opening after 16 minutes when Ryan Hyland picked up a loose ball 12 yards from goal, but his effort was well blocked by Ryan Brown 1.

Andy McDonald in the East Belfast goals had to be on top form on 34 minutes to deny Andy Morrow. Camlin and Nelson combined well on the right before cutting the ball back to Morrow. The Bangor forward advanced before thundering a left footed drive from 22 yards that needed to be acrobatically tipped over the crossbar.

Kenny Camlin again tried his luck from long range after 40 minutes. The rampaging forward skipped past 3 challenges before shooting from 30 yards but unfortunately for Bangor, the powerful effort skimmed the crossbar.

Half time: 0 – 0

Again, it was Kenny Camlin who threatened to open the scoring 2 minutes after the restart and again it was a 30-yard effort. This time McDonald needed two attempts at blocking the shot before pushing it over the crossbar.

Bangor should have taken the lead after 55 minutes when Paul McDowell latched onto Craig Dougherty’s through ball. McDowell waited for McDonald to commit himself before shooting, but the goalkeeper managed to block the effort with his legs.

With 66 minutes played, Kenny Camlin’s previous shots on goal paid off as the forward curled a glorious 25-yard effort into the top left hand corner of the goal past the helpless McDonald.

East Belfast threatened to hit back immediately as Stitt found himself with room 8 yards from goal. Fortunately for the home side, the forward totally fluffed his lines from a good position as Brown saved.

The impressive Camlin almost grabbed his second of the game in the 80th minute. After charging down a clearance on the left, Camlin skilfully beat a covering defender twice before thumping a shot at McDonald from a tight angle which the goalkeeper managed to beat away.

As the game drew to a close, East Belfast heaped immense pressure on the Bangor defence. With a minute remaining, Gary Wray’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was well blocked by Nelson on the goal line before Stephen Johnston headed the rebound just wide.

Deep into injury time, the visitors forced a series of corners and threw everyone into the Bangor area including Andy McDonald. Craig Dougherty managed to head an effort off the goal line before Jonathan Houston hit home the rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

Full time: 1 – 1

With the prospect of penalties after 20 minutes of extra time, both teams set out to find a winner immediately.

East Belfast substitute Freean forced a fine save from Brown while at the other end; Andy McDonald was fully stretched to push a Ryan Brown 2 effort round the post.

7 minutes into extra time, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Gary Wray received a second yellow card for a tackle on Ryan Brown 2.

With 15 minutes of the allotted 20 played, East Belfast snatched the winner. Substitute Bowers latched onto a poor Bangor clearance and found himself unmarked to slot home from 8 yards.

Bangor rallied late on but couldn’t break down a resolute East Belfast defence who blocked everything in some anxious closing moments.

A.E.T: 1 – 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie, Larmour, Rosson (Emerson), Massey, Nelson, Dougherty, Hylands, Morrow, McDowell (Brown 2), Camlin. Sub not used: Youle
Scorer: Camlin (’66)
Booked: McDowell

East Belfast: McDonald, Foster, McMullen (McClure), Wray, Ashe (Freean), Houston, Curran, Johnston, Hyland, Stitt (Bowers), McCarroll.
Scorers: Houston (‘90 +4), Bowers (‘105)
Booked: Johnston
Sent off: Wray