TOBERMORE UTD 2-2 BANGOR

CARNEGIE FIRST DIVISION, Saturday 28th October 2006
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign with a hard-fought draw away to Tobermore United. Referee Robert Penny was centre of attention as he awarded Bangor a controversial equalising goal before ruling out a potential Tobermore winner.

The home side should have taken the lead after only 3 minutes but were denied by Ryan Brown 1. Jason Allen missed his tackle on Gibson and the ball broke to Hutchinson but the Tobermore forward could only blast his shot straight at the legs of the Bangor ‘keeper.

Bangor’s first chance arrived minutes later thanks to some neat passing in midfield. David Irvine showed some quick feet to evade his marker before passing to Morrow. The Bangor captain turned his marker with ease before sliding a pass to Paul McDowell who turned and shot just wide from 20 yards.

The visitors were dealt a cruel blow after 10 minutes when Craig Dougherty had to leave the field after a sickening clash of heads with a Tobermore player. The Bangor midfielder was replaced by Jackie Kerr.

Tobermore took the lead in the 17th minute. A corner from the right was not properly cleared by the visiting defence who paid the price as Mark McDaid hammered the ball low into the net from 18 yards.

Ryan Brown 1 had to be at his best to stop Tobermore from doubling their lead after 26 minutes. Kieran Loughran saw his curling 22-yard free kick superbly pushed around the post by the ‘keeper at full stretch.

A minute later and the Bangor shot-stopper had to be alert again to push a rising McDaid shot over the crossbar after Brian Hylands had been caught in possession.

Bangor found themselves back on level terms on the half hour mark. A Stephen Munn free kick was deflected wide and from the resultant corner, David Irvine’s persistence forced a Tobermore defender to thump the ball off Munn who gratefully saw the ball loop over the stranded Hassan and into the net.

The lively Trevor Hutchinson was causing the Bangor defence a few headaches and he again forced Ryan Brown 1 into a smart save from a narrowing angle on the left.

Minutes before half time, Tobermore found themselves back in front thanks to Hutchinson. Missed tackles in midfield allowed a Tobermore player to squeeze the ball through to Hutchinson who, despite looking offside, kept his cool to slot past Ryan Brown.

Half-time: 2 – 1

Bangor started the second period brightly and Stephen Munn forced Rodney Hassan into a save after only 2 minutes. The impressive Bangor defender struck a 25 yard volley which the ‘keeper needed two attempts to gather.
Tobermore let Bangor off the hook after 58 minutes when Lamont blazed over the bar from an excellent position after Brown could only block Hutchinson’s initial effort.

In the 62nd minute, Bangor found themselves back on level terms in controversial circumstances. Substitute Stuart Nelson gathered the ball in midfield before playing a through ball for Ryan Brown 2 to race onto. Goalkeeper Hassan just reached the ball before Brown but saw his clearance bounce off the Bangor player and roll goalwards. Home defender McQuillan seemed to have cleared the ball off the line but Robert Penny awarded the goal much to the fury of the home side.

Bangor were unlucky not to take the lead 10 minutes from time when Stephen Munn saw his looping header bounce off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beached on the line.

Referee Robert Penny then denied the home side a goal for what appeared to be offside. Jason Allen was caught out by a Tobermore attacker who touched the ball past Ryan Brown 1 before rolling the ball forward to sub Sammy Shiels to slot home. However, Penny came to Bangor’s aid and chalked off the goal much to Bangor’s relief and Tobermore’s anger.

On the stroke of full-time, Tobermore substitute Gibson almost grabbed the win after latching onto Johnston’s through ball. Fortunately for Bangor, the subs’ shot from the right flew just wide of the base of the left post.

Full-time: 2 – 2

Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie, Hylands, Munn, Allen, Brown 2 (Youle), Dougherty (Kerr), Irvine (Nelson), Morrow, McDowell, Forsythe.
Scorers: Munn (’30), Brown 2 (’62)
Booked: Kerr, Nelson

Tobermore: Hassan, Johnston, McQuillan, McCallan, Kelly, McDaid, Lamont, Loughran, Gibson, Moore (Shiels), Hutchinson (Doherty). Sub not used: Patterson
Scorers: McDaid (’17), Hutchinson (’42)
Booked: Hassan, Hutchinson