BANGOR 1 - 2 DUNDELA

CARNEGIE FIRST DIVISION
Clandeboye Park, Saturday 24th February 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor let a one goal lead slip as Dundela came from behind to take all 3 points on Saturday, meaning that the Seasiders slip to third in the league table. Paul McDowell had given Bangor an early lead before Stephen Gourley levelled the scores prior to the interval. The home side were reduced to 10 men after the break as Stephen Munn received his marching orders which paved the way for Glenn Dougherty to score the winner 5 minutes from time.

Dundela began the match brightly and could have taken the lead after only 2 minutes. A David Officer corner from the right wasn’t properly cleared by the Bangor defence, but Glen Upton’s 6 yard effort was superbly blocked on the line by Ryan Brown.

But despite the Duns’ early pressure, it was Bangor who opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Andy Morrow managed to flick the ball on for Andy Forsythe in the centre circle, allowing the winger to slide the ball forward for Paul McDowell. The lethal striker did well to hold off the attentions of Scott Murray before expertly poking the ball past Miskelly for his 19th goal of the season.

The goal spurred Bangor on, and Dominic Melly was unlucky to see his blistering shot from 18 yards fly just over the crossbar minutes later.

Brian Hylands and Andy Forsythe combined well down the left flank in the 21st minute to set up Andy Morrow. The Bangor captain controlled Forsythe’s pass before turning his defender and shooting from 10 yards, but unfortunately for Bangor, the ball skimmed the base of the left post and went wide.

The visitors had a good chance to level the scores in the 36th minute, but Gourley volleyed wildly over the bar from 16 yards after an Officer corner.

A minute later, Paul McDowell could have doubled Bangor’s lead but he too volleyed over the bar after good work by Hylands and Irvine down the left wing.

That was to prove a costly miss for the home side as Dundela raced up field and levelled the scores immediately. Matt Burrows showed some neat touches in a crowded Bangor penalty area before shooting across goal. John Bailie was on hand to block the effort on the goal line, before also stopping Parker’s follow up, but there was nothing the defender could do as Gourley hammered home the rebound from point blank range.

Half-time: 1 – 1

Dundela could have taken the lead in the 54th minute through David Officer. The former Bangor player capitalised on a mix-up between Munn and Harbinson, but he could only send his chipped effort over the crossbar from 14 yards.

Bangor were then reduced to 10 men moments later as Stephen Munn received two yellow cards in the space of 5 minutes. This saw the Bangor management replace Dominic Melly with debutant Stephen Collier.

Despite being a man short, Bangor should have taken the lead in the 67th minute. After seeing his corner cleared back to him, Andy Forsythe crossed from the right towards Andy Morrow, but the Bangor forward could only send his header from 6-yards agonisingly wide of the left hand post.

The visitors began to force the play, using the extra man to good effect and but for a brave Ryan Brown block in the 70th minute, Matt Burrows would have handed the Duns the lead.

Some brilliant defending from Brian Hylands kept Bangor in the game with 81 minutes played as the former-Dundela man headed Officer’s left wing cross to safety at the back post as Matt Burrows closed in for what would have been a simple finish.

Dundela did get the winner 5 minutes from time through second half substitute Glenn Dougherty. A poor Ryan Brown clearance fell to Dougherty 25 yards from goal. The forward rolled the ball to his right for Matt Burrows who advanced before crossing the ball to the back post where Dougherty was on hand to head the ball into the bottom left corner past the helpless Brown.

Full-time: 1 – 2

Bangor: Brown, Bailie, Hylands, Munn, Guy (Gribben), Harbinson, Melly (Collier), Irvine, Morrow, McDowell, Forsythe.
Sub not used: Kerr.
Scorer: McDowell (’10)
Booked: Irvine, Forsythe, Morrow
Sent-off: Munn.

Dundela: Miskelly, Walker, Murphy (Boyd), Nixon, Murray, Parker, Gourley, Stewart, Burrows, Upton (Dougherty), Officer.
Sub not used: Rainey
Scorers: Gourley (’38), Dougherty (’85)
Booked: Murray.