PORTSTEWART 0 - 3 BANGOR

CARNEGIE FIRST DIVISION
Seahaven Park, Saturday 10th March 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor made the most of Carrick’s slip up at Coagh by recording a 3 nil victory which lifts the Seasiders to the top of the league.  David Irvine’s 8th goal of the season gave Bangor an early lead which was doubled before half time thanks to an own goal.  Bangor’s third goal in a game which Portstewart failed to record a shot on target arrived in the second half through the now free-scoring John Guy.

The visitors began the game as they meant to go on and forced the home side onto the back foot immediately.  With only 2 minutes on the clock, Andy Morrow laid the ball off to John Bailie just inside the penalty area, but Bailie could only blaze his shot over the bar.

Bangor did get their customary early goal in the 5th minute.  John Bailie, playing in midfield, sent a high ball down the left flank for the chasing Andy Morrow.  The Bangor stalwart beat the offside trap and raced goalwards before unselfishly squaring the ball to the supporting Irvine who side footed home from 6 yards.

John Bailie, at the heart of nearly every Bangor attack, won his side a free kick on the edge of the home penalty area in the 11th minute.  Dominic Melly struck a low shot towards the bottom right corner, but the home goalkeeper as equal to the danger as he pushed the ball to safety.

Paul McDowell had a good chance to add to his impressive tally of goals in the 28th minute, but he failed to connect with Bailie’s right wing cross.  As McDowell missed his header, a covering defender cleared the ball for a corner.

The resultant inswinging corner, taken by Melly, caused panic in the home defence before the ball found its way back out to Melly.  The skilful winger floated in another cross which the ‘keeper completely misjudged as he, with the help of a home defender, managed to bundle the ball over the line to double Bangor’s lead.

Half time: 0 – 2

Portstewart appeared for the second half with the intention of attacking the visiting defence.  Bangor struggled to find their own men on a bumpy pitch which led to more pressure from the home side, but  some resolute defending managed to restrict the home side to playing football outside the penalty area as Portstewart sent two long range efforts well over the bar.

At the other end of the pitch, another Dominic Melly set piece almost led to another goal in the 53rd minute.  Melly’s 35 yard free-kick from the left was floated towards the backpost where the impressive Bailie was waiting.  The midfielder caught his 8 yard effort sweetly, but somehow the goalkeeper managed to block the effort quite superbly.

The game was held up for a prolonged period midway through the half as the Portstewart number 10 had to receive lengthy treatment before being stretchered off with a nasty leg injury.

John Guy, who had replaced David Irvine, almost scored his first goal for Bangor in the 75th minute.  The bustling midfielder connected with Stephen Collier’s right wing cross, but he could only direct his header into the side netting.

But Bangor didn’t have to wait long to add to their lead when John Guy did open his account for the Seasiders in the 81st minute.  Melly and McDowell combined well to work a neat short corner, before Melly centred the ball from the right.  Guy rose highest at the near post to glance the ball high into the net past a defender on the goal line.

A covering defender denied Bangor a fourth goal in the 88th minute.  Another Melly free kick was badly flapped at by the goalkeeper who pushed the ball towards his own goal, where, to his relief, a defender was on hand to head the ball off the line.

Deep in injury time, a well worked free kick involving Melly and McDowell allowed the latter to race through on goal from the right.  Unfortunately for McDowell, the Portstewart goalkeeper was alert to the danger as he raced off his line quickly to block the ball at McDowell’s feet.

Full-time: 0 – 3

Bangor: Brown, Collier, Hylands, Allen (Munn), Bailie (Forsythe), Harbinson, Kerr, Irvine (Guy), Morrow, McDowell, Melly.  Scorers: Irvine (‘5), Own Goal (’29), Guy (‘81)
Booked: Harbinson, Collier

Portstewart: S.Dunlop, M.McMutt, A.Campbell, G.Taylor, A.Whiteside, A.Kiecz?, T.Parkhill (E.Fletcher), A.Gaston, R.McAllister, I.Todd (A.McGowan), O.Peden (R.McFadden).