BALLINAMALLARD UTD 0-1 BANGOR

CARNEGIE FIRST DIVISION
Ferney Park, Saturday 31st March 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

After last week’s disappointment of losing to Banbridge Town, Bangor bounced back with a gritty performance which was enough to claim a slender 1 nil victory over struggling Ballinamallard United.  Stephen Collier was the Bangor hero as he finished off a neat move in the 15th minute to mark the Seasiders’ 8th first half goal against the Fermanagh side this season.

It took Bangor 5 minutes to force the first real chance of the match when Paul McDowell latched onto a long ball from Brian Hylands.  The league’s leading scorer collected the pass but saw his attempted chip drift harmlessly wide of the right post from 16 yards.

The opening goal arrived after 15 minutes thanks to Stephen Collier.  David Irvine and Andy Morrow exchanged passes before the latter played the ball forward to Paul McDowell.  The Bangor forward chipped the ball down the left flank for Andy Forsythe to chase.  Forsythe did excellently to centre the ball where the marauding Stephen Collier thumped the ball home on the volley from 8 yards.

Bangor continued to dominate the proceedings of the 1^st half and after 26 minutes, the industrious David Irvine volleyed wide from 18 yards after being skilfully set up by McDowell.

Stephen Munn, returning from suspension and playing in a midfield role, was unfortunate not to score after 34 minutes.  Good play between Collier and Melly down the right flank allowed Munn to shoot from 20 yards but the impressive Matthew Quinn in the home goal, kept the ball out low to his right.

The 16 year old goalkeeper, making his debut for the home side, breathtakingly denied Paul McDowell a goal in the 40^th minute.  Andy Forsythe advanced down the left flank before floating in a cross which Quinn could only parry out.  From 6 yards, McDowell looked certain to score, but as the forward had to wait on the ball to come down, Quinn was able to regain his balance before superbly blocking McDowell’s volley on the line.

Half-time: 0-1

Matthew Quinn continued his impressive form into the second half as he denied David Irvine after 54 minutes. The Bangor midfielder had collected a lay off from Andy Morrow before shooting from 20 yards, but Quinn was equal to the effort.

Minutes later, a 25-yard Brian Hylands free kick had to be pushed away from danger low to the goalkeeper’s right to mark another fine save.

Bangor continued to carve out openings and McDowell was unlucky not to see his glancing header find the net from a Melly corner after 62 minutes.

The home side began to disrupt Bangor’s play and found themselves buzzing around the visiting penalty area for periods without finding a way through a stout defence, marshalled well by Allen and Harbinson.

Stephen Collier could’ve double his and Bangor’s goal tally after 72 minutes when he combined well with Andy Morrow on the right wing.  Collier received Morrow’s lay off just inside the penalty area before advancing on goal, but the former Linfield star could only direct his shot into the side netting from 8 yards.

Minutes later, Paul McDowell came agonisingly close to extending Bangor’s lead when his shot from the left flew just wide of the base of the right hand post after good play from Allen, Morrow and Irvine.

Ballinamallard’s only shot on target arrived in the 78^th minute when full back Teague’s 22 yard free kick was comfortably saved by Ryan Brown.

With 5 minutes remaining, the hard-working Andy Morrow did well to beat his two markers 35 yards from goal before rolling a pass wide to Melly.  The winger lifted a delicate pass into the penalty area for Paul McDowell but his toe-poked effort flew across goal and just wide of the left hand post.

As the game drew to a close, Bangor had to endure some anxious moments as the home side pushed forward for a much needed goal, but some determined defending saw the Seasiders keep a clean sheet and gain a valuable 3 points.

Full-time: 0 – 1

Bangor: Brown 1, Collier, Hylands, Allen, Munn, Harbinson, Melly, Irvine, Morrow, McDowell, Forsythe (Gribben). 
Subs not used: Kerr, Brown 2.
Goal scorer: Collier (’15)
Booked: Munn 

Ballinamallard Utd: Quinn, Chambers (No 14), Teague, Coulter, Fanthorpe, Hutchinson (No 15), Crilly, McCreery (No 12), Mullen, Higginbottom, Flaherty
Booked: Fanthorpe