BANGOR 4 - 1 H&W WELDERS

CARNEGIE FIRST DIVISION
Clandeboye Park, Tuesday 3rd April 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor put themselves in the driving seat for the play-off position after recording an impressive victory over the Welders. Two first half goals from Paul McDowell were added to in the second half by David Irvine and Stephen Munn as the Seasiders rediscovered their scoring touch, before an injury time Darren Sterling penalty gave a consolation goal for the visitors.

The game began at a lively tempo with both sides having chances in the opening two minutes. David Irvine was first to volley over the Welders' crossbar after a Hylands' free kick had not been cleared properly. Almost immediately after, a long punt up field from Aston was chased by Mark Craig. The forward held off the attentions of Jason Allen but saw his attempted lob from 10 yards well judged by Ryan Brown.

John Bailie then saw his backpost effort hacked clear by a visiting defender off the goal line after he connected with a Melly corner in the 7th minute. Bangor continued to press forward and should have taken the lead in the 20 th minute. Good work from Paul McDowell 20 yards from goal allowed Andy Forsythe to latch onto a neat pass through the Welder's defence. Unfortunately for Bangor , Forsythe struggled to control the pass and Andrew Fox, called into the side after James Thompson was injured in the warm up, was down quickly to smoother any danger.

In the 23 rd minute, Bangor were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Stephen Munn struck the shot superbly, forcing Fox into a smart save low to his right. Paul McDowell was quickest to react as he squeezed the rebound past Fox at the second time of asking to mark the forward's 22 nd goal of the season.

The visiting side had a good chance to level the scores two minutes later. Ryan Brown punched out a long Emerson free kick as far as Aston who hooked the ball back into the danger area where Colin Bell rose to head the ball goalwards. Brown, now back on his line, reacted sharply to push the ball away to safety low to his left.

Bangor doubled their advantage on the half hour mark thanks to the clinical Paul McDowell. Some neat passing between Melly, Collier and Morrow allowed McDowell to turn and lift the ball delightfully over Fox from 14 yards despite the forward being heavily marked.

The impressive Dominic Melly forced Fox into another fine save in the 40 th minute when his powerful free kick from 25 yards was pushed away low to the goalkeeper's right hand side.

Minutes before half time, Mark Craig saw his shot from 12 yards fly into the side netting after finding himself in space to the right of the Bangor goal.

Half-time: 2 – 0

Bangor continued to force the running of the game after the break, and the Seasiders got their third goal in the 64 th minute. Andy Morrow did well to control a pass before spreading the ball wide to Melly. The on-loan winger beat his 2 markers superbly well before crossing the ball from the by-line. The ball fell 8 yards from goal where David Irvine arrived unmarked to thump the ball past an exposed Fox. Dominic Melly forced Fox into another splendid save in the 70 th minute, as the winger shot from fully 30 yards after collecting a neat lay off from Morrow. The former-Bangor goalkeeper threw himself low to his left to push the goal bound effort wide of the post.

Brian Hylands sent the resultant corner swinging towards the back post where Stephen Munn headed the ball over Fox and into the net via a deflection off a defender. Andrew Fox had to be at his best to produce a stunning save to deny Andy Morrow a goal in 78 th minute. Paul McDowell created space for himself on the edge of the visiting penalty area before threading a ball through to Morrow. The Bangor-captain skilfully flicked the ball towards the bottom left hand corner from 6 yards but somehow Fox threw himself down to claw the ball away.

Darren Sterling, a second half substitute for Colin Bell, sent a looping header over the Bangor crossbar in the 90 th minute after good work down the right from Paul Nixon. The Welders were awarded a penalty in the 93 rd minute when the referee harshly adjudged that Jason Allen had handled the ball on the edge of the penalty area. Darren Sterling duly slotted the ball into the centre of the goal past a diving Brown to deny Bangor a clean sheet.

Full-time: 4 -1

Bangor : Brown 1, Collier, Hylands, Munn, Allen, Bailie, Melly (Brown 2), Irvine , Morrow, McDowell (Gribben), Forysthe. Sub not used: Harbinson
Goal Scorers: McDowell ('23, '30), Irvine ('64), Munn ('70)

H&W Welders: Fox, Nixon, Roy, Spence, Emerson, Hannah (Cooper), Hand (Manly), Aston, Craig, Bell ( Sterling ), Rossbottom.
Goal scorer: Sterling (pen '93)
Booked: Fox