ARDS 0 - 1 BANGOR

CARNEGIE FIRST DIVISION
Clandeboye Park, Saturday 9th April 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

A superb piece of quick thinking from Dominic Melly was enough to separate Bangor and Ards in this Easter derby.  The winger’s quickly taken free kick on the half hour mark was the only goal of a scrappy and uneventful match but what could prove a crucial result in the Seasiders’ quest for the play-off position.

A Brian Hylands’ long throw-in caused panic in the Ards penalty area in the 12^th minute after David Irvine had risen highest to flick the ball on.  Dominic Melly latched onto the ball at the back post, but he saw his headed effort comfortably gathered by Ian Mannus.

Neither side could exert any control on the match with play being interrupted by niggling fouls and stray passes.  But it was again Bangor who came closest to scoring in the 24th minute when Stephen Munn’s blistering 35-yard free kick flew wide of the left hand post.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 30th minute when Bangor were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal in a central position.  As Ian Mannus lined up his defensive wall, Dominic Melly delightfully curled the ball into the unguarded bottom right hand corner of the goal to give the Seasiders the lead.

Half-time: 0 – 1

Ards began the second half like a team possessed and could have levelled the scores after only a minute of play.  A long punt up field from Johnny Cleary fell kindly to Johnny Roy on the right hand corner of the Bangor penalty area.  The Ards man advanced before forcing Ryan Brown 1 into a fine save low to his right as the Bangor ‘keeper pushed the ball behind for a corner.  From the resultant corner, Jay Magee found space in the Bangor defence but the defender sent his header wide of the target from 8 yards.

As Ards continued to press for an equaliser, a change in formation and personnel saw Tumelty and Burns replacing McBride and Deegan respectively.  While Ards pushed more men forward, Bangor were forced into replacing the injured Andy Forsythe with Ryan Brown 2.

Ards continued to press but struggled to create any clear openings against a resolute Bangor rearguard.  Long punts up field were being comfortably dealt with by Allen and Munn, while Ryan Brown 1 was quickly off his line to remove any danger.

With 76 minutes played, Bangor substitute Ryan Brown 2 did well to burst through the challenges of Cleary and McMillen on the right hand side of the Ards’ penalty area, but the winger’s low cross was well dealt with by Mannus.

Bangor were having to work hard to try and hold the ball up field to relieve the pressure of defending.  But, in the 93rd minute, Ards were awarded a dubious corner kick.

With Ian Mannus making his way forward, Ronald Burns’ kick was poor, but the substitute collected the clearance before threading a ball through to a suspiciously offside looking Johnny Roy.  As everyone stood still waiting for the offside to be awarded, Johnny Roy collected the pass 8 yards from goal before somehow blazing his effort high over the crossbar, marking the last action of the match.

Full – Time: 0 – 1

Bangor: Brown 1, Collier, Hylands, Munn, Allen, Bailie, Melly, Irvine, Morrow, McDowell (Gribben), A Forysthe (Brown 2).  Sub not used: Harbinson.
Goal scorer: Melly (’30)
Booked: Bailie, McDowell, Allen

Ards: Mannus, Shaw, Cleary (Pike), Deegan (Burns), E Forsythe, Magee, McMillen, McKee, McBride (Tumelty), Roy, Billing.

Booked: Forsythe, Shaw, McKee, McMillen