BANGOR 1-3 GLENTORAN

Pre-Season Friendly - Clandeboye Park
Saturday 21st July 2007 
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor's pre-season schedule continued with a tough encounter against Premier League side Glentoran. The gulf in class was evident with Rory Hamill, Gary Hamilton and Sean Ward putting the visitors ahead before Andy Morrow grabbed Bangor a late consolation goal.

Glentoran opened up the Bangor defence in the opening 10 minutes when Gary Hamilton broke free down the right flank. His cross was slammed home by Chris Morgan, only for the forward to see his effort ruled offside by the assistant referee.

A clever corner routine almost resulted in a goal for the Glens after 24 minutes. Rory Hamill's low corner from the right was dummied by one Glentoran player, leaving Philip SImpson the chance to shoot. His goalbound effort had to be blokced on the line by Grant Dunlop before the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

The visitors did not have long to wait to take the lead as Rory Hamill continued his fine pre-season form with a goal in the 27th minute. The bustling forward received Gary Hamilton's pass, brushed off Dunlop's challenge and thumped the ball past the guesting Stuart Addis from 10 yards.

It was the same Glentoran pair who combined to double their side's advantage 6 minutes later. Rory Hamill's corner from the right was met at the back post by Hamilton, who saw his headed effort cannon off the bar before crossing the line despite the best efforts of Dominic Melly.

Bangor tried their best to get themselves back into the game minutes later as they carved open the visiting defence with a fluent passing game. The combined efforts of Dunlop, Beggs, Morrow and Gribben allowed Ryan Brown to shoot from 10 yards, but his angled drive was superbly blocked by William McFredrick.

The Glentoran goalkeeper again came to the rescue of his side on the stroke of half time with a breath-taking double save. Dominic Melly collected Gribben's lay off on the edge of the penalty area before shooting low towards goal. McFredrick dived to his left to block the shot before quickly throwing himself further to his left to claw away the ball as it spun towards the goal-line.

Half-time: 0 - 2

A host of substitutions marked the early proceedings of the second half as both sides experimented with various formations and players. And it was Glentoran substitute Andy Hall who created Glentoran's third goal on the hour mark. After clearing a Bangor corner, Hall gathered the ball on the right flank and led a counter attack. The substitute raced the length of the pitch before crossing the ball for the supporting Sean Ward who tapped home from 6 yards.

Bangor grabbed their only goal of the game in the 67th minute. Substitute Johnny Rosson sent his long free kick into the penalty area where Andy Morrow glanced the ball over the badly positioned McFredrick and into the empty net.

The home side almost got themselves a second goal two minutes later but Andy Morrow could only stab the ball over the bar from 4 yards after Melly's free kick had fallen kindly for the Bangor captain in a crowded penalty area.

As the game petered out as a contest, Glentoran almost added to their tally through substitute Luckas Adamcyzk in the 85th minute. The Polish substitute collected Chris Morgan's lay off, but could not direct his effort as the midfielder blasted wide from 16 yards.

Full-time: 1 - 3

Bangor: Addis, Bailie, Beggs (Bryson), Emerson (Harbinson), Massey (Boldizsar), Melly, Hand, Dunlop (Forsythe), Morrow, Gribben (McDowell), Brown (Rosson)
Scorer: Morrow ('67)

Glentoran: McFredrick, Nixon (Hall), S Ward, Simpson, Leeman, Carson (McGovern), McCann (Bowers), Hamill (McDonagh), Morgan, Hamilton (Halliday), M Ward (Adamcyzk)
Scorers: Hamill ('27), Hamilton ('34), S Ward ('60)