BANGOR 2-1 SIROCCO WORKS

Pre-Season Friendly - Clandeboye Park
Tuesday 31st July 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor were made to work hard to secure victory over amateur league side Sirocco Works in Tuesday night’s friendly.  Ryan Brown 2 continued his fine form giving Bangor a second half lead, before Ferguson levelled the scores with 9 minutes remaining.  Paul McDowell then grabbed his first goal of his pre-season in the 90th minute to give the Seasiders their second victory of the close season.

The home side were in control of the game from an early stage and could have taken the lead after only 4 minutes, but Irvine headed just over the crossbar from 10 yards after good work from Gribben and McDowell.

While comfortably passing the ball around the park, Bangor were restricted to long range efforts with McDowell firing over in the 16th minute before forcing goalkeeper Burns into a smart low stop a minute later.

Dominic Melly’s in-swinging freekick from the left wing had to be dealt with by Burns, low at his near post in the 20^th minute as Stephen Munn closed in to pounce on any loose ball.

Melly again went close in the 22^nd minute when his in-swinging corner evaded the ‘keeper and had to be headed clear off the line by a covering defender.

Paul McDowell forced Burns into more action in the 24^th minute when the striker made the most of some good work from Forsythe and Brown 2 to shoot from 18 yards.

Ryan Brown 2 was a constant threat down the right flank, and his inviting cross after skilfully beating his marker, was skewed across goal by McDowell in the 26^th minute.

After that flurry of activity, Bangor lost their way as Sirocco Works began to find their feet in the game without being able to force Ryan Brown 1 into any action.

On the stroke of half-time, Simon Gribben flicked the ball on towards the lurking McDowell.  Last season’s leading scorer took a touch before unleashing a fierce drive from 16 yards which thundered clear off the crossbar with Burns well beaten.

Half-time: 0 – 0

Some committed defending from the Sirocco Works backline denied Irvine and McDowell in the 56^th minute after Melly’s corner had caused havoc in the visiting 6-yard box.

Melly’s delivery into the box again caused problems for the visitors on the hour mark as Ryan Brown 2 saw his volley from the edge of the penalty area fly just wide of the left hand upright.

Bangor did get the breakthrough in the 68^th minute in controversial circumstances.  McDowell’s turn and shot from 18 yards was superbly palmed away at full stretch by Burns only for Gribben to gather the rebound and square the ball for the advancing Stephen Collier.  The former-Linfield star’s shot from 8 yards was diverted into the net by a suspiciously offside looking Ryan Brown 2 much to the disgust and anger of the visiting side.

Andy Forsythe was denied by the impressive Burns moments later, after the winger had burst clear having charged down a clearance.  Burns got down quickly to his left to reel in and hold the goal bound effort with McDowell closing in.

Bangor changed their formation which allowed Stephen Collier to push further forward than before.  This move almost paid off in the 75^th minute, but the right back saw his volley fly agonisingly wide of the left post from 10 yards.

Sirocco Works pulled the game level in the 80^th minute when Ferguson rose highest in the Bangor penalty area to powerfully head the ball past the sprawling Brown 1.

A minute later and only a superb clearance from Andrew Massey from almost underneath the crossbar denied Mercer a goal as the substitute closed in on Campbell’s dangerous cross.

The visitors were now on the offensive and could have stolen the lead in the 85^th minute when Mercer volleyed over the bar from 10 yards after more excellent play from Campbell on the right flank.

With only added time to be played, Bangor grabbed the winner after Massey had headed Forsythe’s corner back towards goal.  Irvine helped the ball on in the 6-yard box where McDowell gratefully stabbed home the winner from close range.

Full-time: 2 – 1

 Bangor: Brown 1, Collier, Bailie, Munn, Harbinson (Massey), Melly, Brown 2, Irvine, Gribben (Dunlop), McDowell, Forsythe.  Subs not used: Morrow, Beggs, Hand, Emerson
Scorers: Brown 2 (’68), McDowell (’90)

Sirocco Works: Burns, Robson, Platt, McGlade, Cassidy, O’Raw, McDaid, Crooks, Campbell, Ferguson, Ledman.  Subs: Boyd, Murray, Mercer, Reid, Ray
Scorer: Ferguson (’80)