BANGOR 3-0 BALLINAMALLARD UTD

Carnegie League Cup - Clandeboye Park
Saturday 11th August 2007
Match Report by Neil Watson

Bangor recorded a comfortable 3 nil victory over 2nd Division side Ballinamallard United in the first game of the Carnegie League Cup Group Stages. First half goals from David Irvine and Andy Forsythe were added to after the break from Stephen Munn.

The opening goal arrived in the 5th minute from the penalty spot after Andy Morrow had been pulled to the ground by Seamus Fanthorpe. David Irvine put his play-off penalty miss behind him to step up and drill the ball into the bottom corner past the sprawling Murray. A clever freekick routine from Stephen Munn and Colin Beggs in the 18th minute allowed Andy Forsythe to shoot in a crowded penalty area, but the winger’s effort was blocked on the goal line by a mass of defenders.

The visitors almost drew level in fortunate circumstances moments later when Teague’s over-hit cross forced Ryan Brown 1 into a smart save as the ‘keeper back peddled to claw the ball to safety from under his crossbar. Bangor’s front pairing of Morrow and Brown 2 combined well in the 25th minute, with Brown volleying into the side netting from 14 yards after a clever flick on from Morrow.

Ballinamallard had their best chance of the half when Higgenbottom forced Brown 1 into a fine save low to his left after the visiting forward had fired his 16 yard shot low across goal. Bangor doubled their lead on the stroke of half time through Andy Forsythe. Ryan Brown 2 used his blistering pace to beat the challenge of Fanthorpe on the right flank before cutting the ball back for Forsythe who gratefully slammed the ball home from 10 yards.

Half-time: 2 – 0

It took the home side only 2 minutes to extend their lead as Stephen Munn met Andy Forsythe’s corner to head the ball past Murray at the back post from 6 yards. Bangor continued to take the game to the visitors with Ryan Brown 2 forcing Ross Murray into an excellent block and David Irvine firing just wide from 30 yards.

The visitors really should have pulled a goal back in the 70th minute when Leon Carters found himself free in the Bangor penalty area after Matthew Holden’s right wing cross. The centre half controlled the ball before swivelling and blasting the ball high over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Ryan Brown 2 was utilising his pace well as he continued to find joy down Bangor’s right flank. The forward cut in from his wing, but Ross Murray was once again equal to the Bangor man’s shot. With only minutes remaining, Andy Forsythe was inches away from adding to his earlier goal with a shot which bounced agonisingly wide of the post after the winger had done well to cut in from the left.

Andy Morrow almost scored the best goal of the game with the last kick of the match when the Bangor captain flicked the ball up for himself before turning and volleying just wide of the left hand post from 12 yards.

Full-time: 3 – 0
Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie (Gribben), Beggs, Munn, Dunlop, Harbinson, Hand, Irvine, Morrow, Forsythe, Brown 2. Subs not used: Hylands, Emerson. Scorers: Irvine (pen ‘5), Forsythe (’45), Munn (’47) Booked: Beggs, Munn

Ballinamallard: Murray, Chambers (Irvine), Holden, Fanthorpe, Carters, Hutchinson (Coulter), Crilly, McCauley, Gillespie (McQuaid), Higgenbottom, Teague Booked: Fanthorpe, Holden, Teague