BANGOR 1 - 1 Loughgall

Clandeboye Park, Carnegie 1st Division, 5th April 2008

Bangor's fading hopes of 1st Division glory took another blow with a third draw in a row. Alan Murphy headed his side into the lead on the stroke of half time before Ryan Brown 2 equalised minutes into the second half to secure a point for a disjointed Bangor side.

As has been the case in the previous three meetings between the sides, Loughgall looked to use their physical presence at corner kicks and it took only 5 minutes for the visitors to create their first chance. Marty Lavery's inswinging corner was met by the towering Alan Murphy, but his looping header was cleared off the line by the well positioned John Bailie.

Bangor's best move of the match almost brought a goal in the 8th minute after a clever Andy Forsythe freekick allowed Ryan Brown 2 to cross from the left. With the Loughgall defence caught napping, David Irvine fired a shot from 10 yards which was superbly pushed over the bar by Marc Robinson.

Ryan Moffett came close to doubling Loughgall's advantage in the 14th minute when the winger capitalised on a slip by Craig Gilmore. The tricky winger spotted Ryan Brown off his goal-line, but Moffett's effort dipped just over the crossbar from 20 yards.

The home side struggled for any rhythm with too many stray passes, fouls and long balls preventing any attacking football to test a well organised Loughgall defence. As a result Bangor found it difficult to keep hold of possesion and found themselves on the back foot for long periods.

The opening goal arrived moments before the half time whistle when Alan Murphy's glancing header from a Moffett corner found the roof of the net despite the best efforts of John Bailie on the goal line.

Half-time: 0 - 1

Ryan Moffett again came close to adding a second goal but the winger dragged his 25-yard shot just wide of the left post in the 50th minute.

Bangor were back on level terms a minute later when Andy Forsythe's left wing cross found the unmarked Ryan Brown 2 at the back post where the winger slammed home from close range to score the goal his performance deserved.

Dean Smith was unfortunate not to see his hard work rewarded in the 65th minute when, after evading the challenges' of several Bangor players, his close range effort was deflected over the crossbar.

The Seasiders enjoyed a brief spell of dominance and nearly had something to show for it when Andy Morrow saw his glancing header from a Forsythe cross fly just wide of the post with Robinson stranded in the 71st minute.

At the other end of the pitch, Adam Nesbitt almost struck lucky in the 75th minute when his overhit cross had to be pushed onto the crossbar and behind by the alert Ryan Brown 1.

Full-time: 1 - 1

Bangor: R Brown 1, Bailie (Rezai '45), Beggs, Gilmore, R Brown 2, Harbinson, Gardiner, Irvine, Morrow, Verner (Fitzgerald '63), Forsythe (Collier '83). Subs not used: Melly, Bell
Scorer: Brown 2 ('52) Booked: Bailie, Beggs, Gardiner, Gilmore

Loughgall: Robinson, Waddell, Alderdice (Adair '58), Peden, Murphy, Herron, Moffett (Uprichard '70), A Smith, A Brown (Nesbitt '63), Lavery, D Smith. Subs not used: Allen, Walker
Scorer: Murphy ('45)

Referee: Mr R Crangle.