BANBRIDGE TOWN 1-6 BANGOR

Carnegie First Division, Crystal Park
Saturday 12th April 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor got back to winning ways with a resounding victory away to Banbridge Town. A fine team performance saw the Seasiders score six goals in a highly impressive display which totally outclassed the opposition.

Bangor signalled their intent early on when the lively Ryan Brown 2 raced clear down the right flank before firing the ball across goal but just out of the reach of the on-rushing Forsythe and Irvine.

William McFredrick in the home goal was forced into a fine save in the 22nd minute as he clawed away Andy Forsythe's downward header after the winger had met John Bailie's right wing cross.

If that save was good, McFredrick's 30th minute effort was superb as the 'keeper threw himself high to his right to push away John Bailie's rasping 30 yard drive which was destined for the top corner.

There was nothing the Banbridge 'keeper could do in the 37th minute to deny Andy Morrow from opening the scoring. David Irvine did well to win possession in midfield before sending the ball to his right to pick out Morrow. The Bangor captain controlled the ball before lashing a right footed volley high into the net from 22 yards.

Bangor doubled their lead a minute before half-time. Defending a Banbridge corner, Bangor launched a counter attack which saw the impressive John Bailie race down the right wing to connect with Andy Morrow's pass. The Bangor defender sent the ball across the 6-yard box where Marty Verner was on hand to chest the ball into the goal from close range.

Banbridge hit back in injury time in the first half when Barry Meehan laid the ball off to Aaron Baker who fired the ball high into the Bangor net from 14 yards.

Half-time: 1 - 2

Ryan Brown 2 had a good opportunity to restore Bangor's two goal advantage minutes after the restart, but under pressure, he could only divert Marty Verner's cross wide of the target from 8 yards.

Bangor didn't have long to wait to get a third goal when Craig Gilmore opened his account for the Seasiders in the 56th minute as the defender thumped the ball home from close range after his initial header had been blocked by a Banbridge player.

Marty Verner grabbed his second goal of the game on the hour mark when he raced through on goal to receive Colin Beggs' perfectly weighted long ball. Shrugging off the attention of Simon Nicks, the Bangor striker confidently fired the ball into the bottom corner past the helpless McFredrick.

Bangor continued to dominate the game, and Andy Morrow added to Bangor's lead when he collected a long ball up field from the Bangor defence in the 78th minute. The Bangor captain advanced before firing a shot across goal and past McFredrick into the bottom right hand corner.

Andy Morrow rounded off his superb individual performance by again turning provider this time for Colin Beggs in the 82nd minute. Playing in a more advanced role in the second half, Beggs ran through on goal to send Morrow's deft pass past the exposed McFredrick to seal a well deserved and convincing victory.

Full-time: 1 - 6

Bangor: Brown 1, Bailie, Beggs, Gilmore, Brown 2 ('79 Melly), Harbinson, Gardiner ('82 Bell), Irvine, Morrow, Verner, Forsythe (' 67 Collier). Subs not used: Munn, Fitzgerald.

Scorers: Morrow ('37, '78), Verner ('45, '60), Gilmore ('56), Beggs ('82) Booked: Beggs

Banbridge Town: McFredrick, Boyle ('68 Henry), Trainor ('56 Alexander), Kane, Nicks, Tumilty ('68 McParland), R Evans, Quinn, Baker, Meehan, A Evans. Subs not used: Derby, Grant

Scorer: Baker (45+2) Booked: Tumilty, Boyle, Kane

Referee: Mr McGrath