GLENTORAN 1-0 BANGOR , JJB Sports Premiership.

The Oval, Sunday 7th September 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor and Glentoran made history as the first teams to play an Irish League match on a Sunday but it was Glentoran who clinched the victory thanks to a Gary Hamilton goal in the second half. Bangor could feel hard done by not to have left the Oval with a point after an impressive display.

It was a daunting prospect for the Seasiders after the heavy defeat they suffered the previous week, and in the 8th minute the Glens had the perfect opportunity to heap more misery on the visitors. Gary Hamilton did well to find himself space on the left wing before sending a cross towards the backpost where then unmarked Dean Fitzgerald headed wide of the target when it seemed easier to score.

Bangor were containing Glentoran without much bother and were beginning to find their feet in the opposition half as they won a series of corners and tested Elliot Morris with some long range efforts.

In the 40th minute Glentoran were awarded a rather dubious freekick right on the edge of the penalty area when referee Hugh Carville penalised Jim McMenamin for a challenge. Northern Ireland international Gary Hamilton lined up the freekick, but his floated effort was comfortably gathered by the well placed Andrew Plummer.

Darren Boyce had two good opportunities to open the scoring just before half time. Bangor found themselves down to nine men after a nasty clash of heads between Glenn Hand and David Irvine saw both men leave the field for treatment. The Glens looked to capitalise, but Boyce headed wide from a corner before the same man wastefully shot straight at Plummer despite being unmarked 10 yards from goal.

Half-time 0 - 0

Those misses proved costly for Boyce as he was replaced by Michael Halliday at half time as the Glens looked to find the breakthrough with a more attacking formation.

That opportunity arrived in the 49th minute when the homeside were awarded a penalty after Andrew Waterworth was tripped by Mark Gracey. Daryl Fordyce opted to take the spot kick, but he watched on as Andrew Plummer fantastically dived to his right to push away the powerful effort.

It was not long until the home side did take the lead. Sean Ward carried the ball out of defence before launching a long ball forward towards Gary Hamilton. The forward did well to time his run to beat the offside trap before controlling the ball on his chest and brilliantly hooking the ball over the advancing Plummer from 16 yards.

Falling behind spurred Bangor on as the home side began to sit further and further back and invite more pressure on themselves. Bangor were passing the ball around well and finding space for themselves in midfield. One lengthy spell of possession saw Noel Anderson lay the ball off for Darren Lockhart, but the former-Glentoran favourite saw his 25-yard drive comfortably saved by Morris in the 60th minute.

The Seasiders were posing a huge threat to the home defence from long throw ins and corners, as David Irvine constantly out-jumped each Glentoran defender to head the ball. One such Cleary throw from the right in the 69th minute was flicked on by Irvine, but substitute Marty Verner could only send his ambitious overhead kick straight into the arms of Elliot Morris.

Moments later Irvine sent a glancing header across goal and wide after the midfielder rose highest to meet Melly's driven corner.

A corner from the other flank in the 75th minute almost levelled the scores. Marty Verner whipped a dangerous inswinging corner into the 6-yard box where Irvine was again the target. He met the ball in the air and his headed effort seemed to be destined for the net until a defender deflected the ball into the path of a grateful Morris.

By this stage Glentoran were struggling to get out of their own half, and only some desperate defending kept the scoreline intact. Morris smoothered the ball in a crowd of players after another long throw in the 79th minute before Nathan McConnell forced the keeper into a low save moments later.

Deep into stoppage time, another long Cleary throw caused havoc in the Glentoran defence. The ball was not properly cleared allowing Marty Verner to shoot from close range only to be denied by a defender before Morris dived on the loose ball as a goal seemed almost inevitable.

Full-time: 1 - 0

Bangor: Plummer, Cleary, Boyd ('73 J Tumelty), Anderson, McMenamin, Gracey, Hand ('60 Verner), Irvine, McConnell, Lockhart, Melly ('78 R Tumelty). Subs not used: Youle, Fitzpatrick.

Booked: Hand, Gracey

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon, Hill, Leeman, Ward, Boyce ('46 Halliday), Fitzgerald, Fordyce, Waterworth, Hamilton, Neill ('76 Gardiner). Subs not used:Taylor, Simpson, Black

Scorer: Hamilton ('53)

Referee: Mr H Carville