BANGOR 1-1 NEWRY CITY , JJB Sports Premiership.

Clandeboye Park, Tuesday 7th October 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor will have been the happier of the two teams to gain a point at a soaking wet Clandeboye Park. Fielding a make-shift defence, Bangor took the lead in 28th minute through a Marty Verner volley. Newry City equalised moments before half time, before dominating proceedings in the second half. Bangor's defensive problems were added to when Dean Youle was sent off late in the second half, forcing Bangor to end the game with three midfielders filling in at the back.

With injuries forcing Marty Quinn's hand, Bangor started the game with Aaron McKee playing at right back, and reserve team manager John Bailie making his first appearance of the season at left back.

It was Bangor who made the early in-roads with Darren Lockhart heading over from a Verner corner in the 13th minute while Dom Melly went close with a curling effort from distance in the 23rd minute.

Bangor opened the scoring in the 28th minute thanks to an exquisite finish from Marty Verner. Aaron McKee's right wing cross was badly misjudged by the Newry goalkeeper allowing the ball to bounce clear off the crossbar. The quick thinking Nathan McConnell collected the ball before chipping his cross to the back post where the Newry defence, exposed by the earlier loss of Cullen Feeney to injury, left Marty Verner unmarked and the former Glenavon striker made no mistake as he rifled a 14 yard volley past the helpless Murphy.

Dom Melly again went close for Bangor, this time with a curling 20 yard freekick in the 32nd minute which bent just wide of the post.

The visitors leveled the scores in the 41st minute when Bangor failed to properly clear a corner. Andrew Plummer couldn't make a clean connection with his punch, allowing Lee Feeney the chance to put a high ball back into the penalty area. Emmett Friars rose highest to glance the ball into the net, via the top of Aaron McKee's head.

Half-time: 1 - 1

Bangor had two glorious chances to retake the lead inside the opening minutes of the second half. Marty Verner found himself through on goal from the left, but after stepping inside a defender's challenge, his close range shot was well blocked by Murphy. Verner's resultant corner caused mayhem in the visiting defence before Mark Gracey had enough time and space to shoot from 6 yards, but again, Murphy made a top drawer save with his feet to somehow keep the ball out of the net.

Sean Friars was unlucky in the 55th minute to see his shot from 25 yards thunder clear off the crossbar with Plummer beaten, while Alan Davidson sent the rebound wide from 18 yards.

Newry were applying all the pressure to the Bangor defence with wave after wave of attack. But despite being on top, the closest the visitors came to scoring was when Lee Feeney picked out Stephen Garrett's run,. From 14 yards, the former Linfield striker lifted the ball over the advancing Plummer and the crossbar.

Bangor almost made Newry pay for falling asleep at the back moments later when Nathan McConnell raced onto a mistake in the visiting defence. McConnell did well to hold off the attentions of Mickey Collins, but the forward sent his left foted shot from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar.

With only two recognised defenders on the pitch, Bangor were dealt a massive blow in the 80th minute when Dean Youle, one of those defenders, was shown his second yellow card for apparent dissent after conceding a free kick. This meant more reshuffling for Marty Quinn, with Glenn Hand moving to right back, Aaron McKee partnering Mark Gracey in the heart of the defence and substitute Anto Walsh lining up at left back.

Newry reacted to this by adding Kyle Moran and Chris Morgan to an already attacking side, but the Bangor defence, superbly led by Mark Gracey, kept the visiting attackers at bay.

In the closing stages, Bangor replaced the hard working Nathan McConnell with Paul McDowell who was making his return to the side some 12 months after injuring his knee.

Full-time: 1 - 1

Bangor: Plummer, McKee, Youle, Gracey, Bailie ('70 Walsh), Hand, Lockhart ('60 Irvine), Anderson, Melly, Verner, McConnell ('87 McDowell). Subs not used: J Tumelty, R Tumelty

Scorer: Verner ('28) Booked: Youle, McKee Sent off: Youle

Newry City: Murphy, Gowdy ('83 Morgan), Black, C Feeney ('17 S Friars), E Friars, Clarke, Garrett ('80 Moran), Collins, L Feeney, Davidson, Ferguson. Subs not used: Keegan, Doherty

Scorer: E Friars ('41) Booked: Collins, Gowdy

Referee: Mr H Carville