CLIFTONVILLE 3-2 BANGOR , JJB Sports Premiership.

Celtic Park, Saturday 11th October 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Cliftonville emerged victors from this full-blooded five goal thriller. Chris Scannell gave his side an early lead before Dom Melly equalised in the 27th minute. It took Chris Scannell only another 30 seconds to give Cliftonville the lead. Bangor again levelled things through Marty Verner's penalty kick just after half-time, but Ciaran Donaghy sealed the points moments later. Bangor had their chances to win the game late on, while both sides finished with 10 men after Stephen O'Neill and Andy Cleary were given their marching orders.

In only the second minute, Marty Verner watched on as John Connolly fumbled the forward's 25 yard freekick just wide of the target. The home 'keeper made amends from the corner, collecting the ball and setting Rory Hamill free down the right wing. The former-Glentoran player set up Chris Scannell who hammered the ball home past the hesitant Andrew Plummer.

Bangor were struggling to maintain any sort of pressure on the Cliftonville defence, but the Seasiders found themselves on level terms in the 27th minute when Dominic Melly rifled home a left footed volley from 14 yards after being gifted plenty of time and space in the penalty area.

It took Cliftonville only 30 seconds to re-take the lead when Mark Holland's long ball caught the Bangor defence square allowing Chris Scannell the opportunity to slam the ball past the exposed Plummer at his near post.

Francis Murphy was unfortunate to see his 33rd minute shot from 18 yards drift just wide of the target after some good build up play, while the same player was wasteful from the same distance after the impressive Hamill pulled the ball back.

Half-time: 2 - 1

Only a minute after the restart, referee Brian Turkington awarded Bangor a penalty after Nathan McConnell was bundled over just inside the penalty area. Marty Verner stepped up to place the ball past the despairing dive of John Connolly.

Again, it didn't take long for Cliftonville to retake the lead. In the 50th minute, a corner caused all sorts of problems for the Bangor defence. Andrew Plummer did well to block the first effort, but Ciaran Donaghy made Bangor pay, as he forced the ball into the empty net from 10 yards.

Bangor had a great chance to draw level on the hour mark, only to be denied by the woodwork. Marty Verner did excellently down the right wing before pulling the ball back to Dominic Melly who sent his 12 yard shot crashing off the underside of the crossbar before the ball was adjudged to have bounced clear of the goal line.

At the other end of the pitch, Andrew Plummer reacted quickly to block Kieran O'Connor's shot as Cliftonville continued to threaten on the counter attack.

Bangor had another big appeal for a penalty turned down when Glenn Hand appeared to be cynically tripped from behind as the winger weaved his way into the Cliftonvilel penalty area.

Rory Hamill tested Andrew Plummer's ability in the 73rd minute with a dipping 25 yard freekick which the goalkeeper excellently tipped over the crossbar.

A minute later, subsitute David Irvine glanced on Andrew Cleary's long range freekick. The ball fell to Verner who lifted the ball over Connolly from a tight angle, but with the ball destined for the net, Ronan Scannell got back quickly to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.

Bangor captain Andy Morrow returned to first team action, and he was a focal point as the Seasiders threw everything they could at the home defence. In the 85th minute, Noel Anderson saw his headed effort from a Melly corner hacked clear off the line.

The game ended on a sour note when Stephen O'Neill was sent off for a rash two footed tackle on Aaron McKee before Andrew Cleary was also given his marching orders when Brian Turkington harshly adjudged that his foul on the half way line was a straight red offence.

Full-time: 3 - 2

Bangor: Plummer, McKee, Cleary, Gracey, Fitzpatrick, Hand ('66 R Tumelty), Lockhart (''70 Irvine), Anderson, Melly, Verner, McConnell ('85 Morrow). Subs not used: McDowell, Walsh

Scorers: Melly ('27), Verner pen ('46) Booked: Fitzpatrick, Melly Sent off: Cleary

Cliftonville: Connolly, McMullan, B Holland, Donaghy, R Scannell, Hamill ('90 Patterson), O'Conner, Johnston, M Holland, C Scannell, Murphy (' 73 O'Neill)

Scorers: C Scannell ('3, '28), Donaghy ('50) Booked: Johnston Sent-off: Cleary

Referee: Mr B Turkington