BANGOR 1-2 GLENAVON , JJB Sport Premiership.

Clandeboye Park, Saturday 8th November 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor suffered their second straight league defeat after this hard-fought encounter at a wet and windy Clandeboye Park. Trevor Molloy gave his Glenavon side the lead before Adrian Harper doubled their advantage with a deflected goal before half-time. Bangor made the most of the weather conditions in the second half with Andy Morrow pulling a goal back, but the visiting defence held out resolutely to claim a valuable three points.

Tuda Murphy was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on as he had to make a couple of saves from Noel Anderson and Andy Morrow from long range.

With a strong wind in their favour, Glenavon began to peg Bangor back in their own half. Trevor Molloy gave Bangor a warning in the 10th minute when the tricky forward flashed his 16 yard shot wide across goal.

Three minutes later, Molloy made no mistake as he was given enough time to curl a shot from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner past a helpless Andrew Plummer.

Molloy was again the thorn in Bangor's side in the 23rd minute when his well struck 35 yard free kick had to be beaten away by Plummer.

Bangor's best move of the match almost resulted in a goal after 30 minutes. Aaron McKee showed some classy touches to beat two sprawling Glenavon challenges before sliding the ball forward for Andy Morrow. The Bangor captain looked to lift the ball into the net, but Murphy was off his line quickly to block the danger.

Glenavon doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Adrian Harper found enough space inside the home penalty area to fire a shot off a Bangor defender's leg and into the far corner, just out of Plummer's reach.

The home side came within a whisker of pulling a goal back moments before half time when Darren Lockhart rose to meet Verner's corner, only for the ball to bounce clear off the post.

Half-time: 0 - 2

Having played against the wind in the first half, Bangor looked to take advantage of the weather conditions immediately and the Seasiders found themselves back in the game in the 50th minute. Marty Verner did well to collect Andrew Cleary's pass before cutting infield past his marker. Verner squared the ball to Andy Morrow who steadied himself before clipping the ball high into the net from 10 yards.

Bangor had Glenavon pinned back deep in their own half by this stage, with a series of corners causing all sorts of problems for the visitors.

Marty Verner had a good chance to level the scores in the 66th minute, but he lifted the ball over the crossbar from 20 yards with Murphy stranded after the impressive Lockhart picked out Verner's run.

Bangor might have begun to feel that it was not to be their day when referee Ian Hall suprised the Seasiders by only issuing Conor Walsh with a yellow card after the Glenavon midfielder had left Mark Gracey in a heap with a nasty challenge after the ball had been played.

In search of a goal, Marty Quinn added Mark Magennis, David Irvine - making his 100th appearance in a Bangor shirt - and Nathan McConnell to the action but for all Bangor's possession and territorial advantage they struggled to create enough clear cut chances.

Full-time: 1 - 2

Bangor: Plummer, Youle, Cleary ('70 Magennis), Fitzpatrick, Gracey, McKee, Anderson ('78 Irvine), Lockhart, Melly ('80 McConnell), Morrow, Verner. Subs not used: McDowell, A Walsh.

Scorer: Morrow ('50) Booked: Youle, Verner

Glenavon: Murphy, Hudson, Carville, Magee, Dickson, Harpur, Harper, C Walsh, Molloy, Grant, Liggett ('73 McDonagh). Subs not used: Murray, Larmour, Buchannan, Coffey

Scorers: Molloy ('13), Harper ('38) Booked: C Walsh, Harpur

Referee: Mr I Hall