BANGOR 1-2 GLENTORAN, JJB Sport Premiership.

Clandeboye Park, Saturday 22nd November 2008
Match Report by Neil Watson 

A 90th minute Dean Fitzgerald goal broke Bangor hearts at Clandeboye Park today. Having taken a first half lead through David Irvine, the Seasiders could feel hard done by as they fell to Fitzgerald's late winner after Gary Hamilton had levelled the scores just before half-time.

The tone of the game was set early on, with referee Brian Turkington issuing both Andrew Cleary and Darren Lockhart with yellow cards. Neither side were allowed to build any momentum and it was no suprise that a freekick led to the opening goal.

A long Jim McMenamin freekick was met by David Irvine who outjumped his marker and a hopelessly positioned Elliott Morris to head the ball into the empty net in the 19th minute.

Gary Hamilton came close to scoring in the 24th minute, but his volley from a Halliday knock-down fizzed over the crossbar from 16 yards.

The same man hit the back of the net moments before half-time with an exquiste finish. From another freekick, Hamilton found enough space in the Bangor penalty area to swivel and send a volley into the top corner past the helpless Plummer.

Half-time: 1 - 1

Glentoran started the second half strongly, wiht Paul Leeman blazing over the crossbar from a good position after Plummer had pushed away a Kyle Neill freekick in the 55th minute.

Plummer was again in action moments later, this time denying Daryll Fordyce from close range with a great block.

At the other end of the pitch, a fantastic covering tackle robbed David Irvine of possession as the Bangor man looked to capitalise on Noel Anderson's low cross.

Marty Verner's inswinging corners were causing the visiting defence all sorts of trouble, but Bangor just couldn't force the ball home. In the 65th minute, one such corner was cleared as far as Andrew Cleary who controlled the ball before firing a dipping volley from 30 yards crashing off the crossbar with Morris well beaten. The rebound fell to Verner, but his rasping shot was blocked by a defender, with Brian Turkington waving away Bangor's appeals for a penalty for a handball.

Bangor lived dangerously in the 73rd minute when Cleary was on hand to clear Gary Hamilton's effort for a corner with Plummer beaten. The resultant corner seemed to be heading straight into the net only for a covering Bangor defender to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.

Daryll Fordyce was again guilty of wasting a great opportunity in the 86th minute when he shot straight at Plummer from close range when he should have done better.

But with only injury time to play, Dean Fitzgerald arrived unmarked at the back post to scramble home a Gary Hamilton corner to gift his side all 3 points in this hard fought battle.

Bangor: Plummer, Youle, Cleary, McMenamin, Gracey, Anderson, Melly, Irvine, Lockhart, Verner, Morrow. Subs not used: McDowell, Magennis, McKee, McConnell, Walsh.

Scorer: Irvine ('19) Booked: Lockhart, Cleary, McMenamin, Youle, Irvine, Verner

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon (McGovern '84), Hill, Leeman, Simpson, Fordyce, Neill (Gardiner '70), Fitzgerald, McCabe, Halliday (Waterworth ' 70), Hamilton. Subs not used: Taylor, Ward

Scorers: Hamilton ('42), Fitzgerald ('90) Booked: Simpson, Fitzgerald, Fordyce

Referee: Mr Brian Turkington