COLERAINE 3-1 BANGOR , JJB Sports Premiership.

Coleraine Showgrounds,  Saturday 7th February 2009
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor suffered their second 3-1 defeat at Coleraine Showgrounds this season as two goals in the second half sealed the game for the home side. Darren Boyce had made the most of a Bangor error to open the scoring after 12 minutes. Left back Nigel Boyd headed home his first goal for Bangor on the half hour mark to deservedly level the scores. A change in tactics by Coleraine midway through the second half changed the game as Kyle McVey and Gareth Tommons added to the score.

Dom Melly came within inches of scoring in only the 2nd minute when the impressive wideman cut in from the right and fired a low shot against the base of the post.

At the other end of the pitch, Coleraine served Bangor a warning of their threat as Ryan Brown had to superbly smoother the ball at the feet of Darren Boyce as the striker found himself in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area.

Bangor failed to take heed of that warning in the 12th minute as another long punt down field was inexplicably left by Dean Youle allowing Boyce to nip in ahead of Brown and loop a header over the keeper and into the net.

The Seasiders began to find their feet in the game with Dom Melly in the thick of every attack. In the 30th minute, Melly again beat Crossan with ease on the right wing before sending in an inviting cross towards the backpost where Nigel Boyd headed the ball past O'Hare from close range.

Half-time: 1 - 1

Like the first half, Bangor could have scored moments from the kick off. A fine passing move saw Melly centre the ball for Paul McDowell. The Bangor striker made room for himself before seeing his close range effort somehow blocked on the line by Paddy McLaughlin when a goal seemed certain.

With an hour played, Coleraine replaced the tortured Crossan with Jody Tolan and that move sparked the home side into life.

Moments later Stephen Carson skipped past a challenge on the left before squaring to Tommons who saw his shot bounce clear off the post.

Coleraine's luck was in however in the 64th minute when Tommy McCallion's freekick glanced off a Bangor head and fell to Kyle McVey at the backpost. The uncompromising centre-half made no mistake as he thundered a shot into the net.

With 15 minutes remaining, Jody Tolan found enough space in the midfield to pick out a fine pass to allow Gareth Tommons the chance to advance on goal and slot the ball past Brown to seal the win.

Tolan himself was guilty of missing the target late on as Coleraine piled on the pressure while Davy O'Hare pulled off a magnificant save in the final moments to palm away Paul McDowell's dipping 30 yard strike.

Full-time: 3 - 1

Bangor: Brown, Cleary, N Boyd, Youle, McMenamin, Melly, Magennis ('87 T Tumelty), McKee ('65 Anderson), Irvine ('70 Hand), Morrow, McDowell. Subs not used: C Boyd, Bailie

Scorer: N Boyd ('31) Booked: Cleary

Coleraine: O'Hare, Beverland, Crossan ('60 Tolan), Hunter ('79 Gibson), McVey, P McLaughlin, Boyce, McCallion, Carson, Tommons, Harkin. Subs not used: R McLaughlin, Dooley, Peden

Scorers: Boyce ('12), McVey ('64), Tommons ('75) Booked: Beverland