BANGOR 1-1 GLENAVON, JJB Sports Premiership.

Clandeboye Park, Saturday 11th April 2009
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Marty Verner’s 11th goal of the season gained Bangor a share of the spoils at a sunny Clandeboye Park on Saturday. Trailing to a 67th minute Adrian Harpur goal, Bangor sprung into life with Verner levelling 9 minutes later. Both sides had chances to win the game, but in the end both managers had to be content with a point in a hard-fought match.

Missing Darren Lockhart and Chris Boyd through suspension, Bangor manager Colin McCurdy gave a debut to teenage defender Stephen Whiteside while Marty Verner and David Irvine both made returns to the starting line-up.

Glenavon started well and almost took the lead in the 13th minute but Willo McDonagh’s close range header from a Carville corner was somehow pushed over the crossbar by Brown.

The Bangor goalkeeper was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers with Andrew Plummer a spectator at the other end of the pitch for long periods. Brown got down quickly to keep out a 30 yard Carville free kick before Tony Grant tested the Bangor custodian only to be denied by another fine save.

A slip by debutant Whiteside gave Eamon Murray a free run on the Bangor goal in the 41st minute, but his shot was straight at Brown who made a smart block before the ball was cleared to safety by McMenamin.

Half-time: 0 – 0

The impressive Tony Grant was a thorn in the side of the Bangor defence but his shot from a tight angle on the right was beaten away by Brown as the Glenavon man grew increasingly frustrated at being kept out.

Grant was again guilty of wasting a good opportunity in the 55th minute when his 14 yard shot was tipped onto the inside of the post by the alert Brown. The ball bounced kindly for Murray, but with the goal at his mercy, the pacey forward fired the ball against the other post before it was eventually cleared as Bangor somehow held on.

Bangor left back Nigel Boyd found himself in space after a marauding run in the 59th minute. After evading the clumsy challenge of Hugh Dickson, Boyd fired the ball across goal but just out of the reach of the incoming Verner.

Dean Youle then found himself in an advanced position moments later, but his goal-bound effort was well blocked by a Glenavon defender.

Just as Bangor had seemed to weather the Glenavon storm and were getting a foothold in the game, Adrian Harper gave his side the lead in the 67th minute. Eamon Murray picked up the loose ball to the right of the Bangor goal and his deflected cross fell into the path of Harper who superbly stroked the ball into the bottom corner from 14 yards.

With Paul McDowell replacing David Irvine and Bangor opting for a more attacking approach, Andy Morrow found himself in acres of space on the left wing. The Bangor captain fired an inch perfect cross field ball to Mark Magennis who volleyed the ball back across goal for Marty Verner to stoop and head the ball past the helpless Plummer in the 76th minute.

Bangor almost grabbed the lead twice in quick succession in the moments following their equaliser but were denied by the woodwork. Andy Morrow’s left wing cross picked out the unmarked Dom Melly who’s header beat Plummer but bounced off the crossbar. Then Paul McDowell made the most of a Magennis throw in as the forward turned his defender but watched on as his 18 yard shot clipped the top of the crossbar.

Full-time: 1 - 1

Bangor: Brown, Youle, Boyd (’86 Cleary), McMenamin, Whiteside, Magennis, Melly, Irvine (‘65 McDowell), Anderson, Morrow, Verner. Subs not used: Hand, McKee, Whitford

Scorer: Verner (’76) Booked: McMenamin

Glenavon: Plummer, Haughey, Carville, Dickson, Magee, Harpur, Harper, McDonagh (’90 McMahon), Walsh, Murray, Grant. Subs not used: Ligget, McCann, Turkington, Hudson

Scorer: Harper (’67) Booked: Harper, Harpur

Referee: Mr C Burns