BANGOR 2-0 BANBRIDGE TOWN  (LADBROKES.COM CHAMPIONSHIP 1)

Clandeboye Park, Saturday 15th August 2009
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Two first half goals were enough to give Bangor all three points in this bad tempered affair at Clandeboye Park. Mark Magennis had given his side the lead at the end of a sweeping move before captain Andy Morrow grabbed his second goal of the season with a fine strike. The visiting team were reduced to ten men in the second half when Paul Donegan was dismissed for a nasty head butt on Glen Upton.

It took a while for Bangor to come to terms with Banbridge’s physical approach with only speculative efforts from McMenamin and Hunter threatening the goal in the opening stages.

The visitors came close to taking the lead in the 27th minute when a Dale Malone freekick caused mayhem in the Bangor penalty area. With the ball bouncing around the six-yard area, Marc Whitford and Gareth Maguire eventually combined to clear the danger.

Moments later, though, Bangor were in front. Gareth Maguire gathered a Banbridge corner before distributing the ball to Andy Rosbotham who laid it off to Mark Magennis. The Bangor midfielder steadied himself inside the penalty area before powering a low shot past Wilton.

Bangor doubled their advantage four minutes later when a fine Glen Upton pass gave Andy Morrow the chance to fire an unstoppable shot across goal and into the far corner of the net.

Half-time: 2 – 0

A poor kick from the Banbridge goalkeeper almost left him with a red face when Mark Magennis’ return volley from 40 yards had to be tipped over the crossbar by the back-peddling Wilton.

From the resultant Rosbotham corner, Whiteside rose well at the back post, but could only send his header just wide of the target.
Grant Dunlop forced Wilton into a smart stop from 20 yards in the 62nd minute, but after that, the visitors began to self destruct.

A challenge from Glen Upton on Paul Donegan sparked a nasty reaction from the former Newry midfielder as he jumped to his feet to remonstrate. Unfortunately Donegan’s protests resulted in Upton lying on the ground after a nasty head butt which sparked a melee which the referee and assistants struggled to control. Once order was restored, Upton was shown a yellow card as was a very fortunate Colm Kearney.

Bangor tried to make their extra man count by stretching the ten men, but the Seasiders never really threatened the opposition goal as the game fizzled out after.

Full-time: 2 – 0

Bangor:
Maguire, Youle, McMenamin, Whiteside, Whitford, Hunter, Dunlop (’65 McIntyre), Magennis, Rosbotham, Morrow, Upton. Subs not used: Boyd, Mann, McCurdy.
Scorers: Magennis (’30), Morrow (’34)
Booked: Whiteside, Upton, Youle

Banbridge Town:
Wilton, Hall, Brady, King (’73 Watt), Copeland, Donegan, Malone (’73 Bickerstaff), McCartan, Grant, Kearney (’73 Anderson), Evans.
Booked: Malone, Copeland, Kearney, Anderson
Sent off: Donegan (’70)