BANGOR 4-3 COAGH UNITED (LADBROKES.COM CHAMPIONSHIP 1)

Clandeboye Park, Saturday 19th September 2009
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor outscored Coagh United in this seven goal thriller as the Seasiders hung on to claim a valuable three points. Glen Upton fired his side into the lead before two quick-fire Scott McCordick goals turned the game on its head. Glen Upton’s second goal of the game levelled the scores just before half-time with the Bangor striker completing his hat-trick in the second half. Andy McIntyre added a fourth goal before Stuart Dallas set up a tense finale with a late goal.
Wayne Maxwell, making his debut on the left wing for Bangor, combined with Andy Morrow to create Upton’s first goal in the 6th minute. The home striker’s superb first touch left his marker for dead as he turned and fired a shot past Pollock from 14 yards.
Morrow twice went close for the home side moments later as the Seasiders threatened to take control.
But, in the 17th minute, Bangor gifted the visitors the equaliser. Goalkeeper Jim McCurdy did well to catch a corner, but his throw-out fell to a visiting attacker who centred the ball to Scott McCordick who made no mistake from close range.
Bangor were left shell-shocked a minute later when a long ball over the top of the Bangor defence allowed McCordick in to lift the ball over McCurdy and into the net.
The home side had to reshuffle their pack as Mark Magennis limped off to be replaced by Andy McIntyre. The towering Bangor striker pushed forward while Morrow dropped back into midfield.
McIntyre was straight into the action in the 31st minute as he rose to flick the ball on for Glen Upton who coolly shot past Pollock and into the net.
The Bangor substitute made the most of his strength in the 35th minute to win the ball off a Coagh United defender. But, having cut in past another defender, McIntyre’s shot flew just wide of the target.

Half-time: 2 – 2

Glen Upton was looking a constant threat in attack, and in the 53rd minute the striker’s mazy run resulted in Maxwell forcing Pollock into a fine low save from 20 yards.
In the 58th minute, Upton completed his hat-trick as he latched onto a looping through ball from Morrow. From a seemingly impossible angle, the dangerous Upton rifled a first time volley into the far corner of the net.
The visitors looked dangerous from a number of set pieces, but it was Bangor who came closest to extending their lead when the hard-working Ryan Mann saw his low 25 yard shot bounce clear off the post before Morrow’s follow up was hacked clear off the line.
Coagh United’s right back, Baird, had a superb chance to get his side back on level terms, but his header from a corner was somehow kept out by McCurdy at point blank range.
At the other end of the pitch, Upton saw his header bounce off the woodwork while McIntyre saw his follow up header land on the roof of the net.
McIntyre got the goal he deserved in the 77th minute when the bustling forward connected well with Whitford’s cross to send a low shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
If the home side were looking to see out the game without much fuss, Coagh had other ideas as Bangor substitute Andy Rosbotham was caught in possession on the half-way line. The visitors broke quickly as Reid squared the ball for Dallas to hit home from close range.
Despite some nervy moments, Bangor held on to come out victorious in this entertaining clash.

Full-time: 4 – 3

Bangor: McCurdy, Youle, Whitford, Whiteside, Boyd, Mann, Magennis (’29 McIntyre), Dunlop (’67 Hunter), Maxwell (’56 Rosbotham). Subs not used: Carnduff, Maguire.
Scorers: Upton (‘6, ’31, ’58), McIntyre (’77)

Coagh United: Pollock, Baird, Latimer, Calderwood, Hawe (’46 Getty), Park, Lamont (’67 Gardiner), Ferguson (’67 Reid), McCordick, McMenemy, Dallas. Subs not used: Allen, ???
Scorers: McCordick (’17, ’19), Dallas (’88)
Booked: Baird, Gardiner.

Referee: Mr M Smyth