BANGOR 0-1 DONEGAL CELTIC (Ladbrokes.com Championship 1)

Clandeboye Park, Tuesday 16th March 2010
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor fell to their fourth consecutive defeat at a bitterly cold Clandeboye Park on Tuesday evening. A scrappy Stephen McAlorum goal in the 74th minute was the difference between the two sides in an evenly contested affair with chances at a premium throughout.
Ryan McCurdy, playing as part of a midfield five for the Seasiders, had the first opportunity of the match, but his left footed effort from a narrowing angle was pushed away to safety by Declan Brown after eight minutes.

Moments later, a rush of blood to the head by goalkeeper Paul Carnduff left Ciaran Gargan with an empty net after the towering keeper missed his kick 25-yards out from goal. The Celtic forward had time to pick his spot but could only direct his effort wide of the target to the dismay of his teammates.

Both sides had to wait until the dying minutes of the first half to create another chance with Jim Girvan and Glen Upton denied by a sea of bodies on the goal line following a Dom Melly corner.

As the danger was cleared, the visitors raced up the field with the ball eventually being rolled into the path of Gargan who saw his shot well held by Carnduff low to his right.

Half-time: 0 – 0

The second half was a scrappy affair as Bangor sought to contain their opponents with Carnduff and his defence comfortably dealing with anything Celtic could offer.

Carnduff was called into action in the 65th minute when substitutes Lucas Adamczyk and Eamon McAllister combined well with the latter forcing a brave blocking save from the Bangor keeper.

The pressure on the Bangor defence told in the 74th minute when Carnduff couldn’t deal with a corner at his near post. As the ball fell in the six yard box, Stephen McAlorum reacted quickest to squeeze the ball home.

Despite seeing a lot of the ball, Bangor struggled to create many clear cut opportunities. The home side’s best chance arrived in the 77th minute but Declan Brown got down well to save substitute Andy Rosbotham’s dipping volley.

Donegal Celtic could have doubled their lead in the 81st minute only for a fantastic save from the fully extended Carnduff pushing Adamczyk’s curling effort around the post.

Full-time: 0 – 1

Bangor: Carnduff, Youle, Mann (’55 Rosbotham), Girvan, Whitford, Kingsberry, Melly, White, McCurdy (’76 McIntyre), Morrow, Upton. Subs not used: Maguire, Scates
Booked: White, Melly, Girvan, Upton

Donegal Celtic: Brown, Heagney, Lambe, Cleary, Watson, McAlorum, Gargan (’61 Adamczyk), Bradley, Spence, Duff (’50 McAllister), McVeigh. Subs not used: Curran, Glenholmes, Allison
Scorer: McAlorum (’74)
Booked: Watson