FINAL SCORE FROM WARDEN STREET:

BALLYMENA UTD 2-0 BANGOR

MATCH PHOTOS by Darran Gilpin
MATCH PHOTOS by Gary Carson

MATCH REPORT by Neil Watson

It is with greatly sadness that we learn of the death of former Bangor player Tony Nelson.

Tony was a local boy from ‘The Bullring’, Clandeboye Road and played for Bangor from 1963/1964 till 1969/1970, apart from a brief spell with Glentoran in the middle.

He was a small and very tricky right winger who made his name in a successful Bangor side managed by Charlie Tully in the1964/5 season, alongside well-known players of the day such as Jim Emery and goalkeeper Jack Milligan.

In 1966 Tony was awarded an amateur international cap. Tony was involved in one of the most controversial incidents of the time in 1967, when in an Irish Cup match at Clandeboye against Portadown in front of a packed crowd, he took an inswinging corner which Bangor forward Brian Morrison clearly handled into the net. The referee awarded a goal to the surprise of all, and there followed a pitch invasion by Portadown supporters and a lengthy stoppage. Tony should be remembered however for his loyalty to his local club and high degree of football skill.

We would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to Tony's family circle.

 A young Newry team travelled to Bangor on Thursday evening buoyed by a win against Glentoran and a narrow loss to a very experienced Linfield team in the last 7 days.

As expected the match turned out to be a tight affair with little seperating the 2 teams. Bangor started the game well with Coyle's energy and pace causing the Newry backline all sorts of problems. Andy Cleary got on the end of a Coyle cross after 8 minutes but saw his header from 14 yards tipped on to the cross bar by the Newry Keeper.

Bangor continued to press and they forced a series of corners. Chris Boyd got on the end of one of Aaron McKee's well flighted corners to give Bangor the lead after 12 minutes, heading home from 6 yards. Coyle and Ryan Mann then combined down the right hand side to create a good opening for Billy Youle soon after but Youle was unable to hit the target with his header from 10 yards.

Youle then got to the by-line and his cross cum shot rebounded of the base of Newry post. Newry then came more into the game with their central midfield pairing particularly impressive and finished the half on top without really troubling Johnny Sargeant in the Bangor goal.

The second half proved to be a non event up till the last 10 minutes with both teams looking content with the scoreline. However McCormack forced the Newry keeper to make 2 good saves and Mark Whitford's close range header hit the post.

Bangor were left to rue their missed chances with 10 minutes remaining as Newry capitalised on a defensive lapse to equalise. Bangor failed to clear their lines on the edge of their box and the ball broke kindly for the Newry forward to slam home from 10 yards.

Bangor pushed hard for a winner but were unable to create any clear openings in those last 10 minutes.

Team: Sargeant, Drysdale, Cleary (46 Whitford), Whiteside, Boyd, McKee (60 Bryson), Coyle, Youle (65 Graham), Hunter, McCormack, Mann.
Subs unused: Morton, Sharratt

JB's View: " Disappointing result in the end considering we looked in control for most parts and to be honest. I couldn't see where Newry were going to score from. However reserve team football is a learning curve and the young lads need to learn to kill teams off and in games such as this when we are unable to take our chances it is important we keep it tight at the back and keep our concentration. As you step up the levels you get punished for 1 or 2 mistakes and that hurt us in this game. Having said that there were a few good displays with I'm sure encouraged the watching Colin McCurdy. Drysdale, Boyd and Whiteside all defended well whilst Hunter put in another good performance in the middle of the park. Kevin Coyle also continued his good run of form with another good display. His energy and workrate was an example to the others around him. It was also an opportunity for Aaron McKee and Andy Cleary to get some match practice ahead of the first teams games coming up."

New Bangor manager Colin McCurdy and his assistant Norman Kelly can take many positives from his side's performance today against title-chasing Linfield.

An unfortunate first half own goal from Darren Lockhart was all that separated the sides.

Bangor certainly deserved to get more from the match - forcing a goal line clearance and a couple of great stops from Linfield keeper Alan Mannus.

At the other end, Stephen Douglas fired a second half penalty onto the Clandeboye Road and Ryan Brown had a very solid performance.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Noel Anderson

MATCH REPORT by Neil Watson
MATCH PHOTOS by Darran Gilpin
MATCH PHOTOS by Gary Carson

On Saturday a young Bangor team containing no fewer than eight under 18s and three under 19s played host to a very strong Ballymena United side containing former Bangor forward Nathan McConnell, former Millwall reserve team player Joe McDonnell, new signing from Ballyclare Michael Smith as well as a number of players that have been capped at International youth level and had first team Irish League experience.

The Bangor team started the game brightly, restricting the Ballymena side to possession in their own half and forcing them to kick long balls toward their forwards which Whiteside and Whitford were dealing with on every occasion. Holmes and Coyle put a hardworking shift in down the flanks as the Bangor side defended superbly from the forwards to the Goalkeeper Johnny Sargent.

In the 25th minute however it was Ballymena that took the lead, a diagonal ball from the Ballymena left back resulted in a unfortunate mix up between the otherwise faultless Holmes and Sargent that allowed the Ballymena forward in to leave Bangor trailing by one goal to nil.

Bangor continued to stick to their task manfully and denied the Ballymena side any further goal scoring opportunities and indeed could have levelled the score themselves with McCormick’s effort forcing the keeper into a good save.

Half Time: 0-1

The 2nd half began with Bangor in much more of an attacking mood and really putting the Ballymena side under pressure and forcing errors all over the pitch. Holmes and Coyle pushed on to great effect with Bryson and Graham containing the Ballymena wingers as well as providing cover for Whitford and Whiteside who were dominating the Ballymena forwards.

Marshalled by the captain Whiteside the Bangor back four worked together to great effect and were helped in no small part by the top notch displays in the Bangor mid-field by Drysdale and Hunter , the hard working McCormick and Youle up front as well as the cover provided by the increasingly further advancing wide men Holmes and Coyle. It is a tribute to the work of the Bangor defensive display that both ex Bangor first team player Nathan McConnell and former Ballyclare player of the year Michael Smith were substituted after being marked out of the game and rendered totally ineffective.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, Hunter rose above McDonnell and won a ball he really had no right to win in their air, from this the ball fell into the path of Youle who confidently strode onto the ball before dispatching the ball into the back of the Ballymena net to give the Bangor side a deserved equaliser.

Drew was then introduced to the fray and immediately made an impact with his fresh legs causing the Ballymena defence more problems, a flicked header saw the Ballymena keeper scramble back and stop the ball on the line after being caught out with a bouncing ball in the box and in the closing moments Drew could have stole all 3 points when a great ball by Drysdale sent Holmes away on the left, his lay off was rolled into the path of the advancing Bryson to deliver a ball into the box which missed the head of Drew by the narrowest of margins.

From goalkeeper right throughout the Bangor team, this was a display each and every player should be proud of. The back four of Graham, Whiteside, Whitford and Bryson played their hearts out and denied the Ballymena forwards the space and time to pick passes they thought they ought to have been given. The mid-field of Holmes, Drysdale, Hunter and Coyle worked their socks off all day and out battled and outplayed their counterparts in the 5 man Ballymena midfield. Youle, McCormick and latterly Drew up front gave the Ballymena back line no time to play football and harried and harassed all day as well as being a constant option for their team mates.

Although it is hard to pick any one player out of the Bangor side, Whiteside was immense at the heart of the Bangor defence and was good value as man of the match.

Team: Sargent,Graham,Bryson,Whitford,Whiteside(Capt),Drysdale,Hunter,Coyle,Holmes, McCormick,Youle.Subs Drew,Morton

The Reserves are next in action on Thursday 26th February when they are at home to Newry City Reserves, 7:45pm Kick Off

FINAL SCORE FROM THE NEWRY SHOWGROUNDS:

NEWRY CITY 1-0 BANGOR

MATCH PHOTOS by Darran Gilpin
MATCH PHOTOS by Gary Carson

FINAL SCORE FROM THE OVAL

GLENTORAN 3-1 BANGOR
BANGOR GOALSCORERS:
M.Magennis

MATCH REPORT by Neil Watson
PHOTOS & VIDEO NOW SHOWING ON BANGORFC.TV

Bangor Reserves entertained Coleraine at Clandeboye Park on Saturday and were unfortunate to lose the game 4-1.

Bangor were well in the game at 2-1 but 2 goals in the last 5 minutes gave Coleraine a rather flattering scoreline.

Dean McCormick produced a fine display and was on target for Bangor while there were good displays from Whitford, Coyle and Hunter.

Team: Sargeant, Drysdale, Bryson, Whitford, Whiteside, Coyle, Graham, Hunter, Mann, McCormick, Youle. Subs: Morton, Drew

FINAL SCORE FROM THE COLERAINE SHOWGROUNDS:

COLERAINE 3-1 BANGOR
Bangor goalscorer: Nigel Boyd

MATCH REPORT by Neil Watson
MATCH PHOTOS by Darran Gilpin
BBC HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

John Bailie got his side off to a flying start this evening with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.

BANGOR GOALSCORERS:
A.Morrow, P.McDowell(3), D.Irvine

MATCH REPORT by Neil Watson
PHOTOS & VIDEO NOW SHOWING ON BANGORFC.TV

Marty Quinn said his farewells to Bangor players, officials and supporters at Clandeboye Park on Monday evening.

Marty and his backroom staff leave the club on good terms as they now head for Glenavon. Marty is taking defender Mark Gracey and goalkeeper Andrew Plummer (on loan until the end of the season) with him to Mourneview Park. We wish them every success and thank them all for their magnificent efforts this season. 

Another  player on the move is striker Nathan McConnell who was released by the club yesterday.

John Bailie and Jason Allen held a lively Monday night training session at Clandeboye Park as the squad prepared for tonight's JJB Sports Irish Cup replay against Carrick Rangers.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BANGOR FOOTBALL CLUB - 1st February 2009

"The Chairman and Directors of Bangor Football Club regret to announce that the club will not be in a position to renew its Domestic License - a requirement to play in the IFA Premiership in season 2009 - 2010.

This is primarily due to financial difficulties experienced as a result of the current economic climate resulting in a lack of sponsorship, poor attendances and spiralling costs.

As a result of this situation and to stabilise matters, it is with great reluctance that we have given permission to our manager Mr. Marty Quinn to speak to another club.

These decisions have not been made without the careful consideration of the Board and have been put in place to help protect the future of Bangor Football Club.

Our Reserve team manager Mr John Bailie will take control of first team matters for the immediate future.

The Chairman and the Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Marty Quinn for his outstanding contribution and professionalism that he brought to the football club and would like to wish him every success in the future."