1ST BANGOR HIT 8 AS MALACHIANS PREPARE FOR LIFE IN 1B

1^st Bangor hit eight as Malachians prepare for life in 1B

NAFL DIVISION 1A

1^ST BANGOR 8     

MALACHIANS 1   

Dennis Nash reports from The Drome

AFTER last Saturday’s results, a glance at the Amateur League divisional tables paints a very dismal picture for Malachians.

Following defeat to a ruthless 1^st Bangor, the Belfast outfit are doomed to drop through the relegation trapdoor to Division 1B.

The three points gained by Stephen Cairnduff’s side means that, with five encounters still in front of them, The Drome will definitely still be hosting games in Division 1A next season.

Incidentally a closer and more thorough look at the current placings in 1A reveals that Killyleagh must collect more points from their last fixture to ensure safety, while Abbey Villa could sail back to the Premiership if they continue to gather in victories in their remaining six league games.

In last weekend’s affair it was the home side who immediately adopted attacking mode when Jamie Craig released a forward ball down the left, but an early offside whistle from Andrew Woodside prevented Rory Cubbon from hunting out any early advantage.

The deadlock was broken a few minutes later however and it was the visitors who moved ahead. The quick rush forward seemed to have caught Christopher Allan just starting from an offside position, but the match official waved play on and the visiting number nine confidently beat Tony Galbraith as the ’keeper left his goal line in an attempt to cut away the threat.

The sunshine streamed down the hill from Scrabo as 1^st Bangor sprung forward in search of a quick response. Indeed, it was all level in the sixth minute as Scott Shannon found the net.

The scoring continued 10 minutes later with a 16^th-minute strike from Louis Blackstock putting the home ahead.

1^st Bangor added to their advantage seven minutes after that through Rory Cubbon, before the indomitable Mark Millar added a fourth on the half-hour and Scott Shannon posted his name on the scoresheet for a second time just a minute before the interval.

The second 45 minutes kicked-off with the dominant home side attacking the goals down at the pavilion end of The Drome. Miller, tossing his years of service into the game, immediately set up an opening for Shannon but the forward’s early shot was blocked away.

1^st Bangor had very much picked up again their dominance in attack and, when the always-lively Cubbon released Dylan Simpson down the wide right, Christopher Allan managed to find the right position to effect another clearance.

Further goals were almost inevitable and Jordan Blair, Louis Blackstock and Dylan Simpson added three more before the final whistle to cap off a successful day’s work.

THE MATCH CARD

1^st Bangor: Tony Galbraith, William Moore, Jamie Craig, Jack Patton, Jordan Blair (C), Louis Blackstock, Neil Dillon, Blake Bickerstaff, Scott Shannon, Mark Miller, Rory Cubbon.

Substitutes: Dylan Simpson, Sam Gordon, Nosa Ogieva.

Officials: Stephen Cairnduff and L Paul

Malachians: Connor Archer, Daniel Rainey, Kevin Osborne, Ryan McBurney, Paul McLarnon, Ciaran McErlean (C), Oran McKeown, Patrick O’Neill, Christopher Allan, Patrick Gibson, Francis Taplin.

Substitutes: Leon O’Neill

Officials: Patrick O’Neill, E McAllister, Paul McLarnon, P Corey, L Stitt