PLAYR-FIT CHAMPIONSHIP
BANGOR 2
Harrison 52’, 58’
ANNAGH UNITED 1
Finnegan 40’
A SECOND-HALF brace from Bangor captain Lewis Harrison, including a stunning overhead kick, helped the Seasiders defeat Annagh United on Friday night.
Looking to bounce back from a chastening defeat at the hands of Ballinamallard United a week earlier, Bangor had to show their resolve to claim the points to come from behind at Clandeboye Park.
With Reece Neale and Caomhan McGuinness both returning from injury to bolster Bangor’s back line, the Seasiders were on the front foot early with Tiarnan Mulvenna’s well struck effort just dipping past the post from 16 yards.
While Matthew Ferguson was also off target in the opening exchanges it was the visitors who began to seize control against a disjointed Bangor side. Kris Calvert tested James Taylor from 25 yards after 16 minutes but it was Jack Hastings who went even closer just after the half-hour mark.
The striker, on loan from Larne, got in behind the Bangor defence and from a narrowing angle he managed to squeeze the ball under the on-rushing Taylor. But as the ball headed towards the goal line, Kyle Owens raced back to prevent the opener.
Annagh’s pressure paid off when Paul Finnegan powered home a headed effort as he got on the end of Philip Donnelly’s delivery to put his side in front after 40 minutes.
And it could have been worse for Bangor just before the break when Jack Hastings raced clear to slot beyond Taylor – but the assistant referee had raised his flag for an hotly contested offside decision.
If Bangor were off colour in the first half, they found their form in the second and were back on level terms after 52 minutes. Reece Neale’s free kick from wide was headed back across goal by Ferguson where Harrison bravely squeezed between Lee Upton and Jason Craughwell to head in from close range.
The goal lifted Bangor and Ferguson wasn’t far off target with his turn and shot, but it was Harrison who struck moments later in spectacular fashion.
Neale clipped the ball into the penalty area and the Bangor skipper, with his back to goal, controlled on his chest before acrobatically hooking the ball up and over Craughwell and into the Annagh net.
Bangor were on the charge now and a deflection to Ben Arthurs’ effort saved the visitors falling further behind while the Bangor striker was unfortunate to see his header brilliantly pushed away by Craughwell after an inch perfect Martin Bradley cross after 69 minutes.
Then from the follow-up corner, Kyle Owens nodded Neale’s deep delivery wide at the back post when a goal seemed certain.
The Seasiders managed the game well and could have extended their lead in the closing stages. Harrison released Ferguson, but Bangor’s top scorer was denied by the fingertips of Craughwell before the former Bangor ’Keeper produced another top save as he hung in the air to tip Sonny Redford’s 25-yard effort over the crossbar.
–
Substitutes: Redford (Arthurs 79) Not used: Ovendale, Beverland, Rea, Byers, Davidson.
Booked: Bradley, Garrett
Annagh United: Craughwell, Kerr, Upton, Finnegan, Calvert, Donnelly, Young (‘83 McCullough), Rogers, Evans, Hastings (‘83 Swan), Murray (‘76 Ximenes). Subs not used: McKeown, Taylor, Panzo-Antonio.
Booked: Young, Upton
Referee: Mark Milligan
