Contentious late strike leaves Seasiders empty-handed

0
169
Bangor missed out in a hard fought encounter at the BMG Arena.

COVERAGE BY NEIL WATSON
PLAYR-FIT CHAMPIONSHIP
Annagh United 1
Ximenes ‘83
Bangor 0

A GOAL seven minutes from full-time was the difference between Annagh United and Bangor on Saturday, as the Seasiders missed out in a hard fought encounter at the BMG Arena.
Kenny Ximenes finished off a sweeping Annagh United counter attack to break the deadlock, but it was a moment of controversy in the build up to the goal that proved to be the talking point.
Bangor felt that Ben Cushnie had been hauled to the ground just outside the Annagh United penalty area – but referee Louise Thompson disagreed as the home side raced up field to net the decisive goal.
The opening exchanges saw both sides go close with Kris Calvert blasting over when a corner kick wasn’t properly cleared by the Bangor defence after just 90 seconds.
Then, two minutes later, former Bangor goalkeeper Jason Craughwell did brilliantly to push Howard Beverland’s acrobatic effort over the crossbar following Reece Neale’s long throw.
The home keeper was in action again after 12 minutes, this time getting down low to his right to push away Matthew Ferguson’s driven free kick from 20 yards.
Chances were at a premium from then on as both sides fought hard to gain the upper hand, but neither keeper was tested in an evenly contested first half.
Ferguson, looking to add to his opening day brace, looked to have struck after 56 minutes when he raced onto Tiarnan Mulvenna’s defence splitting pass. The striker poked the ball under the on-rushing Craughwell but the covering Lee Upton was on hand to hook the ball away from rolling into the net.
At the other end substitute Ximenes met Craig Taylor’s cross with his head, but his guided effort rebounded clear off the post with Bangor ‘keeper James Taylor left watching on.
Then, with seven minutes remaining, controversy struck. With Ben Cushnie unceremoniously floored by Paul Finnegan 25 yards from goal, a free kick seemed to be the outcome for the Seasiders. Instead referee Louis Thompson told Cushnie to get to his feet as Aaron Rogers sent the ball upfield.
That allowed Craig Taylor to race beyond the high Bangor defensive line and drive into the penalty area where he picked out Ximenes at the far post who slammed the ball home to give his side the lead.
Bangor upped their game and looked to respond almost instantly as Ben Arthurs skipped past a challenge in the penalty area only to be denied by Craughwell from a narrowing angle.
Kyle Owens then got his head to Mulvenna’s corner, and his looping header seemed destined for the back of the net only for Finnegan to hook clear on the goal line.
Then, deep in stoppage time, another corner caused a goalmouth scramble. This time it was Ferguson who pounced on the loose ball but he was superbly denied by Craughwell who blocked the danger from point blank range.