Eleventh-hour blow for Bangor in pursuit of back to back promotions
PLAYR-FIT CHAMPIONSHIP
ANNAGH UNITED 0
BANGOR 0
Rory McKee reports from the BMG Arena
IT’S NOT often that players from both sets of teams fall to their knees in despair of equal proportions at the sound of the full-time whistle.
But that was the scene at the BMG Arena on Friday evening when referee Mark Dillon signalled an end to the stalemate between promotion chasing pair Annagh United and Bangor.
Despite having not managed to carve out a decisive goal, with just minutes remaining it appeared the Seasiders were set to match the result of Institute and in doing so book their place in a two-legged playoff against Premiership outfit Ballymena United.
If ever there was to be a lesson in taking care of your own business, though, this was it – as a 91st-minute strike from ’Stute’s Michael Harris to clinch victory in their fixture against already promoted Portadown would ensure it was instead they who sealed second place in the division, and a play-off berth at heartbroken Bangor’s expense.
On the night, Lee Feeney’s side were ultimately left to rue a lack of killer instinct in front of goal, but they almost got off to the dream start when Reece Neale sent Ben Arthurs through inside the opening minute only for Annagh ’keeper Jason Craughwell to save the striker’s effort.
Craughwell was called into action again nine minutes later and it was Arthurs who he denied for a second time, diverting a near-post header which was destined for goal over the top.
At the other end, Marc Orbinson – deputising for the unavailable James Taylor – dealt smartly with a James Convie shot before nice interplay on the half-hour between Ben Cushnie and Lewis Harrison teed up another chance for Arthurs, who would have been glad to see the offside flag raised after his effort was straight at Craughwell.
Cushnie fired narrowly over from the edge of the area after 41 minutes, with Championship Player of the Year nominee Scott McArthur next to threaten for the visitors, but his shot went wide of the mark when off-balanced.
In a lively end to the first period, Annagh forward Stephen Murray then latched on to a ricochet in the Bangor defence to work a shooting opportunity which failed to find the target before the home side somehow failed to score moments later following pinball in the Seasiders penalty area.
Tom Mathieson had the first chance of the second half and was foiled only by a great save from Craughwell, who tipped the wing-back’s effort over the crossbar. Quick thinking from Ben Cusnie a minute later was almost rewarded as the Glentoran loanee outwitted home skipper Niall Henderson with a sharp turn in the penalty area, but he couldn’t apply the finishing touch.
It took a crucial block from Reece Neale to keep the scores level after Eoin Teggart was sent bearing down on goal with around an hour played, before James Convie shrugged off the challenge of Tiarnan Mulvenna to pick out Ruairi McDonald but the latter’s shot was scuffed wide.
McDonald was shown a second yellow card and dismissed for a tackle on Mulvenna 20 minutes later to hand Bangor renewed hope in the closing stages.
While both this game and the clash between Portadown and Institute had been due to get underway at the same time (7.45pm), a brief delay to kick-off at Annagh meant that the match at Shamrock Park was several minutes ahead.
And as news of the Institute late show less than two miles down the road began to filter through to players and supporters, the mood quickly became one of panic and desperation.
After Cushnie had sent a curling effort wide, substitute Conor McDermott’s inviting cross deep into stoppage time whistled just beyond the far post and that would prove to be the Seasiders’ last chance on a night where they left to wonder what might have been.
—
Substitutes: McDermott (Walker 52), A. Neale (McArthur 73), Hughes (Mathieson 90), Halliday (Beverland 90).
Not used: McConkey, Hume, Foster.
Annagh United: Craughwell, Kerr, Calvert, Henderson (C), Evans, Murray, McDonald, Upton, Convie, Teggart, Rogers.
Substitutes: Ferris (Murray 65), McCullough (Henderson 65), Stewart (Evans 71), Cochrane (Kerr 90).
Not used: Little, Campbell, Holmes.
Booked: Convie, McDonald (s/o).
Referee: Mark Dillon
Booked: Convie, McDonald
