Bangor 0 – Glenavon 0
BANGOR and Glenavon fought out a goalless draw at a windswept Clandeboye Park on Saturday afternoon.
With Bangor’s safety already guaranteed, it was a much different story for relegation-threatened Glenavon. With just two games remaining, Michael O’Connor’s men fell to the bottom of the table, despite their point away from home, by virtue of relegation rivals Crusaders seeing off Portadown.
Lee Feeney had urged his men to finish the season strongly and there was no sense of giving players a rest as the Bangor manager made only one change from the side that drew with Crusaders in mid-week, with Mick Morgan replacing the injured Lewis Harrison.
It was the visitors who had the first sight of goal, but Charlie Lindsay, on loan from Glentoran, could not hit the target after seven minutes.
Five minutes later, Nathaniel Ferris, also on loan from the Glens, did much better with his effort, only to be denied by a stunning save from Gareth Deane.
Peter Campbell’s corner was met by the head of Ferris, and his powerful effort was destined for the top corner, before only for Deane pushed the ball over his crossbar, preventing his former side from taking the lead.
Bangor threatened to cut through the Glenavon defence, with both Iestyn Hughes and Stephen McGuinness making headway from wide positions, but on both occasions, Jacob Carney was quickly off his line to clear the danger.
The home side’s clearest opening arrived shortly after half-time, when Hughes picked out the run of Tiarnan Mulvenna.
The energetic midfielder raced clear of the Glenavon defence and lofted his effort over the on-rushing Carney, but unfortunately for the Seasiders, the effort was too high as it looped over the crossbar.
Ben Cushnie then watched Jacob Carney comfortably gather his effort, as neither side were able to create many clear-cut chances, but the game sparked into life in the closing minutes as Glenavon stepped up their pursuit of three valuable points.
A series of corner kicks caused chaos in the Bangor box, while Barney McKeown’s glancing header was somehow kept out on the goal line by Jay Boyd, with the substitute fortunate to see the ball strike the back of his head and loop just over the bar.
Peter Campbell struck a 25-yard free kick straight at a grateful Deane shortly after, before another goalmouth scramble saw McGuinness bravely block Connor Falls’ effort from point-blank range.
At the other end, teenager Joshua Ritchie – making his Bangor debut – had a sight of goal, but his shot was too high to trouble Carney.
Then, deep in stoppage time, Campbell had another opportunity from a central free kick. However, just like his previous attempt, his effort was straight at Deane and the Bangor ‘keeper held on to record his second clean sheet in the last three outings.
Bangor: Deane, Lynch, Francis, Neale (captain), Hughes, Fallon, Hassin, McGuinness, Cushnie, Mulvenna, Morgan. Subs: O’Mahony, Ritchie, Garrett, Boyd.
Glenavon: Carney, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown, Campbell, Ferris, Falls, McGovern, Lindsay, Mountney. Subs: Carlin, Lowe.
