DUNDELA 1
Jenkins 9′
BANGOR 3
Cushnie 54′, Francis 79′, Arthurs 90′
A STUNNING second-half performance helped Bangor complete a comeback victory over Dundela on Saturday afternoon.
The home side took a first half lead at a blustery Wilgar Park, but goals from Ben Cushnie, Lewis Francis and Ben Arthurs helped the Seasiders roar back and seal an important victory which lifted Lee Feeney’s side into second place with two games remaining.
Playing into a strong wind, Bangor found themselves a goal behind as early as the ninth minute. A long throw-in from Mark Patton was helped on towards the penalty spot where Jordan Jenkins was on hand to score his 20th league goal.
Bangor struggled to gain any sort of foothold in the game with Dundela instead on the front foot, but the home side struggled to create any opportunities to extend their lead.
At the other end Scott McArthur fired over the bar from a quickly taken Bangor corner after 28 minutes in a rare sight of the Dundelae goal.
Chances continued to be at a premium and Dundela frontman Jenkins might have done better with his snapshot on the stroke of half time, but the 24 year-old blazed over the bar.
Bangor showed their intent to get a result from the start of the second half. Ben Cushnie and Tiarnan Mulvenna linked up well in midfield before Mulvenna dragged his 20-yard shot wide of the target.
Then, in the 54th minute, Bangor were back on level terms. Ben Cushnie lined up a central free kick and from just outside the Dundela penalty area the forward cleverly guided his effort along the ground and past the wall to find the bottom corner.
Mark Patton threatened to put his side back in front again moments later but under pressure from the covering Reece Neale, the 34 year-old could only shoot straight at James Taylor.
It was Bangor though who now carried the greater threat going forward and Cushnie curled just over the bar after 65 minutes before he forced Lewis Hunter into a smart save from 20 yards shortly after.
Ben Arthurs then went close for the visitors as he brilliantly controlled Reece Neale’s 40 yard pass, but under pressure from Hunter and Jamie McGovern the Bangor striker could only lift his effort over the crossbar.
Bangor’s pressure paid off after 80 minutes. Tiarnan Mulvenna sent his corner towards the six yard box where the unmarked Lewis Francis dutifully headed home his tenth goal of the season.
There was no sign of a late fight back by Dundela and it was Bangor who continued on the front foot with Ben Arthurs adding a third goal in the dying minutes. The striker timed his run well to beat the offside trap and collect Jordan Hughes’ pass.
The 25 year-old bundled his way past the sprawling Lewis Hunter before calmly walking the ball into an unguarded goal to claim his 25th goal of the season and stay in touch at the top of the Championship goal scoring charts.
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Substitutes: Beattie (Foster 46), Hughes (McArthur 68), Bradley (Harrison 68), A. Neale (Cushnie 87).
Not used: Orbinson, Hume, Halliday.
Dundela: Hunter, Kerr, Magee, McGovern, White, Patton, Hall, Corbett, Dornan, Kelly, Jenkins.
Substitutes: Smyth (Kerr 71), Kalla (Patton 71), Dinu (Corbett 71), Faulkner (Magee 81).
Not used: McClurg, Fletcher, Burns.
Referee: Mark Milligan
