The Crawford Cup is low on Bangor’s priorities this season, but the Seasiders showed their winning mentality by coming from behind to beat Dunloy on Saturday.
The two sides have become familiar opponents having now faced off four times in the last eight weeks, and it was a familiar outcome with Bangor emerging victorious.
Niall Atkinson gave Bangor an early lead before a quick fire double from Karl Fitzpatrick put the home side in front at the break. The game swung in Bangor’s favour just after half time when Dunloy were reduced to ten men for a handball on the goal line – Michael Halliday making no mistake from the spot. Scott McArthur opened his account for the Seasiders firing in what proved to be the winner from 25-yards.
There were nine changes from the Bangor side that faced Crumlin Star the previous Saturday, but there was no sign of any disjointedness in the opening exchanges as the Seasiders took the game to Dunloy. They were rewarded when Niall Atkinson was pulled back 20 yards from goal, with the midfielder expertly sending the resultant free kick into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Falling behind seemed to spark a reaction from Dunloy, and they were level after 14 minutes. The bustling Karl Fitzpatrick barged his way through a weak challenge in the Bangor defense and fired expertly into the far corner past the helpless Paul Cairnduff.
The Bangor goalkeeper was watchful of the danger in the 21st minute, diving to his right to parry away a 20-yard Declan McGarry free kick.
Fitzpatrick put his side in front two minutes later when, in almost identical fashion to his first, he outmuscled the Bangor defense and drilled his low show across goal and into the net off the inside of the post.
A half time change saw Michael Halliday replace the booked Ethan Boylan, and the substitution paid off almost immediately. Having forced Ciaran O’Boyle into pushing his shot around the post, Halliday headed Atkinson’s corner goalwards only to see McGarry use his arm to keep the ball out on the line. The referee brandished the red card and allowed Halliday to send O’Boyle the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Both Jack Mallin and Niall Atkinson went close for the Seasiders before Halliday was denied on the goal line once more, this time by a legitimate clearance.
When the referee waved away appeals for a penalty from the home side, Bangor counterattacked with precision in the 69thminute. Colin White, returning to Bangor colors for the first time since 2010, carried the ball out of defense and released Ben Arthurs. The forward waited for the supporting run of Scott McArthur who collected the pass and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner from 25-yards.
Bangor had the opportunity to add some gloss to the score line when, in the 92nd minute, Michael Halliday was tripped in the penalty area. The forward threw the ball to Gareth Beattie, but his spot kick sailed over the crossbar.
That almost proved to be a costly error of judgement when, with the last kick of the game, James McFerran pounced on a poor Bangor clearance but wastefully fired over the bar from 14 yards.
Bangor: Cairnduff, Arthur, Fletcher, Hislop, White, Atkinson, Beattie, Mallin, Arthurs (77′ Dickson), Boylan (46′ Halliday), McArthur. Subs not used: Wray, Roy, Wasson.
Scorers: Atkinson (6′), Halliday (48′ pen), McArthur (69′)
Booked: Boylan, Arthur, Hislop, Mallin
Dunloy: O’Boyle, Scally, McGarry, Scott, James McFerran, O’Mullan, Magee, Dooey, Fitzpatrick, McConnell (82′ John McFerran), Hughes (77′ Orr). Subs not used: McGilligan, Maguire, Smith
Scorers: Fitzpatrick (14′, 24′)
Booked: Scott
Sent off: McGarry
Photo Credit: Gary Carson
