League Table

1	Bangor Rangers	0	0
2	Annalong Swifts	0	0
3	Kirkcubbin	0	0
4	Queens II	0	0
5	Temple Rangers	0	0
6	Rooftop	0	0
7	Queens Grads	0	0
8	Grange Rangers	0	0
9	Newtownbreda	0	0
10	18th Newtownabbey	0	0
11	McQuiston Rec	0	0
12	Santos	0	0
13	Bangor Swifts	0	0
14	Kilroot Rec	0	0

OUTGUNNED

Bangor Swifts 3 Santos 0

One small word separated two these fine sides and that word was “hunger”. Santos could appreciate this, as last year with promotion in sight they had it. This time the Bangor lads see promotion as within their grasp and have that hunger for it Fitness too played its part as Bangor are on a strict regime of two to three nights fitness training a week and it showed. They were the yard faster to every ball and possessed pace all over the park; Santos were often caught chasing shadows. Bangor stormed forward at the off and Hughes produced a breathtaking save from point blank to keep the Candystripes in the game early on. He then proceeded to give a master class in fielding high crosses which added greatly to the confidence of his team mates. Walker and Maguire excelled in this period of defending for Santos but non more so that full back John Paul “Midge” Ossawy who was peerless both in tackling and distribution of the ball. But in the midfield Swifts were dominant Darren Delargey, in particular, superb in an all action midfield. But to their credit Santos refused to yield and O Gorman and Mc Carthy up front were battling for every ball and even against the brilliance of Man of The Match, Ronan Walls for Swifts, young Mc Carthy was a worthy adversary.

The midfield weakness (exposed when skipper Mc Geehan was forced out with an ankle injury) cost Santos dearly when on 37 mins sloppy play enabled Ian Coulter to break wide and fire in a cross. Ross Arthurs controlled the ball expertly and lashed in home to give Bangor the fillip they wanted. Still Mc Carthy and O Gorman worked out a fine move and as Swift’s keeper spilled the ball Mc Carthy missed an easy chance, Walls kicking his flick in off the goal line.

So HT 1-0 to Swifts

With the fierce wind abating Santos stepped up their game and for the first time Bangor showed signs of worry. Passing out from the back Santos were more in the game and Mc Carthy was now prominent in every move. Delightfully he skipped around Hawkes and delivered the perfect ball to Manus O Gorman. But the striker misdirected a six yard header straight at the keeper. A great chance spurned and Bangor stormed back. Yet it took a moment of genuine confusion to kill off the Santos challenge. A tussle 30 yds from goal saw players stop anticipating a whistle and as the ball was whipped into the Santos box Mc Cormack pushed Coulter and a soft penalty was awarded. Ronan Walls dispatched the spot kick and the match was over. Losing the strong Michael Burns Santos were forced to introduce the injured Mc Geehan into the midfield. And with the speedy creative Nigel Stevenson coming on for only his second appearance of the season Santos at last produced glittering passages of passing but with no real cutting edge. Bangor were content to soak up the pressure and break and when Hughes saved a powerful drive he was sadly let down by Conor Mc Auley, who instead of finishing off the simple clearance he returned the ball to the delighted Dale Hawkes who gobbled up the gift. So there was an somewhat unbalanced final score line but a fully deserved win for the Seasiders whose promotion chances are further enhanced. With players of the calibre of Walls Delargey and with evergreeen Paddy Barr and Ian Coulter adding their Irish League experience this Bangor side look like promotion candidates. For Santos Hughes Ossawy and Mc Carthy were superb and when a fully fit mid field emerges then Santos will be back troubling the best.


Player	Position	Rating	Info
Aidan Hughes	Goalkeeper
Conor McCormack	Right Back
John Ossawy	Left Back		MAN OF MATCH
Liam Maguire	Sweeper
Stephen Walker	Centreback
Aaron Harmon	Center Midfielder
Patrick Parker	Left Midfield
Michael Burns	Defensive Midfielder
Conor McAuley	Attacking Midfielder
Conor McCarthy	Striker
Manus O'Gorman	Forward