ENCOURAGING BRYANSBURN PERFORMANCE
Bryansburn Rangers 1st XI travelled to Clandeboye Park to take on Bangor Reserves with Culbert once again on the score sheet grabbing himself a brace of goals in a 2-2 draw.
Bangor’s backline which included 1st team regulars Fitzpatrick, Boyd and Ryan Brown making a welcome comeback in nets had experience in abundance. Some may have said this was a meaningless friendly but it was evident that the players from both teams were up for it and never treated it as such.
In a very evenly matched 1st half with Bangor probably having the lions share of possession, the Bryansburn players had to work hard to contain the home side and actually prevent Bangor from getting any sustained pressure built up during the match. With Shanks working his socks off up top and putting his best performance in since coming to the club, Bangor’s backline seemed to struggle with his movement and his persistent running of the channels. With Chambers sitting in front of the back four and Coard wide right, the balance of the ‘Burn side looked far better, which allowed McGimpsey to once again put in an impressive shift.
The only two chances of note in the first half for Bangor was when they played neat football down their right side and delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post but the Bangor striker hit it high and wide. Magee, in the wars once again, showed either his courage or stupidity when he flew himself in front of a goal bound shot and took one for the team square on the face with the ball deflecting to a Bangor striker but once again the young player showed no composure and lashed the ball wide of the near post. Magee clearly dazed by this should have been replaced but insisted in playing on and this clearly shows the true character of the player.
The best ‘Burn chance of the half fell to McGimpsey. He had peeled off his man on a corner and with Coard delivering a peach of a cross into the area all that was required was the slightest of touches but unfortunately he was unable to make any contact and the chance came and went in a flash. Half Time 0-0
Whatever was in the half time refreshments certainly done the trick as Bryansburn came out of the blocks like Usain Bolt. They pressed the backline of the Bangor defence and were having plenty of joy with Coard and Mallon down each flank. In the 51st minute the first goal of the game came when Shanks broke down the left flank and he spread a great cross into the back post where Culbert was on hand to knock it in from two yards out. No more than the ‘Burn side deserved from their great start to the 2nd half.
Wave after wave of attacks came from the ‘Burn who should have doubled their lead on a few occasions but on the break Bangor hit back with a clever acute pass that split the Bryansburn centre defence and the Bangor striker with a neat touch this time made no mistake and he slotted it home past the advancing Steventon.
‘Burn did not sit back and went back in search of the lead. With Bryansburn now playing their best football of the season the Bangor side struggled to cope with the passing and movement and after chance after chance ‘Burn eventually took the lead again. It was a goal of great quality as the passing that lead up to the goal was a joy to watch. The ball was switched from left to right and when the ball eventually got to Coard he whipped the ball in low and hard to Shanks who stepped over the ball to deceive the Bangor defence and the ball ran to Culbert who poked the ball the home. A great team goal.
Culbert was denied his hat trick when he unleashed a terrific shot from 35 yards. Dinking the ball over the advancing player he caught the ball on the half volley and arrowed it towards goal. With goalkeeper stranded, helplessly turning his head to watch the ball fizz by him, Brown was glad to see it rebound off the stanchion and eventually cleared to safety.
Whilst Mallon was down injured this evidently disrupted the fluency and organisation of the side. With five minutes on the clock remaining a set piece delivered into the area where Mallon usually vacated was not filled and this allowed the Bangor player unmarked to bring the ball down unchallenged and the ball was dispatched to level the match 2-2.
Very hard to stomach given the performance the Bryansburn side put in but they can take a lot of confidence from this into next week’s league game where they really need to kick-start their league campaign.
