Hockey: Brilliant start for Bangor City

Oct 1 2008 By Dave Jones

NESTON SOUTH WIRRAL 5THS 0 BANGOR CITY MEN 1STS 5

KUKRI NORTH WEST HOCKEY LEAGUE DIVISION EIGHT SOUTH

PROMOTED Bangor kicked off the new campaign with a convincing success on the Wirral.

After shipping early pressure the visitors began to assert themselves, controlling the midfield to unleash penetrating runs from David Paterson and Davies down the flanks.

Midway through the half the breakthrough came when Neston commited a foul at the top of their D. As the home defence stepped back Andrew Gannon found Robin Williams unmarked who drove a low slap hit into the bottom left corner of the net.

Davies and Matthew Rogers then combined to get to the byline to drive a shot across the D which ricocheted off a Neston defender for Frazer Kinvig to drive home from short range.

Paterson was finding more and more space on the left and was rewarded with the third goal after a slick passing movement.

The hosts started the second half with much more penetration and for the first 10 minutes the Bangor rearguard struggled to regain its composure which brought a number of good saves from Llewelyn.

The turning point came when the excellent Williams seized the ball in defence and re-established some calm by setting up a penetrating attack down the right.

This resulted in a free hit at the top of the D, and Gannon set up Williams for a flick which was heading off target until Davies deflected it past the keeper.

Kinvig added the final goal with an outstanding piece of skill, slamming a mid-air deflected ball into the roof of the Neston net.

Bangor host Knutsford 3rds at Maes Glas this Saturday, 1pm start.