Steven strikes twice to seal a comeback win for Amateurs

Last Saturday Dromore Amateurs made it two wins on the trot as Steven Haslem struck twice to seal a 2-1 comeback win over Bangor Swifts.
Stephen Haslem was on target for Dromore on Saturday. INBL1507-239EBStephen Haslem was on target for Dromore on Saturday. INBL1507-239EB
Stephen Haslem was on target for Dromore on Saturday. INBL1507-239EB

The game started with Bangor settling in the better of the two teams and it took Dromore a while before they could get into the game.

Bangor were sharp on the break and the back line of A Compton, A Henderson, T Martin, G Rowan with N Thompson in goals had a lot of action to deal with in the early stages. That said, there were few chances for either team and even when called upon, keeper Thompson made a great save to keep it at 0-0.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The breakthrough was made on 25 minutes and it went Bangor’s way as Glen Rowan was adjudged to have fouled the Bangor striker in the box and he made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Goal scorer Matty Rowan ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1507-238EBGoal scorer Matty Rowan ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1507-238EB
Goal scorer Matty Rowan ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1507-238EB

This bit of bad luck kick-started Dromore into life and they pushed for the equaliser but were unable to convert the half chances that fell their way.

At half time the Dromore players knew themselves that the game was there for the taking.

Dromore started the second half brightly and were putting the Bangor back line under pressure, forcing them into some mistakes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The game changed on its head early into the half when the Bangor defender not only fouled J Beattie but also S Haslem inside the box resulting in not only a Dromore penalty but a red card for the Bangor defender. Haslem stepped up and tucked away the penalty to make it 1-1.

With Bangor down to 10 men, Dromore should have taken control of the game but it was Bangor who were pushing for the winner.

With 20 minutes to go, Dromore made changes to try and freshen things up a bit and it took just a few minutes for that move to pay off. Good work on the left resulted in the ball falling to Haslem inside the box and he made no mistake for his and Dromore’s second goal.

The last 10 minutes saw Bangor piling on the pressure and only for some fine saves from Thompson and a goal-line clearance from Martin, they might have snuck a point.

Afterwards manager Brownlee was in fine form.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was a great result for us against a team riding high in the table,” he said. “We started off slowly and would usually have folded after they scored early but this team is showing great character. Our form is good at the minute and the players are starting to put in the performances that they can.”

Fixtures for Amateurs’ first and second teams this weekend were due to be decided at a league meeting on Monday evening.

DROMORE: Thompson, Compton, Henderson, Martin, Rowan, Beattie, Curran, McMurray, Haslem, Rowan, Mallon, Tinsley, Lavery, Walker.

Related topics: