South hit the top ahead of promotion six-pointer

South Antrim Men’s First XI continued their good run of form on Saturday with a narrow 3-2 win over Bangor in Senior One, a result which sees them perched at the top of the table.
South Antrim have had a great start to the season and are sitting pretty atop Senior One. US1443-531cdSouth Antrim have had a great start to the season and are sitting pretty atop Senior One. US1443-531cd
South Antrim have had a great start to the season and are sitting pretty atop Senior One. US1443-531cd

Tomorrow (Saturday), that position will be tested as they travel to East Belfast to take on an equally in-form Campbellians side in a mouth-watering game between the top two sides in the league.

Strong opponents Bangor came into last weekend’s game with confidence having beaten their County Down rivals North Down the previous weekend.

Nonetheless, South showed their own confidence and got off to a flyer. It didn’t take long for the Lisburn side to take an early lead through Paul Maguire who converted a pulsating counter attack involving the Marshall brothers and Simon Watt.

Bangor showed they weren’t going to be easily beaten and soon drew level via a short corner, which the South keeper will be disappointed with himself for not saving.

In dismal conditions, the game ebbed and flowed for large periods of the first half with neither side really troubling the opposing goalkeepers.

South forced their way through and managed to get their noses in front once again, shortly before half time. An incisive run from Ward Phillips along the by-line followed by a clever ball across goal culminated in another finish from Paul Maguire, his 12th goal in eight outings this season.

After half time, the visitors began to impose themselves more physically in an attempt to grab something from the game. The smaller South side, however, once again displayed the resilience and resoluteness which has been a feature of their performances so far this year.

Indeed it was South who registered the crucial next goal in the game midway through the second half. A clever short corner variation involving Chris Redpath and Chris Henry resulted in the latter deflecting the ball home to all but guarantee the three points for the Lisburn side.

Bangor did score a mere consolation goal with less than two minutes remaining, but it was a case of too little, too late as the hosts held on and secured the victory.

South Antrim extend their thanks to their ‘Sponsor of the month’ Woodland Financial Planning.

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