Quinn hails Bangor after latest success
ECSTATIC Marty Quinn hailed his side's never-say-die attitude after Bangor staged another fightback to claim all three points against Dungannon on Saturday.
The Seasiders now occupy the lofty heights of a top-four berth in the JJB Sports Premiership, and are demonstrating the kind of qualities – flair mixed with aggression – always associated with teams managed by Quinn.
Marc McCann put John Cunningham's in-form visitors 1-0 up inside the opening three minutes but strikes from Aaron McKee, Andy Morrow and Marty Verner turned the clash on its head at a rainswept Clandeboye Park.
"It was a poor start in that we gave away a soft goal, it was a breakdown in communications and we shouldn't have let it happen," said Quinn.
"It was a soft goal but once again, we showed great character in coming back, the team just don't know when they're beaten, they just keep coming back for more and the work-rate was fantastic again today.
"Let's not forget that Dungannon are a great side, they'd a fantastic result there the other day (against Linfield) so they came here with their heads up and looking another scalp but they didn't get it.
"And it's all down to hard work, the team are progressing well, they've learned to play football as well as mixing it and showing a lot of aggression, I'm very pleased with them and all credit to the players."
Man of the match Verner, who was clobbered by Dwayne Nelson for what looked like a professional foul that went unpunished and then hit the post shortly afterwards, was finally rewarded in the 84 minute with the clinching third goal.
The in-form striker, who is finally showing the talent he so obviously possesses regularly at Bangor, attributed Saturday's win to the camaraderie within the Seasiders squad.
"We worked hard today and after I hit the post, I thought it was never going to go in for me," said Verner.
"The boys worked hard, it was the worst possible start but the character we've showed over the last lot of weeks.
"We've came from behind now a couple of times and it just shows the team spirit that we've got.
"At the end of the day, we just want to keep ourselves in the Premiership but the longer we play like this, the longer we stay together, the better we'll be.
"It was a great win for us and it pushes us on up the table a wee bit and that's where we want to be."
The Swifts forged into a third-minute lead when McCann fired into Andrew Plummer's left hand corner after the Seasiders failed to properly clear a Rodney McAree corner.
But the away side couldn't sustain their early pressure and Dom Melly curled a superb long-range free-kick just wide of the far upright as the home side hunted the equaliser.
They didn't have to wait long however as on the half hour, summer recruit Aaron McKee, pushed from right back up into his natural right midfield position, vindicated his switch as he latched onto Andrew Cleary's through ball to drive a low effort beyond the dive of Dwayne Nelson into the Swifts net.
And 11 minutes later, the home side took the lead. Nelson’s attempted clearance fell straight to McKee, impressing in the opening half, and the former Ards player whipped a low cross into the box where the sliding Morrow did the rest, despatching the ball into the Clandeboye Road end.
Early in the second half, referee Stephen Weatherall was knocked unconscious, with David Malcolm his replacement.
And the UEFA referee was immediately in the thick of the action, controversially waving play on after Verner looked to be upended by the on-rushing Nelson on the edge of the box.
It could have been a pivotal moment in the game, especially after Verner had a 20-yard curler rebound back off the post moments later.
But Dungannon couldn’t find the equaliser, leaving Verner to have the last laugh on 84 minutes as he spun his marker and lobbed the stranded Swifts keeper to wrap up the points.
Bangor: Plummer, Youle, Cleary, Anderson, Fitzpatrick, Gracey, McKee, Lockhart (Irvine 65 ), Morrow (McDowell 85), Verner, Melly (Hand 45)
Subs not used: Walsh, Boyd
Dungannon: Nelson, Mullan, Montgomery, Peden, Murphy, McCann, Hegarty, McAree, McGerrigan (Baker 64), Tomelty, McAllister (Slater 80)
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, McKee, McManus
Referee: Stephen Weatherall
News Letter Man of ther Match: Verner (Bangor)
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Friday 25 May 2012
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