Philip grabs the glory for Kilmore again

20 March 2013

PHILIP Traynor (inset) netted his fourth hat-trick of the season as Kilmore cruised to victory in this Clarence Cup third round tie.

Kilmore went in front in the 11th minute when a fantastic Mark Miskelly cross found the towering Niall McCarthy who leapt head and shoulders above all to head to the net.

Sean Bell, who was having the freedom of the left wing, continuously ran at the Bangor defence and let fly from 25 yards which stung the hands of the Bangor keeper.

On the opposite wing Karl Lewis clearly had the pace of his defender and he supplied a lovely cross for centre forward Telford to head over the bar.

In what was Bangor’s first free kick of the game, a low hard cross to the front post was not cleared by the Kilmore defence and Bailey was on hand to shoot home from ten yards for the equaliser.

This was a typical scenario, the home team pushing hard and the away side living on scraps but getting the break due to some sloppy defending. The result was an equaliser.

This stung Kilmore into action and a Sean Bell cross was headed was over by Niall McCarthy. Another Bell cross found Traynor running into the box, but he overran and the chance went begging.

Karl Lewis cut in from the right wing and fed Peter Telford but his shot went inches wide. Something had to give and it did in the 36th minute when a Stephen Douglas free kick found Peter Telford swooping low to head past a diving Graham and give Kilmore the lead they deserved for their attacking play.

Just before the interval, both Andy Baggley and Niall McCarthy had chances, but the Bangor keeper stood tall and saved.

Kilmore increased their lead when a long Mark Holland pass was flicked on by Peter Telford to fellow striker Traynor, who kept his nerve and blasted the ball past the keeper to give the home side a two-goal advantage.

Three minutes later, a brilliant Niall McCarthy pass found Traynor in the clear and he calmly rounded the keeper before firing to an empty net. Traynor completed his hat-trick when sub Gary Kennedy burst into the box and unselfishly squared to Traynor, who had the easiest of tasks in shooting home his 23rd goal of the season.

Andy Baggley made it 5-1 when he was on the end of a Karl Lewis right wing cross. Kilmore introduced long serving campaigner Ian Smyth and he was in action straight away with a crisp shot well saved by Graham.

From the resulting corner, Smyth’s full length diving header soared to the net to rapturous applause from the Kilmore faithful. The ex-Crusaders midfielder, back after another knee injury, was the happiest man on the pitch.

In the 90th minute another Karl Lewis cross found the head of captain Mark Holland and his header gave Graham in the Bangor goal no chance.

All in all, a good day’s work for Kilmore, who meet Dundonald this Saturday in the fourth round.

Kilmore Rec 8

Bangor YM 1

CLARENCE CUP 3RD ROUND

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