Bangor suffered another heart breaking defeat when they lost to Armagh by four wickets at a sun kissed UprichardPark on Saturday. Although you could never question the application of this young side, it was the batting performance that once more let the home side down. There are signs of improvement and with the standard of performance in the field very high it is only a matter of time before Bangor gain that elusive victory.
Stand in Skipper Mark Nixon won the toss and elected to bat on a beautiful Uprichard wicket. Due to some irregular scheduling this was Bangor’s first home match in six weeks and the opening partnership of Jonny Keenan and Michael Martin took to the middle with happy hearts, looking to build a platform from which to attack. Disaster struck when Keenan drove the ball directly to Rogers who took a fine catch with the score on only 16. When Nixon fell to a catch at short cover for five Bangor knew they would be up against it. When Griffin fell only one run later to a questionable run out, Bangor had slumped to 30 for three.
Martin and last week’s hero, George Prince, had other ideas. Painstakingly they began to put the Bangor innings back together. Martin continued his fine form playing an array of attacking shots around the ground. Prince was resolute and supported Martin. Together they took the score past 60 before Martin was tragically bowled by pick of the Armagh bowlers Michael Hoey. This brought Zach Kerr to the crease for the first time this season. Kerr and Prince continued to progress the Bangor innings adding 27 in a decent partnership before Kerr was trapped in front by Hoey. The loss of this wicket triggered an all to0 familiar collapse.
From 91 for four before the wicket of Kerr, Bangor proceeded to lose five wickets for only three runs. Horrox, Prince, Pyperand Simpson all fell leaving Bangor facing another score of less than 100. Adam Simmonite and Chris Walton had different ideas. They batted beautifully and sensibly with Walton as the aggressor, finding the boundary with increasing regularity. Simmonite played classical shots all around the ground and was a joy to watch. This partnership scored quickly and rarely looked like giving up their wicket. They added 65 for the final wicket before the wily Doyle took the final wicket when Walton was bowled for 39. Simmonite was left on 22 not out and, somehow, Bangor had managed to get themselves towards a total they could have a go at defending.
The home side definitely had their tails up as they started the second innings of the match. Walton struck early bowling Andrew Hoey with the score on only 7. Rogers and Wright steadied the Armagh ship, with the forming proving himself as a very fine batsman. He looked the danger man and Bangor would need to get him out if they were going to win. Walton was causing the Armagh batsmen problems and he was to take the next two wickets, those of Wright and Steenson, both of whom he bowled. At this stage, Armagh were 54 for three. Rogers was still there and looking dangerous.
Wilson joined Rogers and they proceeded to progress the Armagh innings. Walton was replaced by Will Simpson and the change was successful immediately. Simpson has proved a revelation with his left arm, slow bowling this season and he was a handful for the Armagh batsmen. He bowled Wilson and had Rogers in all sorts of trouble on numerous occasions. It was to be Rogers day however as he passed 50, finishing on 64 before Simpson got his man to a fine catch from Horrox in the deep. Although Simpson also picked up the valuable wicket of Doyle, Armagh skipper Hoey and Boyd saw the visitors home to win comfortably by four wickets.
