Nortel 2

(Nortel win on penalties)

NORTEL needed a penalty shoot-out before finally seeing off the stubborn challenge of Division 1B side Bryansburn Rangers in this JJB Sports Irish Cup replay under the lights at Clandeboye Road.

Jamesy Kirk’s side won 5-3 on penalties, after the tie ended up two a-piece at the end of extra-time. This sets up a glamour away tie against Coleraine on February 13.

As Jamesy reflected afterwards: “It was a good advert for the Amateur League, a good crowd with two committed sides.

“Bryansburn had us chasing shadows in the first half, and were well worth their lead, with their movement all over the pitch. We changed things at half-time and were, in my opinion, the better side in the second half. Over both games, there was nothing to choose between the sides, and it’s not surprising that they are unbeaten in the league. It was a match nobody deserved to lose.”

While Bryansburn were the better team in the first half, Nortel had their chances, notably when a Davy Freyne free kick smacked off the bar, while a low drive from Darren McKay brushed the outside of an upright.

The Bangor side, however, took a deserved lead, through a first half penalty with referee Colin Burns pointing to the spot.

Nortel tried to change things round after the break, only for Rangers to extend their lead inside the opening minute; Richard Barr side footing the ball past Stephen Harbinson.

The Factory side soon started to chisel their way back into contention, and pegged a goal back, thanks to the second penalty of the night. Darren McKay, as usual, showed no mercy from the spot.

Nortel were pressing hard for an equaliser, but it looked as though the clock was going to beat them, as it was well into the second of the two minutes of injury time signalled by the fourth official, when Joe McRoberts scrambled in that late, late leveller.

And so, into extra time which was fairly uneventful until Nortel’s Gareth Bond and Andrew Doyle were given their marching orders.

Nine-man Nortel managed to see out the remaining minutes. And so it was onto the shoot-out, where the scales tilted the visitors’ way when Bryansburn’s Kevin Murray hoofed his kick over the bar.

With Nortel having made it four out of four, it was left to Kieran Loughran to step up and ease the Doagh Road side through to that glamour visit to Coleraine, and the Factory side having gone first, there was no need for Bryansburn to take their fifth and final kick.

Nortel’s other penalty marksmen were Davy Freyne, Darren McKay, substitute Eric Faulkner, and Mark Wilkinson.

Nortel: Harbinson – Lorrimer (Faulkner), Kyle, A Doyle, Freyne – Bond, McClean, Loughran, Fenner (McRoberts) – McKay, Wilkinson. Subs (unused) Millar, McMinn, Conlin

Saturday’s match with UUJ at the Factory Grounds fell victim to the weather. This Saturday, Nortel travel to 1B promotion contenders Newcastle in the Clarence Cup.