Bangor F.A. Cup Success

Bangor Ladies, the official ladies section of Bangor Football Club progressed in the Northern Ireland Womens Coca Cola sponsored FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Abbey Villa at Adams Park in Millisle on Monday (16th). Lisa Gilmore in her debut for the Seasiders opened the scoring in the first 20 minutes, then Jessica Beers with her fourth in four games made it 2-0 before Abbey Villa grabbed a late consolation goal but it wasn't enough as Bangor cruised through to face Craigavon Ladies in the next round at home in June (6th) at Bloomfield Road, Bangor.


Lining up on a cold and very breezy Adams Park (16th) were: Jenny Boyd; Alanah Burns, Leanne McGarry, 'Stevie' Clifford, Trish Webb; Hayley Gains, Mel McCallion, Sophie Ferris, Lisa Gilmore; Jessica Beers, Rebekah Adams. Subs: Natasha Lee, Kellie Gillies.


The Seasiders opened brightly in this one with an early chance coming in the first 5 minutes for Beers, who latched on to a first time through ball from McGarry and had her first touch been marginally better, the visitors would have been one up.


Boyd, stepping in, for the unavailable Sharpe had not that much to do, some high balls pumped forward did cause a jitter or two but McGarry always covering, stepped in on more than one occasion to clear any potential danger. Webb on the left and the talented Burns on the right were pushing up and playing the ball out of defence rather than just huffing it forward. This gave the space for the young, but certainly not overwhelmed Ferris in midfield the opportunity to get involved and the teenager was very comfortable throughout the game.


Bangor continued to press and it was mainly through Gilmore on the left side that the home team seemed to struggle, down this wing, the visitors were getting closer and managed to up the tempo with a flurry of corners which welcomed McGarry up from the back but Villa held on and the deadlock couldn't be broken.


On 20 minutes, Bangor who had been pressing went ahead, the industrious Gilmore coming in from the left side, on to her right swept in the opener from just inside the 18 yard box, and hit a shot with enough swerve and pace to give the keeper no chance, and Bangor the lead.

Seasiders progress to face Craigavon in June

Having got the lead, the Seasiders still looked the more likely to score again, Villa had one or two half chances, while their defence chose to play a high line looking to catch either Beers or Adams offside. Gains also had a great chance, when following up an attack on the opposite wing, the ball found its way right across the box to the back post, but the Australian blasted wide under pressure.


However it was from the very back that Bangor started the move which would see them double their advantage, Gains and Burns on the right involved, it was 16 year old Burns with the most telling contribution, an inch perfectly timed through ball, which just rolled into the stride of Beers, who pushed it out of her feet and slid the football in to the net to make it 2-0 at the break. It was the young rookie's fourth goal in four consecutive games in what is her first season of competitive football.


At the interval, Webb was withdrawn, with Lee, Bangor's leading goal scorer for the last two seasons introduced, effectively to hopefully quickly kill the game off. But although there was again some notably chances, Lee striking the post, and Beers driving one effort just wide, Abbey Villa remained a threat, and at only 2-0, were definitely still in the tie.


Bangor did get very close with Gilmore happy to take on the left back, and with 15 still to go, cleverly played a ball over the top for herself, beating the trap, only for Beers to be ruled as 'active'.


Down to the last ten and Abbey Villa although not a serious threat did keep going, Dickson and Rea posing the biggest danger and from a break down the Seasiders left, drew McGarry out of the middle, with a ball driven across the box, uncontested by the visitors and simply tapped in from 6 yards to offer the home team a lifeline 2-1.


Gilies was then put in for McCallion, as Bangor looked to see the fixture out for the remaining 8 minutes. With Lee more involved in this spell, Bangor upped their tempo and did score again, but it was ruled out for an marginal offside decision with just 5 minutes left on the clock.


Bangor organised and disciplined were able to comfortably see this final spell out, and it will be the Seasiders in the next round, scheduled to take place on Monday, 6th June, when Craigavon Ladies will be the visitors to Bloomfield Road.


All round a satisfactory result, the team never really looked like losing this game, and most pleasing was the contribution of Lisa Gilmore with a goal in her debut for the club, and another notable find for Bangor Ladies, Sophie Ferris who joins an ever growing list of young, talented and technically gifted footballers arriving at Clandeboye Park.

Last Edited on 25-May-2011 5:34 AM