Fast and furious Seasiders entertain

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section at Bangor Football Club welcomed Portadown Integrated Ladies to Bloomfield Road last Tuesday evening in what proved to be a fast, furious and highly entertaining fixture with the Seasiders giving their opponents little respect and pushing them right to the final whistle.



Although it was Portadown Ladies, currently in second place in the division two league table who went home with the three points on offer, the locals left with their heads held high having produced one of their best all round team performances of the season so far, with a gritty display which will give the side a much needed boost as they now face the three sides closest to them in the table, in the final three weeks of the 2011 season.



Portadown Integrated Ladies have been the main challengers to the current league leaders Valley Rangers and are a very talented side that like to move the ball around fast and on the ground. In contrast Bangor have struggled of late and although on a dismal run of results, the young team has put in some respectable performances.



The North Down side, depleted through injuries, holidays and unavailability, were reduced to just the basic eleven, lining up with Tina Sharpe in goals; a back four of Alanah Burns, Leanne McGarry, Jennifer Boyd and Lynsey Turville. In front of them were Christine Duncan, Mollie Moore, Dawn Clarke and Sophie Ferris with Jessica Beers and Claire Arthur provided the spearhead at the front.



Having started well, Bangor strong at the back, Boyd and McGarry in particular impressive from the whistle, midfielder Clarke industrious and Moore spreading the ball around, using both wingers to good effect, it was the Seasiders who got out of the blocks quickly.



After just 12 minutes, Moore grabbed the opener with a superb strike from all of 30 yards, the midfielder picking up a loose pass in the middle of the park and letting fly a fierce drive which flew in past the stunned Portadown keeper and into the roof of the net.



Having put the visitors on the back foot early on, Bangor continued to work extremely hard and had another chance just minutes later - Beers chasing a seemingly lost cause and creating a half chance for Duncan who dragged it the wrong side of the post.



Portadown settled quickly and tried to apply the pressure but Boyd partnering McGarry in the heart of the defence was fearless and with some good positive stuff from Burns and Turville at the back held them out.



The tempo of the visitors increased and Bangor rode their luck as two strikes hit the woodwork, Sharpe pushing one drive against the post, then another long range effort rattled the crossbar, only to fall invitingly to a waiting striker 6 yards out, who thankfully powered the header, hard and wide.



The Seasiders were still competing in all areas of the pitch but the Portadown side were forcing the home team deep into their own half and the equaliser which had been threatening came, a corner half cleared dropped in the 6 yard box and was blasted in from close range. Despite the overall battling display from the Sammy Mellon and Sons sponsored team, visitors Portadown struck again, this time somewhat fortuitously with a miss struck pass turning into a decisive through ball and the Seasiders went behind.



Bangor still stuck to their game plan, Ferris and Duncan on the flanks doing well, while Beers up front worked tirelessly to try and get the team back into the contest. Just before the break and from what looked like to be the blatant use of the arm Portadown got a third. Half time 3-1.

Bangor go to Wellington next Wednesday

At the break the team were told to keep the concentration and work rate high and although they were trailing, the home side were certainly giving the visitors a tough game and it was a game that on the evidence of the performance of the first half, was far from over.



Right from the restart, Bangor continued to harry and take the game to the visitors, keeping the high tempo they had started the fixture with, Clarke and Moore in the middle of the park denying the visitors any time on the ball and closing down very quickly, forcing their rivals into mistakes.



It was the Seasiders who looked like edging back into the contest with come good slick football, Burns at the back played one up the line to Duncan who lashed it right across the front of the box where Beers was waiting but just failed to get a proper contact.



Beers was again involved and Bangor really should have taken advantage, the striker getting in behind the defence and rounded the keeper only to see strike partner Arthur following up, just fail to get the touch needed to nudge the ball over the line.



On the left teenager Ferris had one of her best games to date, the recent extended run in the side providing the 15 year old with a chance to really grasp her role and on more than one occasion could have got onto the score board.



The back four of Turville, Boyd, McGarry and Burns were impressive throughout and this inspired the team to keep going and believing they could maybe get something out of the fixture, and it would have been deserved on the merit of the amount of effort put in,



However, the visitors defended well and despite the best efforts of Beers, Duncan, Arthurs and Moore who were all denied, they snatched a fourth goal to secure the outcome of the game. Credit to the young Seasiders, who didn’t drop the pace of the game for one minute and kept going right until the final minute.



Manager Andy Craig “It was an outstanding team performance, the side gave a very good account of themselves. While acknowledging a number of outstanding individual contributions, it would be unfair to single any one player out – all over the park the team gave it everything, competed for every ball and worked extremely hard all evening.



“This was a very important game for us, as over the last few weeks some despondency has crept in and tested the character of the North Down side. Thankfully though, it hasn’t affected the enthusiasm of the players or the exuberance of a relatively rebuilt team. Despite the manner of recent defeats, the team has consistently shown the temperament to pick themselves up and get straight back into the action.



The result might go down statistically as a defeat but with regards work ethic and collective performance, for me it was a big step forward regards what we are capable of and how close we are to.

Bangor start important run-in away in Larne

It also sets things up for our run in – we have games against the three teams closest to us in the division, crucially away to both Wellington Recreational next Wednesday and then Moyola Park, both of whom are below us in the table and if we maintain this level of performance we are certainly capable of putting together a couple of wins and perhaps even climbing further up the table.”



Preparation for these key games will continue this Sunday 24th at The Valentines; all players both new and old will be very welcome. More details are available on line at bangorladiesfc.co.uk or by contacting the secretary at 0773 2277854.

Last Edited on 21-Jul-2011 8:57 AM