Lisa Mahood battles against the elements

Seasiders' lodge
vital three points

Bangor Ladies took on Belfast Banks on Tuesday (20th) evening, and despite a very frustrating evenings’ football, importantly banked a vital three points with a comfortably 2-1 home win at the Valentines.

This Intermediate B league game, which was in doubt right up to 6.40 p.m., because of the consistently heavy downpours and stormy conditions which have been battering the North Down coastline for the last week, was given the go-ahead just 25 minutes before the kick off.

The local playing fields though were in excellent condition, and although the rain for the best part of the evening was reduced to a few light swirling showers, the storms increased and conditions deteriorated rapidly throughout the whole game making it times, a very frustrating night for both sides.

With gusts of wind blowing violently across the local pitches, it made the match a lottery of sorts - with the ball’s flight being almost impossible to predict and the play scrappy and condensed, at times all on the left side of the pitch, with a seemly endless sequence of throw-ins, stoppages and delays.

Squad: Peggy Matthews; Jackie Price, Trish Webb, Kim Dockery, Joanne Williamson; Susan Cull; Christina McNamara (C), Lisa Mahood, Carolyn Scott; Deirdre Savage, Cathy Duncan. Sub: Alanna Kerr.

Striker Deidre Savage bursts through in the first half, snatched the winner late on

Bangor faced the wind in the first half and it was felt that if the side could stay focused and match the visitors up until half time - the advantage of having the wind at their back for the second forty, would prove very decisive for the home side - in truth the elements were so severe that neither team really had any advantage - as any chance of playing attractive football was met with the ferocity of the elements, which reduced both the standard of the play and the game as any sort of spectacle.

Belfast Banks though are an experienced side, who have featured in the NIWFA for several seasons - and although they were under the cosh from the outset, they were happy to pack their defence and just lash the ball away, with the wind at their backs and give their forward line a chance to break through.

This tactic although effective in clearing the danger, often saw the ball put out of play and this was frustrating for the home side who were looking to try in get the ball down and play with some fluency.

The first real chance of the evening fell to Cathy Duncan, playing up front alongside Savage, to try and give the team some teeth, and this was effective as the she drove a rasping drive from just outside the 18 yard box to show her intentions.

Christina McNamara taking on the Banks defence on the right side of midfield

Some determined work from Mahood put through Savage after about 15 minutes and again the elements made the take difficult but the striker managed at least a strike on goal.

Matthews, in contrast, in the Bangor goal had no real pressure to deal with apart from a series of long balls which raced through to be either cleared or forced back into the driving wind.

With the game on 20 minutes, the midfield of Mahood and Cull were scrapping and trying to get the ball to feet, and a reasonably ball out to McNamara, on the right broke one tackle and she managed to get the ball across, where a defender pushed the ball out for Duncan to strike again and this time the ball did nestle the net and the North Down based side had got the first breakthrough.

With the game, despite the elements, for the best part being played in one half, the Bangor side continued to press - at one stage a Duncan shot which beat the goalkeeper, held up in the strong wind and stopped short of crossing the line, with the goalkeeping unbelievably able to retrieve.

The chances continued with Savage, who might have done better - put through by Mahood - her effort shading the wrong side of the post, then Carolyn Scott had a great chance and should have scored, coming in from the right side and having only to stab the ball over the line - but this one also got away.

Bangor Ladies closing down the visitors on Tuesday evening.

The game though was being constantly disrupted as both sides battled against the weather, challenging the concentration of both sets of players, although they were spells of some reasonable football.
One move from Mahood to McNamara brought another strike - but further reward. Half time 1-0.

It was felt that with the change round and with the quality in the side, that this game was there for the taking and the club just had to show up in the second half to increase their lead - but with Bangor in control - it was just a matter of putting one of the many chances being created away - albeit the team was ‘chasing’ the game.

Duncan again went close from outside the box, and Savage also had a half chance to no avail - this time the goalkeeper making a good stop.
Kim Dockery then almost increased the Bangor side’s advantage from a free kick on the left, a ball which looked to be heading in - drifted just wide.

With the North Down defence pushing into the visitors half, as the frustration continued, the play got condensed and from a break on the left hand side, Williamson’s clearance high up the park ricocheted off the Banks player and fell kindly for her to get behind the defence and her shot/cross held up and deceived Matthews in goal and from having the game at their mercy - Bangor Ladies found themselves level and with only 15 minutes to go.

This brought a little too much urgency and a spell where the attack was a little hurried and the final pass was missing, exchanged for at times speculative shots at goal and more disruption.

Scott then had another great opportunity, through on the left and one on one with the goalkeeper - but hurried the effort and blasted wide.

Lisa Mahood in Tuesday nights important win at the Valentines

Going into the last ten - the home side had done everything but score - the Banks goalkeeper making two good saves from Duncan and Mahood, but it looked like another draw, and in a game which should have been done and dusted by half time.

The winner, when it came was at least a good take - Savage finally getting through after some determined work and although it was only a half chance the connection was good and low and enough to flash past the goalkeeper and restore the North Down sides' lead and thankfully rap up the three points.

So although a scrappy and very frustrating game to play in - the main thing is that Bangor Ladies have at least recorded the win and have banked the three points - which at this stage of the season, gives the side an important lift up the table - and four points out of the last six available is very encouraging - the ladies only losing once so far this season at Clandeboye Park, going down to Wellington Recreational in early May.
The shots ratio in this one was also encouraging, despite the conditions, the side recorded at least 20 shots on goal, although only 9 of these were on target.

With the divisional campaign having now reached half way - Bangor Ladies next league game is again against Belfast Banks - and hopefully this will be played in more seasonal conditions. The side can go into this one, knowing that they have another opportunity to climb further up the table and get the run-in off to a good start. This fixture is scheduled to take place on Wednesday July 5th, at the Cherryvale on the Ravenhill Road.

CUP CLASH

The clubs next match although is an important Divisional Cup quarter-final game against Larne Ladies, next Wendesday evening 26th, at Larne - preparations for this game will get underway immediately with a training session organised for this Thursday evening, at The Valentines, 6.30 pm.

Last Edited Guest on 11-Jul-2006 5:34 AM