Bangor Ladies recorded their biggest win of the season on Tuesday

Bangor Ladies
biggest win ever

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, continued their unbeaten run in the Intermediate B Division with their biggest result of the season, a 7-1 away victory at Cherryvale Playing Fields on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast, last Tuesday evening beating Belfast Banks.

It was the North Down sides second win over the Banks this season, having taken the points when the two clubs clashed at the Valentines Playing Fields just a few weeks ago.

That game though, was spoiled by some dreadful stormy weather, which restricted the game to a lottery and although North Down took the 3 points in the game which finished 2-1, the Bangor side felt that they hadn’t done themselves justice and this fixture represented an opportunity to reinforce their dominance in that affair and more importantly chalk up another massive three points.

Conditions at the Ravenhill Road venue, in contrast to that earlier meeting, were ideal and the side kicked off in warm sunshine, the visitors attacking the airport end.

Kim Dockery - curls in from a free kick from 15 yards out

The Bangor side were enjoying a good spell in recent weeks, having taken 7 out of 9 points available, in their last three fixtures - and were fielding a very offensive minded attacking team - Lisa Mahood restored to her more favoured forward position up front alongside regular striker Deirdre Savage, bringing Kim Dockery in to join Cathy Duncan in midfield, the pace of McNamara and Scott posing the threat on the flanks.

Squad : Peggy Mathews; Paula Dougherty, Trish Webb, Alanna Kerr, Julie Graham; Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan (C), Kim Dockery, Carolyn Scott; Lisa Mahood, Dierdre Savage.
Sub: Susan Cull.

North Down who have developed a trend of starting slow, took this game by the scruff of the neck and within a few minutes had established a supremacy with some attractive and flowing football, Deirdre Savage making the first breakthrough after a neat exchange, blasting wide, but the writing was on the wall.

Cathy Duncan working hard in midfield chased down every ball

With North Down playing good football - the home side - although trying to stay with the early pace, just couldn’t contain the visitors who simply were too good for them in the opening spell - playing some of their best football of the season to date - and for once reaping the benefits.

Within the first ten minutes it was two nil - Mahood opening the scoring after some strong running on the right from McNamara put her in; then the second - one of the goals of the night, the goalkeeper racing out wide on the right, only scuffed a clearance out to a waiting Lisa Mahood, who with her back to goal, turned the ball on to her right side with her first touch and lashed a high drive goalbound with her second and doubled the lead - and their was a touch or similarity between it and the one scored against Ards Raiders at the start of June.

Carolyn Scott almost added another with her pace down the left side and was unlucky lashing a ball across the goalkeeper - Mahood this time just a fraction of a second late arriving at the back post to bag a quick fire hat-trick.

It was all one way traffic at this stage, as the visitors were playing with some of the confidence which has been a feature of their previous run of results - the goal keeper spilling a well struck free from Dockery to the waiting feet of Deirdre Savage who tucked it away to make it three.

Paula Dougherty - flawless at right back- back after injury

It has to be said - that the attacking play was a result of some good defending at the back with Trish Webb in good form and her distribution all evening was excellent and an important platform for the midfield, the support around her of Kerr, Dougherty and Graham gave the side a good balance.

With the dominance in midfield of Duncan and Dockery - the fourth soon followed and this time McNamara on hand on the right side to slam the ball home after good work again by Mahood, linking with Savage up front.

Two basic errors led to the Banks only offensive moment in the first half, first, a fairly harmless ball heading tamely for the goalline was pounced upon by a defender and instead of knocking it out for a throw in - took the wrong option and pushed it over for a corner kick - from the resulting kick the ball fell between two static Bangor players who instead of being decisive, stood motionless and a home forward took advantage to stroke the ball in for a slim lifeline for the Banks side. Half time 4-1.

The team were asked to go out in the second half and finish the job they had started so well and for more of the same pace and tempo but with a little patience not to panic - the game was all but over and if the Bangor side could get back into the rhythm which had saw them leave the Banks in the stalls at the start of game - the goals would follow and so would the points.

However, one moment which did stun the visitors was an absolutely breathtaking strike from a Belfast Banks player, from fully 30 yards out which thundered at a startled Peggy Matthews in goal, only to thunder against the underside of the cross bar ricochet down and bounce about 12 foot and into Matthew's grasp - in what would have been a quite incredible goal.

Defender Julie Graham - put in a good all round performance

That said, the North Down defence were very solid and comfortable, and apart from one or two forays, all played extremely well - switching to a back three with the withdrawal of Graham and introduction of Susan Cull.

A good start again and with some clever play from Webb at the back released Scott and Mahood was on hand to snatch her third of the night and a well earned match ball with a hat-trick of strikes.

With the visitors pushing forward more and more, and the pace of the game although at a high tempo, was very neat and fluent with some good passing and from a good move down the right Savage breaking through, the referee awarded a back pass from around 15 yards out - cue Kim Dockery - who neatly curved a lovely lofted ball into the top corner and increased the lead again.

Another free just a few minutes later and this time Mahood back to scoring for fun, almost took her tally on the night to four, striking the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

Christina McNamara on the scoresheet in win over Banks

With Belfast Banks under the cosh again Deirdre Savage added a seventh and rounded off a emphatic win for the travelling Bangor side, who were fully deserving of the three points on a night when it all clicked into place and everyone on the park in blue and yellow - made a good impression.

A good all round team performance and the team is now peaking, having been put on the back foot from the onset of the season - now the side is competing and blending well as a team, the players are aware of their respective responsibilities and starting to work in units of three and four putting together passing movements and creating chances - and the strikers are starting to take them with ten goals in the last three games - Savage netting three times and Mahood four, the sort of form which the club will hope to maintain until the end of the season.

Big games and important contributions from the midfield quartet of Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan, Kim Dockery and Carolyn Scott - all maintaining a very high tempo and exhausted a Belfast Banks defence who recorded their heaviest defeat of the season so far.

Cathy Duncan effective, having one of her most industrious outings for the club so far.Another who recorded her best performance this season was Julie Graham at left back, in her first ever season of competitive football, showed a lot of courage and character in this one.

Double for Savage in seven goal win at Cherryvale

At the back, only conceding 3 times is an obvious vast improvement and with Alanna Kerr back from England and Paula Dougherty back from injury - Julie Graham and teenager Joanne Williamson improving all the time, and the experience of Trish Webb and Jacki Price, the signs are there that a top four finish - one of the clubs main goals in 2006 - is not totally out of the question - with six matches and 18 points still up for grabs - the Bangor side could move into fifth place with another win in their next game.

The clubs next league game is at home, scheduled for Clandeboye Park, Bangor Football Club, on July 25th, against Knockbreda, one point above Bangor Ladies, who will be up for this one, as the final league run in starts in earnest. Next training is on Tuesday 18th July, 7 pm. until 8 p.m.

Next Training Tuesday, 18th July, 7 p.m. at The Valentines, all welcome.

Last Edited Guest on 11-Jul-2006 5:37 AM