Bangor Ladies in action against Larne Ladies

Bangor Ladies launch
new kit for 2007

The Seasiders top goal scorer in 2006 Dee Savage

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, welcomed Inver Park’s and 2007 NIWFA League Cup winners Larne Ladies down to Bangor on Saturday (23rd) for a friendly fixture to launch their new home kit for the 2007 season.

The festive fixture was originally planned for Clandeboye Park, but was switched late on Friday evening to the Valentines, due the severe overnight weather forecast, which cast doubt on whether the game would be able to take place at all.

However, despite the heavy crisp frost on the morning of the game, the pitch itself was bathed in welcome sunshine, which thankfully softened the ground under foot making it safe for the match to go ahead at the scheduled time of 1 p.m.

The visit of Larne Ladies, was a significant draw as the club had finished as runners-up in the Intermediate Division B League table in September, despite having set the pace for the championship throughout the summer, before slipping behind eventual winners Carrick Rangers in the final few weeks of the season.

So, it would be Larne that started as obvious favourites, having won the League Cup and having been training throughout the winter, this game effectively bringing the curtain down on what was a great season for the visitors.


ROLL OF HONOUR 2006

The Seasiders, in contrast, although had also enjoyed a relatively good year in what was their first ever season in the sports governing body the Northern Ireland Womens Football Association - had not been together since their last competitive game - a 7-3 thrashing of local rivals Ards Raiders way back at the start of September.

Seasider Trish Webb enjoyed an unexpected run-out up front

The home side were however able to field a reasonably strong side, with the inclusion of both their 2007 Player of the year Cathy Duncan and MVP Christina McNamara along with Christine Morrison, back at the club after a season out; left back Alanna Kerr, who was back in the Province for the holiday season; and Bangor’s own footballing icon, Northern Ireland international Ashley Hutton, guesting for her home town side for the third time this year.

Squad: Peggy Matthews, Jacki Price, Kay Dee, Christine Morrison, Alanna Kerr; Christina McNamara, Ashley Hutton, Cathy Duncan (C), Carolyn Scott; Trish Webb, Deirdre Savage. Subs: Julie Graham, Alana Sloan, Valerie McKibbon.

The game kicked off just after 1 p.m., and although it was billed as a ‘friendly’ within the first few minutes there was enough of a competitive edge to make this a good hard fought encounter.
Though in terms of preparation - it would be Larne that would be expecting to come out of the traps strong and keep the home side on the back foot in this one.

Bangor as always started slowly and Larne almost snatched the early lead after a clever through ball deceived the central partnership of Morrison and Dockery leaving Matthews with an early one on one to deal with and despite losing her footing the goalkeeper did enough to prevent the opening goal.

Carolyn Scott had a great chance to open the scoring

The pace of the game was quick with Bangor getting hold of the ball and falling into a good rhythm, putting together some good attacking football.
McNamara and Scott down the flanks stretching the visiting defence.

Ashley Hutton playing in a more unrestricted midfield role was given the freedom to get forward and her quality mean’t she was able to influence the game with her range of passing and along with Duncan were holding Larne in midfield and getting the ball forward on every opportunity, making it a cracking fixture for the neutrals.

It was a good open match with both side’s enjoying half chances - Deirdre Savage blasting wide before Matthews at the other end denied Larne with some decisive goalkeeping. As the game wore on the home side got stronger and settled with Kerr in particular putting in a good half at the back.

Although the chances were falling to both sides, the lack of match sharpness, particularly in front of goal being the difference between either side opening the scoring - though both keepers were kept busy.

Northern Ireland’s Ashley Hutton who guested for her home town

The first real chance of the first half for the Seasiders came with about 10 minutes on the clock with some great work down the right by McNamara, her cross beating the central defensive partnership to find Carolyn Scott storming in unmarked at the back post for what looked a simple tap in, but her first touch was a shade too heavy and allowed the goalkeeper to recover and stifled the ball.

As the half progressed, so did the intensity of the fixture, although billed as a friendly, both divisional rivals have a history of a competitive instinct which was surfacing with a few crunching tackles flying about just before the interval. A nasty looking clash of heads thankfully brought the temperature of the fixture down a bit, and the game from that point remained fairly calm. Half time: 0-0.

The second half and the introduction was more of the same for the Seasiders, although with the amount of open football there were gaps at the back and this one was not going to remain scoreless for long - Matthews reigning in a few corners which the visitors looked to have worked quite a bt on.

And right on cue - the opening strike fell after a mix up at the back this time Matthews spilling the ball following another corner and Larne’s Jill Small on hand to put the visitors into the lead. Again Scott had a good chance to hit straight back, again at the back post following a super move with Hutton curving a ball through to McNamara who produced a deep inch perfect cross which just needed a touch.

With the pace of the game quickening Larne doubled their advantage, despite a suspicion of offside, the referee allowed the play to go ahead and it was 2-0.

KD solid at the back along with Morrison, Price and Kerr

Duncan then had a good chance to reduce the deficit with the Larne stalwart caught out, although getting the ball around the goalkeeper, she just couldn’t get the connection and the covering defender got back to clear the ball off the line.

More goal line action at the other end Kerr and Price combining for the home team in a mad scramble to manage to get the ball out of the danger area, Matthews beaten.

A cruel blow when Small swung a speculative looping cross which just dipped under the bar to make it 3-0.

Bangor responded with Trish Webb picking up a loose ball, she connected with Hutton who put through to Savage, with a clever touch she found Duncan and the midfielder drove in from 20 yards to make it 3-1.

A late chance to close the gap on the visitors after Hutton, pushing forward, turned inside which allowed her the space to let fly but her effort drove into the turf which took the sting off the shot and into the keepers arms - the game finishing 3-1.

It was certainly an entertaining fixture and although it would be fair to say that Larne probably shaded the win, Bangor ladies came out of the game with a sense of achievement and it will give everyone at the club just that needed boost of anticipation for the league campaign which starts early next year.

Good to see Christine Morrison back at the club, and it is hoped that she will register for the club in 2007.
Mention to for Bangor teenager Ashley Hutton, who registered a fantastic hat-trick against Georgia recently, to help send Northern Ireland through to the next round of the Womens European Championships - the highlight of which will be a clash with World Cup finalists England in the Spring (May 13th).

The Senior club return to Pre-Season training on Sunday, 18th February with the 2007 season due to get underway in late April - and any players wishing to register with the side and get involved in what is generally accepted as the fastest growing sport in the world - just get in contact with Bangor Ladies or to find out more about the North Down club email the link here to the club’s website: www.ndlfc.com

Cathy Duncan blasted one back for the Seasiders

Last Edited on 5-Jan-2007 12:40 PM