Bangor lose to Knockbreda

Bangor Ladies Football Club hung on to third spot in the Intermediate B Division table despite being beaten last Thursday evening (29th), going down 3-2 against the unbeaten Knockbreda Ladies at Bloomfield Playing Fields in Bangor.

The visitors who came to the Borough of North Down with a 100% record now go joint top with this win - and will be glad to have left Bangor with maximum points after a gritty display by the local ladies team.

The fixture against Knockbreda had been in doubt for over a week, apparently Knockbreda players unable to take to the field, due to an off pitch commitment.

However, when pressed this problem soon evaporated and the Seasiders were faced with a tough game against a big physical and well marshalled outfit.

A good turnout again for the Seasiders with Sam Brittain protected by a back four of Suzanne Rea, Kim Dockery, Christine Morrison and Julie Graham. In midfield Carolyn Scott, Cathy Duncan, Petra Armstrong and Christina McNamara, while up front the partnership of Dee Savage and Tina Sharpe lead the attack. Subs for the evening were Maggie McDowell, Hanna Smyth and Jackie Price.

It was also good to see Patricia Webb, unfortunately who had been out all season with a knee injury, making a brief appearance on the sidelines. Hopefully she will be available for selection at the beginning of next month.

The visitors under the guidance of Toni Millward look to be well organised, not lacking in technical ability, the side also have a good attitude and added to that good communication levels so the Seasiders had a very tough evening ahead.

Dee Savage clattered in the loss to Knockbreda Ladies

And so it proved though the Bangor side certainly giving as good as it got, but always on the coat-tails of Knockbreda who got into an lead early in the first half. A ball driven down the left was sailed across the box, where a visiting forward nodded in unchallenged. 1-0 Knockbreda.

The match itself was a good spectacle with both teams getting involved in what was a lively tussle, the tackles flying in, although without crossing the line into anything unsavoury.

The Seasiders responded to going behind with a great goal 10 minutes later - Carolyn Scott on hand to tap in at the back stick, after great work on the flanks by Duncan and McNamara.

Visitors Knockbreda though, went further ahead when a ball from the back sailed right over the defence and fell at the feet of a advancing striker - who with some clever quick touches found Sam Brittain’s right hand corner 2-1.
They followed a spell of very determined Bangor offence, set up from the back with Dockery and Morrison again solid in the middle of the Seasiders defensive set up. The Knockbreda back line also held firm, though often exposed by McNamara and Scott’s pace on the flanks, but it remained 2-1 despite some half chances falling to Sharpe and Savage up front for Bangor.

Knockbreda nudged further ahead with a well struck curling effort from out of the left to make it 3-1 with 7 minutes left on the clock.

Bangor’s response was almost immediate and McNamara chasing a seemingly lost cause got a good connection on a ball which was slipped through, and despite the goalkeeper getting a touch - it carried over the line.

The game now sitting at 3-2 to the visitors with just a couple of minutes left in the first half.

The second half was nick and tuck as first Knockbreda had a good spell and then Bangor seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck - but the deadlock just couldn’t be broken and the advantage remained with the visitors.

Bangor's Cathy Duncan strong in the challenge

With time running out Bangor striker Sharpe crafted a great chance for herself following a corner and her header driven low looked to have pulled the two sides level only for the ball to strike the bottom of the upright - the rebound turned across the goal but was lashed clear.

Right at the death - with Knockbreda pinned back for some 10 minutes Savage almost nicked a point for the second week in a row when slipped through by McDowell but Knockbreda managed the block and with it - secured the win and the three points.

A good, hard fought game which had three bookings, but nothing in any way sinister, such was the level of commitment from both teams.

Despite the set back Bangor Ladies remain in third place in the league table although this week game against Wellington in now crucial if the Seasiders are to put any daylight between themselves and the chasing pack amassed below them.

The Intermediate B Divisional game takes place on Tuesday 3rd, away at Brookvale Park, just outside Larne with a scheduled 7.30 p.m. k.o.

Bangor face Wellington on Tuesday

Last Edited on 4-Jun-2008 3:08 PM