Tina Sharpe netted as Bangor crashed at home again

Seasiders disappoint again

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Irish League Premiership representatives Bangor Football Club, took on Crusaders Ladies last Thursday (19th) evening at Bloomfield Playing Fields on one of the most torrential evenings of the year so far.

What had started in fairly pleasant conditions spiralled into farcical, as downpours of monsoon proportions flooded the pitch by the end of the ninety minutes. Crusaders, however leaving North Down with the three points after an evening of frustrating mistakes for the home side.

The Seasiders fell behind after just 90 seconds, the team seemingly still in the changing rooms as the Crusaders front pair strolled through the middle of the defence and put the visitors one up virtually from the kick off.

As the game settled Bangor managed to at least play from flowing football, and looked to have got over the terribly start.

With the early jolt still stinging the team led by Duncan and Dockery did kick into gear and responded quickly, getting back into the game with some good football to make it 1-1 twenty minutes before the break, before conceding just as half time approached to go in, a goal down.

Almost in response to the half time talk - Bangor got straight back into the game, a nicely executed one -two with Sharpe playing through the Crusaders back line and a cool finish made it 2-2 and all to play for.

Christine Morrison at the heart of the defence last Thursday

Just as the team drew breath, the threatening heavy rain clouds above the Bloomfield Road darkened and the violent deluge started as the heavens opened relentlessly.

With the game reduced to a lottery - the ball sticking and the weather worsening by the minute, the home side were than rocked with a triple whammy - three soft goals gifted by some inexplicably errors in a 7 minute spell - it was just one of the nights for the Seasiders No. 1 and one she will look to forget very quickly.

With the Seasiders reeling from the set back - and the visitors quite unable to believe they were 3 goals up - the side seemed to gather some momentum and looked to at least restore some pride - Duncan and Sharpe both getting involved in the middle of the rain soaked park.

Tina Sharpe whose determination was in evidence all evenings finally got her reward when chasing a seemingly lost cause - the Bangor striker getting between the last defender and goalkeeper with a telling touch which resulted in the ball skidding into the empty net to make it 5-3.

The way Bangor were getting at the visitors suggested that they could nick another score and that is exactly what they did juts 8 minutes later - Kim Dockery playing a ball out from the back which was cleverly moved across the pitch and Carolyn Scott popped up at the back post to sweep a low cross into the net to close the gap to just a single goal - with 14 minutes on the clock!

No way back - Bangor fought right until the end - Suzanne Rea

Nearly all of the remaining miserable wet quarter hour was spent in the Crusaders half with Bangor doing everything to get back into the game - Crusaders holding on with some determined defending as the Seasiders launched wave after wave of attacking football to try and snatch a point.

Duncan went close, and from a corner taken by Scott, Dockery hit wide, the ball skidding past the post.

Typically as luck would have it - the Seasiders were caught on the counter, with almost the last kick of the game - the visitors added to the their flattering tally to make the final score 6-4 and secure a big three points.

Bangor although gutted at the manner of the defeat can take away a lot of pride in the calibre of their performance and the grit shown especially in the latter damp stages of this one.
The loss of the three quick sloppy goals enough to knock the heart of many a side - the response by the Bangor players was to try and fight their way back into the contest which was admirable. Perhaps on another evening this effort would have merited a least a well deserved point - if not three.

Bangor face Knockbreda this Thursday (26th) in the Div. cup

Last Edited on 26-Jun-2008 3:39 AM