Knockbreda win as Bangor crash out of quarter final

Bangor out of cup

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Premier League side Bangor Football Club, were put out of the Divisional Cup, going down to Knockbreda Ladies at home last Thursday evening, in the quarter final of the competition.

With yet another change in the line up at Bloomfield Road for the Seasiders in this one - no fewer than eight players unavailable, it was always going to be difficult to see how the Bangor side would match a Knockbreda team, who had only lost one league fixture all season.

For the Seasiders: Armstrong, Boyd, Bradley, Dougherty, McDowell, Sharpe, Smyth and Webb were all out, so it was another make shift side featuring a defensive lineup of Jackie Price, Kim Dockery, Christine Morrison and Valerie McKibben ahead of Sam Brittain in between the sticks.

In the middle of the park Cathy Duncan and Julie Graham were flanked by Christina McNamara out right, with Carolyn Scott on the left. Spearheading the attack were the untested strike partnership of Dee Savage and Suzanne Rea.

Thankfully, the rain which had drenched the week’s previous contest held off, and the game kick off in ideal conditions - Bangor attacking the Groomsport end of the local playing fields.
The ladies team once again prohibited from playing at Clandeboye Park, due to the pending visit of the Liverpool Legends.

With Knockbreda quick out of the stalls, true to a recent spate of performances, the Seasiders didn’t start well finding themselves a goal behind after just 9 minutes.

It mite well have been even worse as first Brittain saved well, then Morrison cleared off the line before Bangor managed to get a foot hold in the fixture with McNamara testing the Knockbreda keeper from a low drive from out on the right.

With the predictably poor start behind them Bangor started to settle and get the ball to feet and were doing most of the hard work between the two penalty boxes, with Duncan and Graham working hard. Although the work rate was high, the team failed to get the clinical end product, though firth Savage, then Rea had half chances.

With the increased efforts all over the park, the North Down club enjoyed a good 25 minutes spell, the visitors were being forced back, Scott doing well out on the left and getting in behind the Knockbreda defence but just unable to get the Seasiders on the scoreboard - one effort being tipped over the bar.

But credit to Knockbreda - there are a very industrious outfit and put a lot of effort into defending their marginal lead - Bangor forcing a few scares with some well struck corners from both sides of the park.

With the Seasiders getting pushed up in search of an equaliser, it was Knockbreda to managed to nick what proved to be the most decisive strike - doubling their advantage just 4 minutes before the break, to go into the interval 2-0 up.

Despite some early spirited play as Bangor went for broke, Knockbreda managed to soak it up and were able pull away in an impressive 15 minute spell which quickly stifled the threat of any comeback from the Seasiders.

This spell proved to be to much for the home side, being pinned deep in their own half, the contest was over as Knockbreda duly applied the finishing touches to some good counter attacking football.

The Seasiders kept going feeling they might have of got something towards the end of this one, but it is Knockbreda who breezed through to the semi final in a few weeks time - and deservedly so.

With the season now at the half way point, the Seasiders will be looking to try and re ascertain their positive start to the 2008 league campaign, though face a tough challenge as their recent dip in form has seen them slip miserably down the league table.

Bangor will be boosted by the return to the club for the rest of the year of the charismatic Paula Dougherty, striker Tina Sharpe and midfield dynamo Petra Armstrong, along with the addition to the squad of the Seasiders new signing Bridget Finegan. Still out with injury are Young Player of the Year Jeni Boyd and Trish Webb.

The Seasiders will look for an improvement against the top two sides in the Northern Ireland Women Football Association Intermediate B Division.
First up are league leaders Saint Matthews, who are the visitors to Bloomfield Road next Thursday (10th).

Then the side will take advantage of a break before travelling up to face second placed Knockbreda Parish on Wednesday 23rd July. Both games will kick off at 7.30 pm
Training continues this Sunday at 2.30 until 3.45 p.m. – all players who still have outstanding subscriptions should make their payments before the game on Thursday 10th July.

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Last Edited on 28-Aug-2008 11:16 PM