Cathy Duncan in Bangor's home defeat to Wellington Recreational

Seasiders crash again

Tina McNamara battles in midfield last Thursday night

Bangor Ladies 4, Wellington Rec. 6

Bangor Ladies slipped to another miserable defeat last Thursday (14th) evening going down 6-4 to B Divisional rivals Wellington Ladies on a rain lashed Valentine Playing Fields.


Although the side were again restricted with no shows, it was still a game which, on paper, the Seasiders certainly looked capably of winning. Though it would depend which of the two facets of the Bangor team was to turn up - the one which had inflicted the league leaders, St. Matts only defeat of the season; or the side which turns up jaded and struggles to settle until its too late.
Line up: Brittain in nets; Webb, Dockery, McKibben and Boyd the back four; in midfield was McNamara, Armstrong, Duncan and Scott, with Savage and Rea up top .

Sadly, it was the later team, who turned up last Thursday evening - and although the damp conditions made any hope of playing recognisable, fluent and entertaining football were washed away by the surface water and heavy showers which reduced the fixture to a lottery.
But, it must be said, it was the same for both teams and Wellington looked sharper and were quickly able to panic the Bangor defence with some direct play. A long ball hopefully pumped forward and the visitors were a goal up within 4 minutes.

Goalscorer Deirdre Savage netted another double against Welly Rec.

This was nothing unusual as Bangor had a tendency to start slow and it was typical of the team to be punished, early on. However the side responded with some good play forcing a corner. This was lashed across by Carolyn Scott and hammered home by striker Dee Savage heading in at the back stick to put the team level within 4 minutes.

What followed was a goal fest, fuelled by a catalogue of poor decision making which allowed Wellington to coast to another three goals ahead, before another reaction, again from Dee Savage who made it 4-2 after just 20 minutes. This after some neat football from Duncan and McNamara down the right hand side, where conditions under foot allowed some football.


With the ball skidding around and the rain continuing to fall, it was making this fixture a free-for-all as regards scoring opportunities, the two sides attacked each other at pace and it would just come down to who would score more goals - with both defences getting bogged down.


Some strange refereeing decisions also seemed to frustrate the Seasiders, who were complex, with the umpire’s decision to enforce a "new" rule regarding offsides - which just seemed to confuse both sides.


The Seasiders though had numerous chances to reduce the arrears, Savage twice looking certain to complete her hat-trick but was denied, by some brave goalkeeping. While McNamara and Scott both shaved the post. However, it was the Seasiders who fell further behind 5-2, after just 22 minutes in what had deteriorated into an far from entertaining fixture.

Carolyn Scott had one effort shade the post late on

It took a good positive run from Cathy Duncan to get Bangor right back into the game, after some hesitancy in the final third - the midfielder latching on to a half chance and drove through to score yet another first half goal to make it 5-3 at the interval.


With the game reduced to 30 minutes each way, due to a late start, it would be important for the home team to get at Wellington right from the opening whistle of the second half.
Six minutes in and Bangor had reduced their deficit to just one goal - McNamara with a good strike from the right after clever thinking from Dockery - game on.


For 15 minutes the Seasiders drove at the visitors, but Wellington had the experience and know how to just wind down the clock and set about frustrating the Seasiders. The visitors putting the ball out of play, slowing the game down at set pieces and just generally not allowing the game to develop.

Duncan and McNamara both hit the back of the net - but Seasiders go down.

Bangor had no answer and being unable to settle into any fluency, were hurried and probably just tried too hard to get the goal which the Seasiders felt would eventually turn the tide in their favour.


With the team pushing further up field looking for the equaliser they were caught with the classic counter attack and Wellington got the cushion of a two goal lead with only 6 minutes to go. This just knocked the Seasiders back and although they kept going, there was to be no further goals and Wellington left the North Down coast, after a good gutsy performance with 3 well earned points.
It has been a miserable start stop season for Bangor and with two games left, it is one the club will be glad to see the back of. The team have never been able to put together any consistency despite at times looking like the makings of a great side.

The Seasiders face B Divisional Cup finalists Blackieville on Thursday (21st) evening. again at the Valentines (weather permitting), in their penultimate game, then travel four days later (25th) on Bank Holiday Monday to The Diamond, in Rathcoole, for the last game of their 2008 season, away to Crusaders.

>Cathy Duncan captained the side and worked very hard all night

Last Edited on 24-Aug-2008 3:03 AM