Seasiders successful in final home fixture

BANGOR LADIES 5, BLACKIEVILLE 2

Match Pictures to follow

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Irish Premier League side Bangor Football Club, welcomed the B Divisional Cup finalists Blackieville Community Football Club, to the Valentines on Thursday (21st), in their penultimate league game of the NIWFA ladies football season.


Despite the persistent rain over the last few days, the pitches were declared playable around 12 noon and the game itself got underway in ideal conditions - the grey skies which had been a constant dampener throughout August - had thankfully given way to some warm sunshine as Blackieville got this one started, attacking the pigeon wood end of the local playing fields.


Line Up: Bridget Finegan was back in nets, with a back four of Paula Dougherty at right back, Kim Dockery and Valerie McKibben holding the centre of defence and Suzanne Rea in unfamiliar ground in at left back, the midfield quartet was Tina McNamara, Jeni Boyd, Petra Armstrong and Carolyn Scott, while up front saw Deirdre Savage reunited with regular strike partner Tina Sharpe, who had been out for a fortnight. Sam Brittain and Trish Woods on the sidelines.

The early pace of the game was furious and for once, Bangor started really well - pushing the young Blackieville side onto their back foot. An early goal would be just the tonic to settle either side, thankfully for the home team, it was Bangor who struck first.


NcNamara from out on the right broke down the flank and found Dee Savage making a run across the edge of the box - who took the ball in her stride and with her second touch lashed it high into the roof of the net - giving the keeper no chance.


Blackieville did respond and were streaming forward and it took some solid defending from Dockery and McKibben at the back to keep the lively visitors at bay.


Both teams kept the early pace of the game at a high tempo, though Bangor were just edging it in the final third - McNamara and Savage combined well and forced a good save. No let up either from the East Belfast side who pressed all over the park and up the other end almost got back into it with some great individual play.


On thirty minutes of what was a good game of football, Bangor edged further ahead - with some text book finishing - Savage was strong to shield and protect the ball, holding off a defender and with her first touch set up the volley which she connected well with to send the ball looping just in under the crossbar, again giving the keeper no chance to make it 2-0.


This second strike didn’t make any impression on the visitors, who just continued to attack and have a go at the North Down side, who responded to this challenge all over the park with some fierce tackles flying in.


Savage and Sharpe were also working hard up top, with the support and threat coming from the width of the Seasiders who stretched the Blackieville defence, while at the back some decisive defending was protecting the 2 goal advantage.


It was tough going out there with the cup finalists showing a good spirit and why they have surged up the league table, after a slow start to their season. Both teams were retaining the high tempo, trying to gain the upper hand.


However it was Bangor who increased their advantage - Scott coming in from the left flank, seized on a half clearance and curled the ball in high from the edge of the box to make it 3-0.


No let up in the second half, this time it was Bangor who were forced onto the back foot with the energy of the visitors who just kept running at the Seasiders and 18 minutes in, they got their reward, from a free kick just outside the penalty area.


The result was a sweetly hit effort by Julie Scott which curled low and around the wall into the bottom left hand corner - Finegan managed to get across but couldn’t get enough on it to steer it round the upright - and Blackieville sensed they were definitely still in this game.


This goal inspired the visitors to somehow lift the pace of the game again and for spell really stepped it up a gear, pressing and pushing the Seasiders back - it took some solid and resolute defending to repel the threat with Rea and Dougherty both working hard.

Thankfully and against the run of play Bangor were able to restore their advantage - again Carolyn Scott, after some good football from Sharpe and Savage up top, making it 4-1.


Not for long though, as Blackieville struck again, this time from a ball pumped forward, which released young Seaneen Kane whose pace got her behind the Bangor back four - Finegan committed, was out quickly, her attempted clearance rebounded off the forward and looped up into the empty net to make it 4-2 with 12 minutes on the clock. Brittain was then introduced with instructions to try to hold onto the ball, play it into the corners and slow the game down.<


With the visitors now going for broke, were pushing forward looking to get back into the game - this time however, it worked in favour of the Seasiders - who exploited the space in behind the high line and Savage was able to complete a memorable hat-trick late on - again another great strike to make the final score 5-2.


Overall a impressive result against the Cup finalists and one which on the night, Bangor were made to work very hard for and deserved for the effort the whole team put into the game against a very young and talented outfit.


In contrast to last week’s game - this one was a good hard contest against two well matched teams - Blackieville showed that they are a side who are improving all the time. They keep going for the whole game, contest everything and for a young side look to have a great future ahead of them.

For the Seasiders, the midfield partnership of Boyd and Armstrong put in a great shift, these two covered every blade on the park. At the back, Dockery and McKibben settled into a good pairing while Rea stood out at left back and seemed to be doing every thing with the composure which has deserted the team of late - in at right back Dougherty was as always strong, positive and led by example.


Goalkeeper Finegan also made a big difference in marshalling and directing her back four - while up front, Bangor for once, punished everything, with Savage deserving her hat-trick of good strikes - Sharpe also worked very hard and made a telling contribution to the scoreline.


Bangor now travel up to The Diamond in Rathcoole in their final game of the season on Monday evening (25th) where they will face Crusaders who lost to Saint Matthews in the only other game to survive the weather this week.

BACK TO CUP FINAL PREVIEW

Last Edited on 29-Sep-2008 11:35 AM