Seasiders hold firm
Bangor Ladies 0, Loughgall Ladies 3

Bangor character tested
MATCH PICTURES TO FOLLOW

Bangor Ladies, official ladies section of Bangor Football Club, showed great character to hold firm last Thursday (2nd) evening at Clandeboye Park against Premiership visitors Loughgall Lakers - after a nervous start threatened to see the Seasiders collapse to a heavy defeat.

Loughgall who are four divisions above the North Down club arrived in Bangor with a full squad and a formidable reputation. This seemed to reflect on the way Bangor started the game - nervous, apprehensive and second to every challenge. Almost giving the visitors too much respect instead of taking the game to them.

Squad: Bridget Finegan; Paula Dougherty, Leanne McGarry, Rachel Bates, Trish Webb; Christina McNamara, Jenny Boyd, Carol Cummings, Tina Sharpe; Deirdre Savage, Natasha Lee. Subs: Kim Dockery, Lnysey Ruddock and Petra Armstrong.

With this approach, it wasn’t long before the visitors took advantage of the space afforded them, getting off to a flier within 5 minutes of the 7.45 p.m. kick off

The early opener was directly down to the Seasiders not really starting at pace - a burst down the exposed right flank, resulted in a needlessly conceded corner. Loughgall cleverly working a rehearsed routine straight from the training ground - although the actually finish was scuffed in - the static Bangor defence were no match for the sharpness and quick thinking Philippa Dougan-Toal. 1-0.

If that wasn’t a wake up call, the next ten minutes certainly were, as Loughgall smoothly moved up through the gears and were all over the Seasiders - who struggled to get any decent or sustained possession. With the midfield just not getting involved enough, this added pressure on the Bangor defence - Loughgall continued to punish the Bangor teams early hesitancy, and the writing was on the wall as they quickly stuck again.

If the first goal by the visitors was untidy, the second Loughgall strike was far from it - some fast incisive play, found the talented Rebecca Capper with her back to goal at the edge of the box.
The striker’s first touch clean and precise, pivoting to take the ball on the volley she rattled in a great strike into the top corner to double the Laker’s advantage.

Loughgall started the better at Clandeboye Park

The first signs of frustration by the Seasiders, who looked dangerously on the edge of caving in - thankfully evaporated with McGarry in the centre of the defence showing the character required to get the side out of this tricky 15 minute spell.

Although still guilty of some basic mistakes, Bangor did start to defend better - led by the experienced McGarry; teammates Dougherty, Bates and Webb just simply got stuck in, and held Loughgall out.

With the confidence restored, the responsibility shifted to the strike pairing of Savage and Lee to try and force the visitors back - at least giving some respite to the back four.

During this spell, the rawness of Natasha Lee proved inspirational. The Bangor teenager was relentless. Her persistent chasing, hassling and directness got at the Loughgall defence. Paired with Savage up front, this partnership looks to have the pedigree to really give Bangor a offensive edge when the NIWFA 3rd Division gets under way in just over two weeks – third striker Sharpe also contributing from out wide on the left.

Now, at least the Seasiders were up to the pace of the game – though not winning every ball in the middle of the park, at least they were contesting it. - this gave some protection to the back four in front of keeper Finegan.

While Loughgall were not, by any means under the cosh, their early dominance had at least been met with a resolute Bangor resistance. The first half with fifteen minutes to go had flattened out into an evenly contested match up - Lee again, the main threat to the visitors.

The central midfield of Boyd and Cummings who at the start of the game, had simply been over run, responded well and although still slightly off the pace - were trying hard to making things a little less easy for the visitors.

With this response and half time ‘on the blow’ the Seasiders seemed to have weathered the storm and had their first half chance - Savage cut through the middle but her low drive went wide of the target. Half time 2-0.

The interval allowed Bangor to re-group and a good fifteen-minute spell after the re-start saw the best of the home side; Dockery going into midfield seemed to settle the Seasiders. Ruddock also introduced out on the left side of midfield, adding the ingredient of some simple football and gave the team a good balance.

Flying machine Natashe Lee bursts through the Loughgall defence

Teenager Lee, a new arrival at the Seasiders in pre-season, continued her assault at the Loughgall side, the industrious striker again giving chase to everything and combining with the more experienced Savage up front, looked capable of getting Bangor back into the contest.

At this stage the game was certainly of a good standard and the 5-division gulf between the two sides was not blatantly obvious. It would have been difficult to distinguish which of the teams were the premiership side, and which were the third division’s minnows.

Loughgall continued to play some great football – in contrast to the start of the fixture, Bangor were equal to it - with McNamara, Lee and Savage underlining the threat of the Seasiders, creating half chances to nick in and steal something from the Premiership side.

In the last ten - the Seasiders understandably tired and Loughgall enjoyed a purple patch - Finegan stepping up to make two outstanding stops to keep out the visitors - and the score even in the second half.

The only blot on the copy book, was the third goal late in the game, which, although Loughgall probably deserved on the run of play, was basically gifted to them, a defensive howler allowing Delia Ferguson the simplest of tap ins to make it 3-0.

Seasider Carol Cumming get closer in midfield

Overall a good night for Bangor Ladies F.C., and hopefully one which the side will have taken something from - albeit the best side won - at least they were made to work hard for it – particularly in the second half.

Manager Craig reflected: “The development of the club has been good and the response on the pitch generally positive - but there is still a long way to go. Most of the assets we need to apply are down to us. Fitness has definitely improved but we can do better – we sometimes lack communication and our discipline is another area we have to get right.
“Loughgall were a good challenge for us - they are a well run, well organised team who will certainly do well this year - their approach and attitude is something that Bangor Ladies, down in the lower divisions can hopefully aspire too.

“It was good to see Armstrong back this season albeit in a late cameo appearance – and overall I have to be very happy with not only the size of the squad but the diversity it presents – its now up to me to get the right personnel out and working as a team unit.
“The character of the team, particular in the spell just after we went two down, was questioned - we had talked about the need to respond to going a goal or two down, the need to up our fitness level, to just keep raising our game. So although our concentration dipped – the back four lifted it when we needed to.

Half time came at the right time for us – it allowed us to refocus on where we are in our preparations and I think in the second half we matched Loughgall - and gave them a great contest.

“The best team won and deserved the result – but we should profit from the lessons we learnt tonight. Playing against a side of the stature of Loughgall, we need the sort of application I saw in the second half - with the addition of confidence and discipline we can stop thinking we’ll do well this season and start believing it.”

Bangor Ladies first league game kicks off on Tuesday, April 21st at Clandeboye Park, against neighbouring side Abbey Villa Ladies from Millisle.

Last Edited on 6-Apr-2009 1:05 PM