Seasiders off to impressive winning start
Bangor Ladies 8, Abbey Villa Ladies 0

Bangor open league campaign with impressive win

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, welcomed neighbours Abbey Villa from Millisle, to Clandeboye Park on Tuesday (21st) evening for both teams opening league fixture of the 2009 Northern Ireland Women’s Football Associations divisional championships.

An impressive performance saw Andy Craig’s team romping to a record breaking 8-0 win - to chalk up the Seasiders first points in what promises to be a challenging summer of ladies football in the Dale Farm sponsored 3rd Division.

Squad: Bridget Finegan; Paula Dougherty, Leanne McGarry, Rachel Bates, Julie Haslam; Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan (C), Petra Armstrong, Carolyn Scott; Dee Savage, Natasha Lee.
Subs: Carol Cummings, Christine Morrison and Jenny Boyd.

Savage carrying an injury gave the Seasiders the perfect start

The fixture, started in near perfect conditions getting underway at 7.30 p.m., the home side determined to take the momentum of having won their last two warm up games, into this encounter and get their season off to a good start.

With top goalscorer Dee Savage carrying an injury, preferred striker partner Tina Sharpe out for at least four weeks, the plan was to try start at a high tempo and try finish the visitors challenge off as quickly as possible.

Bangor started brightly, didn’t let Villa settle or get any time on the ball and got off to the perfect start - Savage opening the scoring after just 6 minutes - following good work by Armstrong and Duncan in midfield – the ‘08 top goalscorer duly obliged with a slick finish.

Seasiders coach Leanne McGarry cleans up, Bates drops to cover

The experience and composure of keeper Finegan, McGarry and Bates, all arriving in the summer, has given the Seasiders a much stronger look at the back. This has encouraged the development of last season crop of defenders Webb, Price, Morrison, Dougherty and Haslam in particular, to blossom and add the element of composure into their play.

With the confidence evident in the starting back four - the midfield were able to play more freely and grasp their responsibility of working off the ball - using the width of the Clandeboye Road arena to create the space to get the penetration through the visitors defence.

Some great work by Lee up front was rewarded as the teenager rattled in a second to double the Seasiders advantage in the 23rd minute and although Abbey Villa didn’t fold at this point - the home side just kept applying more and more pressure.

While it was all one way traffic, Villa did have one or two moments, though not really getting anything, Bangor always looking the more likely to score a decisive third goal.

The game continued to be played at the Villa end, the visitors restricted to only one real effort - a well struck free kick from 20 yards, which almost crept in under the bar - Finegan making the stop.

Bangor striker Natasha Lee rattled in a double against Abbey Villa

Producing some good football Lee, McNamara and Scott all had good chances to add to the scoreline but credit to the Villa goalkeeper who made some amazing stops to keep her side in the contest as Bangor turned up the heat. With ten minutes to go in the first half - Savage, clearly restricted by her injury also had a great chance to make it 3-0, but blasted just over.

With so many opportunities, the goal which was threatening, finally arrived - a clean strike from just outside the 18 yard box by Bangor’s captain Duncan - this time the Abbey Villa No. 1 could do nothing. 3-0 half time.

The introduction of Cummings at the start of the second half, on for Savage, didn’t disrupt Bangor’s dominance and made an immediate impact. The striker linking up with Lee with a clever knock on - again Villa had their keeper to thank for some good stops.

Bangor repelled the visitors determined start in the second half - the central partnership of McGarry and Bates quickly snuffing out any danger. With the Bangor defence comfortable, the midfield applying a good work ethic, the Seasiders continued the rampage.

Boyd was introduced for Armstrong; the freshness maintained the high level of performance and sharpness of the side. Morrison slotted in at the back; Bates switching to left back to replace Haslam.

The ex-Predator taking the opportunity to get forward as a wingback, added another option and point of attack to add to Abbey Villa’s mounting troubles.

With some great stuff down the left, Cummings slipped Scott through and she produced probably the best goal of the night - sweeping in with her left foot to add a fourth giving the Abbey Villa keeper no chance.

With Bangor peppering the visitors’ goal - Lee, seemingly unstoppable, burst through twice in succession, on both occasions forcing a save. McNamara should also have scored as Bangor overran the visitors.

More good football, Dougherty at the back starting the move up the right, Scott was on hand at the back post to rifle in her third of the night to make it 5-0 and finish the game as a contest.

As Villa tired, the Seasiders fitness showed, at one stage Duncan burst through the midfield from an onside position and had four players in support as she bore down on the sole Abbey Villa player - their goalkeeper.

It was just all Bangor pressure and the goals came fast and furious. Natasha Lee was just too hot to handle and ripped through the Villa defence time and time again, although she has a lot of work to do with regard to her finishing, she scored her second. Although a scruffy finish - it was no more than she deserved with the amount of industry she had put in and the number of chances she had created with her pace and power.

McNamara lays off for the lively Scott at Clandeboye Park

Then the versatile Scott completed her hat-trick on the hour, giving the Seasiders their sixth goal and underlining the Sammy Mellon sponsored side’s supremacy under the Clandeboye Park floodlights.

With the Seasiders now quicker to everything - the Millisle visitors broken by the high tempo throughout - a great cross from Lee found Scott at the back post and she set it up nicely for Duncan to finish in style to complete the scoring.

Manager Craig reflected: "A satisfying result, and one which hopefully will set the standard of performance for the rest of the season.

"Apart from a 5 minute spell at the start of the second half we dominated the whole game and thoroughly deserved the result. Abbey Villa were very competitive and it was difficult to kill them off - but we kept going and by the middle of the second half, took complete control.

"The midfield quartet never took their foot off the gas which was the key and with that sort of application and work off the ball - not many teams will get the time or space to hurt us.

"A disappointment is the injury to Deirdre Savage which I hope she will shrug off quickly - with Sharpe out for a while, we’re lucky to have picked up Natasha Lee in the summer.

"The young Bangor teenager is a massive signing for us - direct, strong and fast - could easily have scored a few more - I feel once she settles, I expect her to be a key player this season.

"Having the diversity of six players on the bench was also a benefit - we had the right players to freshen things up and talked before the match - how every one of the squad would have a part to play this season."

"But it couldn’t have been a better start - our biggest ever league win in three years, 3 points, 8 goals and a clean sheet. We will be looking collectively at the performance and start working towards our next fixture on Sunday"

Seasiders happy to take the points and delighted with the clean sheet

SNIPPETS

Thing have been moving along as regards the Ladies Section of Bangor Football Club, sourcing a suitable sponsor for the 2009 season – and an announcement is to be made shortly – Cathy Duncan doing the work off the field in this one.

With the construction work now underway at theValentines, the Clubs training will switch to nearby Bloomfield from this Sunday, 26th April – 2 p.m. – 3.45 p.m.

News of the another signing at Bangor Football Club – teenager Lauren McAteer being the twenty first registered signing of the 2009 season. The young ex Ards Raiders player will be eligible for selection from April 28th and should be in contention for a start when the Seasiders are at Clandeboye Park, for their next fixture against Ballyvange Ladies on Tuesday, 5th May. The club is then away to Rossglass County on Tuesday 12th, both games are scheduled for a 7.30 p.m. start. A club’s passing record, set against Abbey Villa now stands at 5.

A reminder that the club have drawn a night mare long haulage trip, away to Londonderry on Monday 18th May to face Derry City Ladies in the Coca Cola Irish Cup. This game has a 7.30 p.m. kick off, with the possability of extra time and penalties if necessary.

DIRECTIONS TO KILLYLEAGH..Thurs 30th.......7.15 k.o.


View Larger Map

Next Game KILLYLEAGH LADIES v. BANGOR

Last Edited on 25-Apr-2009 4:51 AM