Bangor record third straight league win
Bangor Ladies 4, Ballyvange 0

Ladies top 3rd division table

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club were back in action last Tuesday evening (5th) recording their third consecutive league win - a hard fought 4-0 victory at home, over Ballyvange Ladies, a result which puts the Seasiders top of the third division table.

The fixture got underway on a wet, miserable and stormy evening on the North Down coast. Sheets of light rain, fuelled by an at times ferocious wind, which lashed across the Clandeboye Road pitch.

Squad: Bridget Finegan; Paula Dougherty, Leanne McGarry, Christine Morrison, Trish Webb; Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan (C), Jenny Boyd, Carolyn Scott; Dee Savage, Natasha Lee. Subs: (used) Lauren McAteer, Valerie McKibbin, Petra Armstrong. Subs: (not used) Jackie Price and Julie Graham.

The Seasiders didn’t really start well - conditions playing their part, making it difficult for both teams to settle. The swirling and strong gusts disrupted the passing game of the home side.

While, Ballyvange basically put 11 people behind the ball, with a game plan to defend in numbers and hopefully hit the Seasiders on the break.

Scott, the divisions top scorer - hit the back of the net again

With the conditions worsening, Bangor were robbed of any fluency, Ballyvange were happy to just lash the ball away and often out of play.

With the wind at their backs Bangor were able to keep the Downpatrick side penned in their own half but lacked the final ball in which to carve them open - some determined and at times last ditch defending enough to frustrate the Seasiders early on.

Twenty minutes in and despite peppering the visitor’s goal at times, Bangor had still not managed to make the breakthrough – though had forced a few good saves.

Then the opener after persistent work from McNamara who, from out wide on the right was always a danger. A corner half cleared, then hit back in, Bangor Ladies 2008 player of the year was on hand to get the vital touch which steered it over the keeper and into the empty net.

With the relief of snatching the lead evident, Bangor soon doubled their advantage, the lively Lee driving home into the corner, after the teenager had turned the advancing centre back to create the opportunity.

After going further behind, the visitors had a real go to try and get back into the game, but led by McGarry and Morrison, Bangor proved too strong and stood their ground to keep their advantage.

Duncan had a great chance to add to the lead after good link up play, Scott and Savage down the left inviting the Bangor captain to hit an effort from outside the area - unfortunately getting under it the effort was skied over.

More pressure as Savage, put through by the pace of Bangor Academy teenager Lee, had a half chance to record a third for the Clandeboye Road club - but again the shot soared over the bar.

Then just before the interval, Lee was blatantly scythed down right on the edge of the penalty box, when clean through - the Ballyvange defender lucky to escape any punishment from the referee on this occasion.

Christine Morrison in to cover Bates, help secure the clean sheet

The young striker curled it skilfully into the bottom corner, but was adjudged to have hit the ball before the referee was ready. So, had to retake the free kick, again finding the net - but yet again the referee disallowed the strike, having adjudged that the ball had not cross the line - it was that sort of night.

With the first half ending 2-0, Bangor still had a lot of work to do and playing into the strengthening wind, needed a third and hopefully decisive goal to wrap this one up.

Armstrong and McAteer were introduced to lift the tempo of the home side, who had worked very hard and really with a few decisions going their way, could have been out of sight.

Leanne McGarry at the back was as always influential seemed always on hand to tidy up at the back. Dougherty had a good second half and Morrison in for the injured Bates showed she certainly capable to come in at centre half if required.

The powerful direct approach of Lee was just too much for the Ballyvange defence and they were happy to cynically cut her down whenever she broke through. Savage was also on the receiving end of some heavy treatment and both did well to keep their focus and discipline.

The killer goal which had been threatening to come duly arrived - midfielder Scott, incidentally the divisions top goal scorer netting again - her fifth strike in three games, cutting in from the wing to beat the Ballyvange No 1 and net the third
The freshness of McAteer continued to torment Ballyvange down the right flank - with Dougherty and Duncan both putting the teenager through and a more clinical finish from either of the front pair would have put the Seasiders out of reach.

Thankfully the fourth and final strike which did kill the fixture came shortly from the same trio, Dougherty, to the industrial Duncan and then McAteer.

The teenager skipped past the left back and once behind the defence, raced to the by-line before squaring for the supporting McKibbin at the back post. Her first touch taking the pace off the cross and her second setting it up nicely for Armstrong to rifle in to make it 4-0.

Savage maybe could have added to the scoreline late on, but again the striker was clipped and brought down when clean through again without any punishment from the referee.

Andy Craig “I was disappointed with the lack of protection at the treatment dished out, and approached him to make that point. While I accept that most of contact wasn’t particularly vicious, it was persistent, disruptive and was allowed to go unpunished throughout the whole evening.

“But when all is said and done - it is a matter of opinion and his was only one that matters on the night - whether I like it on not.

“It was tough night for us out there, Ballyvange played to their strengths and took full advantage of the elements. We were made to work extremely hard and competed for everything.

“Although just a bit sluggish in the first half, I asked for a response in the second - and I got exactly that.

“The side responded with a good, gritty performance with everything going against us - we stuck in there and we came out of this one with our second clean sheet in three, our fifth win on the bounce and more importantly three points."

Jenny Boyd powers through the midfield

Bangor will hope to continue their impressive start - when they travel to Downpatrick next Tuesday (12th) to face Rossglass ladies. Then the club are away to Derry City ladies in the Irish Cup on Monday, 18th May with a 7.30 p.m. start before returning back to Clandeboye Park for the big ‘derby’ game against 1st Bangor Ladies from Newtownards.

Natasha Lee had a tough night but got on the scoresheet again

Last Edited on 7-May-2009 2:27 PM