Seasiders hit the halfway point on top
Bangor Ladies v. Wellington

Seasiders on course for record breaking season

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, welcome Wellington Recreational from Larne to Bloomfield Playing Fields tonight (16th) in a fixture that marks the half way point in the Coca Cola 3rd Division with the Seasiders currently clear at the top of the table.

With Bangor’s F.C. home venue Clandeboye Park now closed for maintenance, the Seasiders will be lining up for the first time this season at the Bloomfield Road council pitches in what could prove another important game for the North Down league leaders.

Visitors Wellington have a history, which can be traced, right back until the Seasiders first ever season in 2006. Since then the two sides have met six times in competition – with Bangor having the edge with 3 wins. There has only been one draw a 2-2 last season with Wellington taking the remaining two games.

Oddly enough the two teams had an almost an identical set of stats last season – both clubs having played 14 games, won 5, drawn 2 and lost 7 – with the Seasiders just pipping their Larne rivals in the table on goal difference.

Another interesting statistic is the fact that Wellington were the last team to defeat the Seasiders in the league competitions, an amazing game at the Valentines in late August last year, which finished 6-4 to the visitors!

Since then, Sammy Mellons Bangor Ladies have remained unbeaten having put together an impressive run of nine matches in succession – eight of which they have won – a club record.

Squad: Paula Dougherty, Rachel Bates, Jackie Price; Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan, Jenny Boyd, Valerie McKibbin; Dee Savage, Julie Haslam, Natasha Lee, Lauren McAteer and Petra Armstrong.

With the injury list continuing to mount, and a number of players out for more than just a few games, it has been a remarkable achievement that the Seasiders have managed to maintain their position at the top of the 2009 league table.

First out this season was 2008 second top goalscorer Tina Sharpe, obviously a huge loss for the North Down club. The young striker going down in the club’s last pre-season warm up match with knee ligaments trouble – which have forced her retirement from this seasons league.

One thing is certain - there will be goals on Tuesday night at Bloomfield

Then Rachel Bates was hospitalised with an ankle injury, which thankfully looked more serious than it was, but the defender lost a few weeks. More recently assistant coach Leanne McGarry pulled out as a result of surgery to her shoulder which is threatening to keep her out for the remainder of the season.

The latest blow, keeper Bridget Finegan has been sidelined with the club currently awaiting to assess the damage and news of when the Seasiders No. 1’s can return this season. Followed now by Trish Webb who will be out for a few weeks so it’s certainly all hands on deck at Clandeboye Road.

Andy Craig remained positive “Obviously we are suffering with the loss of some key and influential players, but we have the determination to keep going and stay in the race. Having put together a fantastic start to our 2009 campaign we are still in the driving seat and hopefully can maintain our momentum.

“Wellington are a good enough side but the squad are certainly playing their best stuff at the moment and we are starting to improve our passing game.

Duncan and McNamara both hit the back of the net against Welly Rec.

“The players are working very hard to get through this difficult spell and on the training pitch are responding to the challenges which lie ahead. Tonight should be a close game and Wellington will know they have been in a match whatever the outcome.

“Tactical we are also moving on and putting together a number of different systems which play to our strengths - the top half of the field. We are on schedule to record our best ever season in the NIWFA, and remain focussed on our ambition of a top three finish – so it’s all not all bad.
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Following this match – next week (23rd) the Seasiders are again at Bloomfield Road, in the quarter final of the Coca Cola Divisional Cup. Andy Craig’s side drew Ballynahinch at home, last Thursday night at a league meeting. The full draw was as follows: 1st Bangor (Ards) v. Abbey Villa; Bangor v. Ballynaninch; Rossglass v. Ballyvange and Wellington v. Killyleagh Y.C,

Big games to look forward too - starting with Wellington Rec. tonight (16th)

Bangor defeated Ballynahinch 3-1 when the two sides met recently in a league fixture. Although starting as favourites in this one, the two sides are at completely different ends of the league table, Bangor will hope they can justify their status and progress into the semi finals which will be played in August.

Bangor looking to push on in the second half of the season - table June 14th

Last Edited on 22-Jun-2009 9:47 AM