Top Goalscorer Lee inspires Bangor to record win

Abbey Villa 3, Bangor 6

Seasiders smash points record

Back to Back hat-tricks for the league's current top goalscorer

An inspired performance by Natasha Lee of Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, helped bank another three points for the Coca Cola 3rd Division league leaders on Wednesday (1st) night. The 6-3 win over neighbouring Abbey Villa at Dairy Hall in Newtownards, means the Seasiders have recorded their highest number of league points accumulated in any season in the NIWFA.

The Bangor Academy teenager netted her second hat-trick in back to back league games, in a determined performance by the under-strength Seasiders. This result maintains the North Down’s clubs two-point advantage over Newtownards rivals 1st Bangor, with just six league games to go, and establishes the Bangor forward as the most potent striker in the division with 16 goals scored this season.

A pair of threes for record breaking young Seasider Natasha Lee

This game signalled the turn around, half way point of fixtures in the 4 month campaign. Bangor are nervously edging ever closer to what could potentially be their highest ever finish in the league table. The club are currently sitting at the top and with a gap opening up between second and third place – the Seasiders are still on course to complete an historic record breaking season.

Squad: Jenny Boyd, Paula Dougherty, Valerie McKibbin, Rachel Bates, Trish Webb; Christina McNamara, Lauren McAteer, Lynsey Turville, Caroline Scott; Dee Savage and Natasha Lee.

This fixture, originally planned to take place at Adams Park in Millisle was switched to the Diary Hall pitches in Newtownards, which were in far from ideal condition – hard areas reduced to grassless dust and some of the goal-line unmarked.

However the referee, despite commenting on the state of the ground, gave the game the green light and the fixture kicked off on time at 7.30 p.m. Bangor started with a bare minimum quota of players due to some disappointing late withdrawals and unavailability.

Lauren McAteer hit a quick fire brace to put the Seasiders ahead

Despite starting reasonably well, it was the Seasiders who surprisingly went a goal down – Abbey Villa taking advantage of extra space in midfield, were able to exploit that space and Zoe Robinson rattled off a shot from 20 yards which flew over Boyd to give them the early lead.

The response was both quick and decisive, McAteer, although isolated in the midfield, fired in a double to give Bangor the lead. The first one, low and tucked neatly into the corner was followed up just 4 minutes later this time, driving in the ball from the edge of the box into the top corner.

Deirdre Savage almost scored the goalof the season - a thunderous volley from a corner

With Bangor in the lead, the visitors settled into the game and despite the terrible conditions under foot had a couple of chances to increase their advantage, Savage blasting wide while Lee took a knock after colliding with the Villa keeper on 17 minutes. Thankfully both were able to continue.

With the pitch causing both teams difficulty it was Abbey Villa who struck next, getting level on the half-hour, again a long speculative effort by Laura McGimpsey beat Boyd to make it 2-2.

On 64 minutes, Carolyn Scott working very hard off the ball got Bangor the break with the referee awarding the visitors a soft penalty for a handball, which looked accidental. Bangor often on the receiving end of these decisions this season, were glad to benefit from one going their way for a change. Lee, stepped up and coolly side footed the ball right into the bottom corner to again give the Seasiders the lead.

Right on the blow of half time, Lee fired in a powerful corner to the back post where McAteer had a great chance to complete her hat trick, but just failed to get enough on the ball which skidded out for a goal kick.

The adjustment at half time saw the team switch to a conventional 4-4-2 and this cancelled out the threat from Villa who had enjoyed the extra player in the middle of the park in the first half.

8 goal midfielder Scott worked hard off the ball for the Seasiders'

As Bangor pushed on, Turville more involved in midfield - Lee was quick to break through after a great pass from McAteer and the clubs leading goalscorer this season made no mistake – blasting in from 12 yards from the left side of the penalty area to make it 4-2.

Bangor continued to press and push Villa back and Savage almost made it five connecting with a Lee corner on the right with a superb volley, which would have taken the net clean off the goalposts had it been a foot lower.

More drama, as Abbey Villa, who to their credit never gave up despite being overrun in the second half got their reward with a third goal against the run of play, through Sarah Angus to reduce the deficit to just one.

Bangor responded immediately, the inspirational Lee again on the score sheet, and again producing a superb finish after bursting through on the left-hand side. This, the teenager’s third of the night and sixth in two games was enough to make her the divisions top goalscorer with 12 goals in 8 games.

Bangor now settled, McNamara and Scott creating more chances, Savage punished a tiring Villa defence to add another to the Bangor tally make the final score 6-3 in favour of the visitors.

A delighted Andy Craig: "Although we made hard work of this, the team showed yet again their determination to grind out the result which keeps this run going. There was a lot of effort put at the back, Bates, McKibben, Dougherty and Webb, still carrying a slight injury all did well to try protect us - and it paid off.

"We have now posted a record number of points in any one season and that is down to the collective spirit of the team. Although down eleven players from a squad of twenty four, to still be leading this division is a testament to the resolve and determination of a small group of players who are stepping up to the plate.

Natasha Lee, enjoying her first season with Bangor has set a new club goalscoring record

"Of course, I must pay tribute to the contribution of young Natasha Lee, who has now set a new club record of individual goals scored in a season. The teenager has currently rattled in 16 goals in what is her first season at the Seasiders – I just hope that she can stay fit and continue to spearhead our campaign."

The Seasiders now face Killyleagh Rec., at home at Bloomfield Road, on Tuesday (7th) and with their closest rivals 1st Bangor, set to take over at the top of the table should they win on Monday (6th), it looks set to be a grandstand finish to a memorable season in 2009.

Bangor Ladies are delighted to be associated with, and sponsored by local Hyundai Dealers, Sammy Mellon & Sons, Bingham Street, Bangor.

Last Edited on 1-Aug-2009 5:33 AM