Bangor Ladies final competitive match is confirmed

Bangor Ladies v. Larne Ladies

Bangor Ladies bring curtain down on 2009

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, are poised to bring the curtain down on a truly memorable six months of record breaking, competitive football, when they face Larne Ladies in their final fixture of the 2009 season, at Clandeboye Road on Thursday 24th September.

Under the management of Andy Craig, the club, who are sponsored by Bangor Hyundai dealers Sammy Mellon and Sons, of Bingham Street, have posted the most impressive statistics of any team in the whole of Northern Ireland.

Finishing the season as Divisional Champions, the Seasiders’ competed 14 league games, winning 13, and drawing the remaining 1, to record the highest number of points (40) of any other women’s football club in all the other seven divisions of the sports governing body, the NIWFA. The only flaw in their six month long campaign, which featured seven clean sheets, was a 1-1 draw with neighbouring Newtownards side 1st Bangor (Newtownards).

Bangor Ladies football Club's 2009 Squad - March 2009

The North Down club also topped the league as the most offensively minded side in the Province – with 67 goals scored – 41 of which were converted by, statistically the best strike partnership anywhere in the country – Bangor Ladies Natasha Lee and Deirdre Savage.

Teenager Lee who netted 27 goals in the summer campaign, including 5 hat-tricks, was not only the leading markswoman of the Coca Cola Third Division, the 18 year old ended the season as the most prolific striker in five of the countries divisional championships.

With Savage also netting 14, and finishing third highest goalscorer in the 3rd division, the Seasiders also boast the team with the biggest positive goal difference total, again in the whole Northern Ireland, having only conceding 11 goals in the whole campaign.

Andy Craig “What a fantastic season – what this squad has achieved is quite amazing, in consideration of having lost probably our most important player - goalkeeper Bridget Finegan (who made just six appearances), so early in the campaign.

Bangor Ladies Bridget Finegan retired injured early in the campaign

“Further withdrawals saw striker Tina Sharpe, out with cruciate ligament damage, followed by the departures of Leanne McGarry, Patricia Webb, Kim Dockery; and in happier circumstances, Cathy Duncan expecting her second child, and Christine Morrison, who got married, left the squad thinly stretched.

“The team had to respond to these successive set backs as we got deeper into our season, we were further reduced with holidays, etc., so I was often struggling to put the full compliment of players out. Indeed going into several important fixtures with just 12 fit players and forced on two occasions to start with the only 11 footballers that were available for selection.

“This meant a team had to be moulded around several key regulars, leading to changes in our systems, and a number of players being asked to take up unfamiliar roles which they had no experience of. Thankfully the changes didn’t deter our strikers, who were firing on all cylinders to keep us on course.

“But we got through, down to the spirit and character of a handful of regular faces, who although at the time were facing difficult challenges, proved to be able to knuckle down and to bring home these sorts of statistics is testament to the hard work they put in.

“While acknowledging the massive contribution of new signings McGarry and Bates; as manager I had the delight of witnessing the growth in stature of Dougherty, Scott, McAteer, McNamara, Armstrong and Savage who I now believe are much more accomplished, intelligent footballers, while obviously young Lee was the find of the season for us - her goals invaluable. Then of course both stand-in keepers - Boyd & Haslam, without them - we could not have done it.

“Now the dust has settled, I can now reflect. Generally the squad have emerged from this season as a more determined, better technically and a mentally stronger group of players, which will no doubt benefit us when we go up a division next April.

Carolyn Scott - one of a number of regulars who kept the Seasiders on course

“Having been able to relax and take a few weeks off – we will be facing Larne, who are three divisions above us, playing in the championship who finished their season very well – so it will be a good game for us to wrap up the year.

“Although a friendly, we can expect they will come to Clandeboye Park wanting to turn us over. Something that has proved too much of an ask in the division, where we have seen off consecutive opposition for 19 games in a row – remaining untouchable for over a year.”

The game kicks off at 8 p.m., and all players are asked to report to Clandeboye Park for 6.30 p.m. The club are also delighted to announce that Ivan Mellon, of 2009 sponsors Sammy Mellon and Sons will be in attendance from 7.15 p.m. when members of Bangor Ladies record breaking side will be presented with their NIWFA Divisional Champions medals before the game gets underway.

All the statistics of 2009

Last Edited on 11-Sep-2009 6:07 AM