Bangor celebrate a record breaking year of ladies football

Seasiders' review of 2009

With the nights finally starting to draw out and the first hint of the spring buds in the air, the official ladies section at Clandeboye Road - Bangor Ladies Football Club will once again be back to training in just six weeks time, with the pre-season date announced as Sunday 21st February.


It certainly promises to be another challenging year, if 2009 was anything to go by, with the ladies hoping to continue the momentum, which brought the club?s first silverware - the Coca-Cola League Championship to Bangor in September.


Looking back at a memorable year of football over the summer months, the Seasiders will be looking to get off to a good start again, in what should be a very busy programme. The 09 campaign proved crucial in providing the team with a good level of fitness and just as importantly, a competitive edge and sharpness.


The club benefiting from a busy pre season 5 game schedule, which saw them entertain Donegal Celtic, Loughgall Ladies, and then Crumlin United at home, before travelling to Portaferry and finally Knockbreda Ladies.


The campaign opened at Clandeboye Park back in March, when visitors Donegal Celtic arrived in Bangor off the back of a very successful 2008 campaign and duly brushed the Seasiders aside with a comfortable 4-1 win. One of North Down?s most significant signing, Leanne McGarry nicking one for the home side in this opener.

Turning point - 2-2 draw against Crumlin United

Crumlin United ladies were next in the firing line, as Bangor manager Andy Craig tried to pack in a very lively schedule of both training regularly and taking on some competitive fixtures. Again McGarry was on the score sheet as Bangor recorded a reasonable performance, Carolyn Scott scoring the other in a 2-2 draw.


April saw Bangor face their toughest test with Premier division side Loughgall Lakers the opposition, invited down to Clandeboye Park. The side, representing the top flight of ladies football in Northern Ireland recording a good 3-0 victory, although the Seasiders looked to be at least getting into their stride and gave a creditable account of themselves.


Two fixtures on the road, followed - again friendlies, which completed the preseason programme - the travelling Bangor ladies rolled over Peninsula outfit Portaferry 1-4, and then took on a very good Knockbreda outfit, winning that fixture comfortably 3-5.


Significantly in the later, both strikers getting off the mark with Deirdre Savage and Natasha Lee hitting a brace each. Bad news though, was the injury of Tina Sharpe, who would be ruled out all season, with serious knee damage in this, the final warm up game.


The season itself arrived and got underway at Clandeboye Road on April 21st, with an emphatic home win over neighbours Abbey Villa Ladies from Millisle. Scott again, the star in this one rattling in an impressive hat trick in the what proved the clubs biggest home win of the season ? 8.0 the scoreline.

Bangor Ladies start well at home against neighbours Abbey Villa

Three impressive wins quickly followed suit, 1-6 at Killyleagh, another home success over Ballyvange 4-0 in May, then a strong1-4 return against Rossglass in Downpatrick. Scott proving a very useful backup for the sidelined Sharpe, scoring in all 4 of the Seasiders league fixtures.


While new signing teenager Lee was also going through the gears nicely - the striker registering in 5 games in a row, and starting to blend into the team and in particular in partnership with the more experienced Savage.


Next up though was a nightmare away Coca Cola 1st round cup draw at Derry City Ladies - the long 4 hour round trip not favouring the traveling side who came back to Bangor in the late hours of May 18th on the wrong side of a 9 goal thriller. Lee again amongst the goals setting a club record of scoring in 6 consecutive games, although the 5-4 deficit had been the Seasiders first defeat of the season to date.

Teenager Lauren McAteer rescues Bangor with second half equaliser against the Ards challengers

Domestically came another challenging game at home to the side who were now in second place in the division, and hot on the heels of the North Down leaders - 1st Bangor ladies from Newtownards. The young rivals gave a good account of themselves taking the lead through a penalty from Molly Moore, only to see the Seasiders respond in the second half, Lauren McAteer grabbing the equaliser, in the entertaining 1-1 draw.


The Seasiders though were dealt yet another major blow; No.1 Bridget Finegan had to retire in the dying moments of the game and was subsequently ruled out for several weeks.


Off the pitch the Seasiders successfully secured the sponsorship of local Hyundai dealers Sammy Mellon & Sons of Bingham Street. This move galvanised the inclusion of the ladies section at Clandeboye Park. Mellons are also the main sponsors at Bangor F.C, and have a long association of supporting local sport in the seaside town.


The presentation of a new team kit, in the traditional blue and yellow colours was made by Ivan Mellon in June - and the ladies have enjoyed his support on a number of occasions and look forward to a continued long term relationship.


Still at the top of the division, although minus a regular goalkeeper, Bangor kicked on again with wins away to Ballynahinch 1-3 and then at home over Wellington Recreational - a Lee hat trick at Bloomfield Road securing all 3 points.
font color="red">Natasha Lee who scored an incredible 32 goal in 2009 to guide the Seasiders to the title.

Natasha Lee scored an incredible 32 goals to help the Seasiders to the league title

Half way through the campaign now, centre half Leanne McGarry was now ruled out (shoulder) and Rachel Bates got herself suspended, red carded for raising her hands during the Wellington fixture, further reducing the squad in July.


At this turn round point in the programme, Bangor were now getting jut a little nervous - another withdrawal, this time club captain Cathy Duncan ruling herself unavailable due to pregnancy adding another first team name to an increasingly lengthening injury list. Thankfully the club signed Peggy Mathews and Susan Cull to cover the missing regulars, both proving useful additions.


With the squad now depleted it was a make shift line up who traveled to take on Abbey Villa, who were at the time were languishing at the bottom of the table. Although, struggling in personnel, a tenacious midfield partnership of Jenny Boyd and McAteer was blossoming, and proved an industrious combination. With Scott on one wing, Christina McNamara on the other the Seasiders had, at least a solid quartet in the middle of the park.

Leanne McGarry made a huge impact both at the back and amongst the early goals in 2009

The Seasiders scraped through 3-5 - another hat trick from Lee along with strike partner Savage also in a rich vein of form, notched up the points, which settled the nerves of manager Craig. More injury woes - Patricia Webb out (knee), Lindsay Ruddock out, (work) and Christine Morrison out (marriage!!) left the team totally stripped of cover.


At this stage the club relied totally on the services of Julie Graham, Jackie Price, Matthews, Cull, Valerie McKibbin and Petra Armstrong to step in and maintain the challenge for the league title.


Thankfully, the two strikers dominated the next two fixtures, a tough 4-0 win over an improved Killyleagh at Bloomfield Road - Lee netting all four, then the clubs biggest win on the road, a 0-9 hammering of Ballyvange. Savage set a new club record of 5 goals in one game and once again the sensational Lee weighed in with another 4 - making it 11 strikes in three games for the eighteen year old.


These clean sheets were also a massive contribution at this stage of the campaign. The improvement of right back Paula Dougherty shored up the defence along with the experienced and very talented Bates and the returning McGarry.


With the Seasiders somehow surviving with the bare bones of a side, the club thankfully started to stretch their lead over the chasing 1st Bangor. The North Down side consolidated their advantage with another resounding 7-0 win at home over Rossglass - Savage 2, McAteer, Scott, Bates, Lee and Armstrong all with netting contributions.


With the Seasiders now 4 points clear it was the huge local derby next, although not only pride was at stake in this one, this time the 3rd Division Championship on the line. An away win would ensure Bangor would secure their first title, though 1st Bangor (Newtownards) had to go for it - nothing short of a win would be enough to maintain their challenge. Both sides had, to this point, posted unbeaten records, the only difference was the Ards side had drawn twice.


Restored to the side was a struggling Finegan who despite still not 100% made herself available, and manager Craig didnt hesitate - with the good form of the visitors at the back, and the midfield looking strong.


In a pulsating encounter which had everything 1st Bangor certainly had their chances, an early missed penalty in the first half the most obvious. Although evenly balanced, Boyd and McAteer finally got to grips in the midfield, Scott and McNamara providing the biggest threat down the flanks.


In a great derby, the youngsters of Newtownards fell short at the back as the Seasiders swept into a crucial 1-0 lead. Carolyn Scott with a textbook finish at the back post, following clever work down the right by Lee separating the two neighbours with just 15 minutes on the clock. More drama as Finegan had to retire and again Bangor had no cover.

Left back Julie Graham was requisitioned as part time keeper, in front of a very resolute Bangor back four who hadnt conceded in their last three. Despite the home side throwing everything at the visiting Seasiders - it wasn't enough as the North Down held on to take an unassailable 7 point lead into their final two league games.


With the title now confirmed Bangor still had to complete their final couple of games, and despite the squad struggling as regards available players, manager Craig reminded the side that they remained unbeaten in all twelve of their league game to date and with just two games left there was still a lot to play for.


The champions were crowned before their final home game at Clandeboye Park against Ballynahinch, Audrey Hanna from the NIWFA presenting the trophy before that fixture in August. Although the team started slowly, struggling in a dour first half, thankfully a second half performance saw the home side sail through 5-0. Once again Lee rattling in a hat trick, her fifth of the season.

Carolyn Scott who was a key player in 09 - came up with the goal which clinched the title

The Seasiders final game, a tough away fixture was against the last team to have beaten the 2009 champions Larnes Wellington Recreational. This was to provide a dramatic conclusion to the 6 month long campaign.

With the squad depleted with unavailability and injuries, manager Craig had only 8 fit players available for this final game, out of an original squad of 24. Thankfully, the championship was done and dusted, the game itself would be nothing more than provided the final statistics to what had been an entertaining season.<


Despite the numerical disadvantage, the club travel to Larne on a miserable damp night in August, to fulfil their league programme, the only alternative was a fine by the NIWFA for failure to complete the fixture.


On arrival at Brookvale Park, the persistent rain was already starting to settle on the surface, although the referee did give the game the go ahead at 6.45 p.m. By 7.15 p.m., however, the rain was by now falling quite heavily, and when the players emerged to take the field, the referee on a further inspection, had no hesitation but to call the game off.


Bangor had somehow escaped and were to return just 7 days later with a full side and record a comfortable 3-0 win completing a seventeen match unbeaten league sequence, and in doing so, confirmed the Seasiders, as the most successful team in the whole of Northern Ireland in 2009.


This final result statistically meant that Bangor Ladies, one of only four unbeaten teams in the country; had recorded the highest total with 40 out of a maximum 42 points. Andy Craig's team had also scored the highest number of goals by any team in any of the six NIWFA divisions - a total of 67; and with only 11 goals conceeded it also confirmed the Seasiders were held NIWFA highest goal difference deficit.


The Seasiders' eventual Player of the Year Natasha Lee ended the season as not only the clubs top goalscorer, but also the 3rd division's top striker with 27 goals. The eighteen year old actually finished as Northern Ireland's second most prolific goalscorer behind Kilkeel's Nicola Graham. Graham, the countries top striker finished the season with 30 goals, albeit helped by a mammoth 9 goal personal tally as 4th division Kilkeel thumped Dromara Village 17-0.


So, once again, its time for the NIWFA pack to be reshuffled and while the league will no doubt welcome a few new teams into the fray, it once again promises to be an eventful and interesting season for local ladies footballers, when things get underway in April.


For the Seasiders' at least, those preparations will be getting underway in earnest on Sunday, February 21st, when training will recommence for all seniors. Also, there are a few friendlies already being arranged, against some very good opposition. More information will be available shortly.

Ivan Mellon presents the Ladies section with their new kit - in traditional yellow and blue colours.

Last Edited on 24-Jan-2010 8:36 AM