Training starts next weekend - Bloomfield Road, Bangor, 1.45 p.m.

Bangor Ladies burst into
action with back to back to games in a week

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, burst into action this week with back to back games in the space of two days. The club traveled to Boucher Road in Belfast last Sunday (7th) to take on Blackieville ladies, followed quickly with their first home game this year against Cliftonville at Clandeboye Park scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday 9th) evening.



The 2009 Coca Cola Division 3 Champions, have only been in training for the past fortnight and are definitely very rusty after their long winter lay off, so these games will be important in terms of getting some of the playing rhythm and match fitness back into the team.



The six game pre season got under way on Sunday, as an under strength Bangor, faced a very useful, young South Belfast side Blackieville Ladies at the Boucher Road Playing Fields. Andy Craig’s side beaten by a late strike just four minutes from the end of the match, in what was a very good game of football.



Not a disgrace though as Blackieville play in two divisions above the Seasiders, in the First division and recorded a very decent middle of the table position to maintain their status in that league. Out of their 14 game campaign they returned with a six won, two drawn, six lost record, to put 20 points on the board in 09.

Seasiders lose to late, late goal

Conditions were generally good, with bright sunshine welcoming the Seasiders who found themselves 1-0 down at the half way stage. Although Blackieville were clearly sharper than their opponents were, there was really nothing technically between the two clubs who canceled each other out with some good defending.



Rachel Bates at the back was having a great game, responsible for keeping the Seasiders in the game at times with some good, basic no nonsense defending. While up front Natasha Lee was often isolated with Turville playing out of position providing what support she could in difficult circumstances.



The goal itself was straight route one, a wind assisted high goal kick deceiving the centre halves who were caught under the ball and the bounce favoured the Blackieville striker following up, who struck a fine volley past stand in keeper Julie Graham who had no chance of stopping it.



Still in the game at the break the team were encouraged to forget about the result, and to concentrate on upping the pace, and try to get the performance level up. With the team told to take the game as a training session, Craig applied some tactical points he wanted tried out in the second half.



The second half started with Bangor more positive and playing at a far better pace than in the opening 45. Lee who had been off the pace was starting to threaten with some trademark direct running at the middle of the Blackieville defence.



Armstrong did take the initiative taking a far greater position out wide, cleverly stretching the Belfast team’s back four and this did open up the space for the visitors to get behind the back and create some chances – Lee had a half chance then Armstrong herself forced a corner.



The response was good and the equaliser came from quick decisive football from Webb, who lashed a great pass up to McAteer with Lee quick to get between the last defender and keeper to nick in and take it round the No. 1 and slot the ball into the empty net.



With the game tied the Seasiders had a fantastic chance with 15 minutes to go. Armstrong pulling the defence wide had the left back in a spin as she got free on goal but the attack was bizarrely thwarted by an untimely intervention from a player from an adjoining pitch.



Blackieville although did enjoy a late spell of pressure forcing a seemingly endless succession of corners which tested the defensive partnership of McGarry and Bates who were thankfully dominant and the game looked to be heading for a draw.



With just four minutes to go, a free kick proved to be the downfall of the Seasiders, who despite defending a high line were caught cold and the resulting drive at goal was well stopped by Boyd, but quickly pounced on to make it 2-1 to the home team.



Having arrived at Boucher Road, considerably under strength earlier, to have come away with just a 2-1 scoreline gave credit to the Seasiders work ethic, and the backbone of the team who battled against the odds all the way through this one. McAteer and Boyd strong in the middle of the park while McGarry and Bates worked extremely hard at the back.



The Seasiders’ have of course played th South Belfast side before, the two sides clashed twice in the old Intermediate B division, with Blackieville comfortable winners at Cherryvale, before the North Down club retaliated with a 5-2 win at the end of 2008 season to even things up.



While both teams have no doubt moved on since them, it proved a very useful outing, and hopefully Bangor can build on this performance. Ladies manager Craig knows that the preseason has nothing to do with the results, it is more about building consistency and improving fitness and performance.

Bangor's Rachel Bates put in a solid performance at the back

Tuesday nights (9th) match against Cliftonville however will prove a much tougher challenge for the Seasiders, at Clandeboye Park, and this will be a true test of character for the newly promoted Bangor Ladies.



Having won promotion from the Championship into the top flight of ladies football, the North Belfast team which have grown in stature over the past few years, and can now be considered contenders up in this, the top level of ladies football in Northern Ireland.



With a record last season of played 14, won 8, drawn 2, lost 4 in 2009, the team went up via the playoffs at the expense of a very good Loughgall Lakers team, who incidentally were the last and only team to shut the Seasiders last season 3-0 in March at home.



They also have an additional threat of being capable of getting goals, 34 scored, and with 4 players in the top ten strikers in the division, proves they can score from all over the park, so it will be more of a defensive test than an offensive one.



Bangor Ladies are also delighted to confirm 18 year old striker’s nomination in the North Down Sports Advisory Council annual sports awards in the Sportsperson of the Year 2009 category.



The young footballer who broke all previous records in terms of goals scored in one season with the ladies club, netting an incredible 32 times last season, scoring against every other club in the division, and also breaking the record of goals scored in consecutive games with six in a row.



The Seasider finished the season as top goal scorer in the whole division and second top in the whole of Northern Ireland. Natasha also won Player of the Year and MVP to almost sweep the boards at the Clandeboye Road club.



The sports governing body the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association are set to acknowledge Natasha’s achievement at a special night at Windsor Avenue on March 18th, where she will be presented with a further award.



Manager Andy Craig enthused “Natasha is a fantastic talent, at only 18 years could certainly go on a represent her country at senior level. A regular at training who works hard and has benefited from her move to the Seasiders at the beginning of last year.

Natasha Lee - nominated for the local Sports Awards

“The transition has been slow and she has been a great signing for Bangor Ladies. At the end of last season she was phenomenal and was scoring for fun, leaving a wake of defenders in her tracks, and I expect more of the same this year.



“Obviously this is a very tough category and one which will be packed with some of the top performers in the Borough, Rory McIlroy a previous winner, and rightly so, but Bangor Ladies regards her nomination as a very worthy one and are very proud of her and what this young player achieved in 2009.”

Last Edited on 11-Mar-2010 11:15 AM