Seasiders go third in the league table

Bangor Ladies pick up all 3 points on the road

Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, took on Wellington Rec., last night at Brookvale Park in Larne and despite being down to 10 players from the start of the second half, a Natasha Lee hat-trick and a first ever goal for Trish Webb, secured all three points to move the 2009 division three league champions into third spot in the Division two league table with a game in hand.


With only 12 players available, the visitors would obviously be facing a very tough night, and a full strength Wellington Recreational side. The Seasiders are currently without Duncan, McNamara, Scott, Savage and Boyd, so debuts were handed to Kerrie Wood and Angie Young, both signed at the end of May, as the club’s injury crisis deepened.


Squad: Bridget Finegan; Paula Dougherty, Leanne McGarry, Rachel Bates, Angie Young; Trish Webb, Lynsey Turville, Lauren McAteer, Val McKibbin; Natasha Lee and Kerrie Wood. Sub (not used) Dee Savage.


Having arrived at the venue, the weather was at least quite pleasant; the temperature had slowly been rising all week, so it was in warm sunshine, that Bangor in bright yellow, kicked off defending the harbour end of the Brookvale Park pitch.


The visitors settled quite quickly, and were sent out with the instructions to try and use the ball, with the surface in generally reasonable condition.

This would hopefully favor the Seasiders’ passing game, which has now seen Andy Craig’s side beaten only once in their previous twenty league fixtures.


The early exchanges saw both teams produce little more than a few corners, as the game approached the twenty minute mark neither side had established any supremacy, although Wood and Lee, a new partnership up front, were always looking to break through the deadlock.


In the midfield, Turville, as the holding player, has added a level of consistency in her recent run in the team and that has allowed the talented McAteer more freedom to find the gaps with some slick passing, or to add an extra attacking dimension with her late runs from deep.


It was from this source that the first chance was created, some good play down the right featuring Dougherty, and McAteer, got Lee away and the ball half defended was found by Trish Webb, playing on the right flank, in-behind the defence.


The winger seized the opportunity well, having benefited from a lucky break which got her free of the keeper, she still had a lot to do, having been forced out quite wide right, but the finish was well executed to give the Seasiders the lead.


This settled the visitors down and with the hard working midfield in front of a fairly confident back four, the North Down outfit looked to double that advantage just a few moments later, Turville with a half chance from a well struck corner which sailed wide.


Up front the dangerous Lee also launched a great effort from a nicely worked free kick involving Bates, this one shaved the right side of the upright with the Wellington keeper flat-footed.


Wellington however, did have their moments, the best of which was a low drive, which rattled the bottom of the post five minutes before the break, with Finegan beaten.


The final action of the first half again was to involve Bangor No. 1 Finegan who clashed with a Wellington forward just before the break and aggravated a knee injury which would eventually see her withdrawn from the contest at half time.


With Finegan sidelined, substitute Savage, still nursing a back injury, and clearly struggling, wasn’t used. Angie Young, who had been very solid at left back, took up the challenge of replacing Finegan and trying to defend the slender one goal advantage.


Bangor switched to a 4-3-2 formation and would look to be defensive, hoping to get something on the break, with McKibbin pushed back to left back, with Wood and Lee being asked to put in an extra hard shift to press the ball up top, while the Seasiders put everyone behind the ball.


With the visitors deep, Wellington, now with a numerical advantage edged more into the contest and were soon to be on level terms, - a mistake at the back, opened up the middle of the park, and Young exposed had no chance. 1-1.


While this lifted the home side, visitors Bangor didn’t falter and stuck to the game plan, McAteer in particular proving a real handful in the middle of the park, with the teenager going through tackle after tackle and still she would have the ball at her feet.

Valerie McKibbin, who was involved in the third and fourth goals

However it was from some great work down the left, McKibbin got the ball forward quickly to Lee, playing on the shoulder of the last defender and the striker was off, having out paced the retreating visitors, the 18 year old calmly took it round the keeper and restored the lead.

Natasha Lee - returns with another hat-trick her seventh for the North Down side

As the game progressed, Bangor really kept at the home side, not allowing them time on the ball to pick there passes, and with Turville and McAteer swarming over the midfield, Wellington were clearly frustrated.


With 25 minutes to go, the young Bangor striker Lee, who was on the receiving end of some fierce tackles all evening, was cynically scythed down in what could have been a straight red, but the official choose yellow.


Whether the referee should have dealt with this more strongly, could be debated, but what followed were three decisions in which he did get it right.


The first of which led to the first red. Seasiders Woods may well could have got in trouble as her enthusiasm incensed a Wellington player, who clearly did not appreciate the unwelcome attention, lashed out at the young debutee.


This action left the referee with no choice but to send the player off. Albeit in a moment of frustration, the manner of the swipe was malicious and indeed worthy of a red. Thankfully the menacing strike didn’t connect and the young forward remained uninjured.

Bangor's midfield play maker Lauren McAteer

The second decision followed a short time later. Arguably as fall-out from the first sending off, which clearly upset the home support that seemed intent on singling out the Bangor player for some unreasonable attention.


There was another melee, again involving the same player, and again a second straight red of the night, which effectively reduced the home team to nine players, and rightly so. The dismissal again for violent conduct, which was indefensible.


The official then produced the fourth card of the evening, this time a yellow for the Bangor striker, again the correct decision.


With fifteen minutes on the clock, and Wellington, having been in the driving seat at the start of the second half, playing against ten, had blown their advantage in 8 minutes of madness losing their discipline and in the process - two of their players.


This handed the game to the visitors, with McAteer in midfield now running the show, Lee quickly added a third, as the stretched Wellington defence just couldn’t cope with the 2009 NIWFAs second highest goalscorer.

Bangor's Paula Dougherty blasted over late on

With Wellington falling apart, right back Dougherty almost got on the score sheet, having joined the attack, Lee having drawn the goalkeeper, the ball fell on the edge of the box, the Seasider unfortunately blasted over the top.



The tenacity of McAteer in the midfield was proving to be the inspiration for the revival of the visitors. And with McKibbin attacking from left back, Lee compounded a miserable night for the home side, as she added a fourth completing a memorable hat trick and sending the Seasiders home with another 3 valuable points.



Manager Craig reflected "I am delighted to have come away with the points. The players really deserve that for just sticking to the basics, and remaining calm, when it seemed the whole thing got silly. The incidents were out of character, and don’t reflect the relationship we have with Wellington Rec.


"We have played Wellington several times, and without any real incident, actually when we played Larne in a friendly recently, three of their players guested for us, so the manner in which this one unfolded was strange.


"However I can’t excuse the red cards, both were necessary and for violent conduct, and I hope that on the morning after the game, both players involved will be disappointed with themselves and will have learnt from this experience.


"For my own team I was pleased with the performances of both our new signings, Young was decisive and positive, Woods although inexperienced, has definitely great potential to be a great striker; I also have to mention Trish Webb and Val McKibbin, who have come into the side and really settled and gave account of themselves. Webb getting her first ever goal for the club.



"Natasha Lee again grabs the headlines, this youngster just never gives up and I know she was exhausted toward the end of the game, but still returned with another great hat-trick, but for me the midfield of Turville and McAteer deserve the praise in this one.



"Both are developing players, Turville playing with more confidence, while teenager McAteer proving to be another local player with clear international class.



"We’ll take the points, and look forward to building on this result, with our outstanding game against Moyola next in the pipeline.. This takes place next Wednesday evening, at home, and I would hope that the players will be able to focus, and consolidate on their third spot in the league."

Bangor's Lauren McAteer stood out with an strong display in the middle of the park

Last Edited on 6-Jun-2010 4:28 AM