Right back Paula Dougherty of Bangor Ladies clears
What ever the sport or occasion: cricket, rugby, hockey or netball – when these two towns clash - there generally is always an added competitive edge to the encounter.
So with a place in the cup final at stake, on this occasion it will be the turn of ladies football to experience a predictably charged atmosphere as Bangor Ladies F.C. line up against their Newtownards opponents 1st Bangor (Newtownards) on Monday night (2nd).
History does suggest, yet another close game, the sides have clashed four times in the last two seasons. The first occasion was May 26th, 2009 at Clandeboye Park where it finished all square, Lauren McAteer equalising after a first half penalty conversion by Molly Moore.
A month later, July 27th, the Seasiders travelled to Newtownards for a winner-take-all clash with the 2009 league championship on the line, a second half goal from Carolyn Scott was enough to bring the first silverware to Clandeboye Park.
Revenge however, was sweet; as the Ards team swept their Bangor visitors aside in a cup semi final in August, Cull and Lee converted for the Seasiders but it wasn’t enough, as 1st Bangor (Newtownards) went through and on to lift the league cup late in that year.
Most recently it was another close one, on May 25th and yet another stalemate. Natasha Lee opening the scoring, the visitors profiting from a rare goalkeeping blooper after a strike from Hollie Campbell that snatched a share of the points as that one again ended 1-1.
So, it will be a fixture that both clubs will approach with a degree of confidence and caution, and also as it is a cup game, one that will be completed on the night, should it take extra time and penalties to separate the two.
With a defeat on Tuesday (20th), still on their minds, in their last league game against Dungoyne ladies, the Seasiders will be looking at this cup game to provide the club with a place in the Divisional Cup final, which is scheduled to take place in September.
Having returned to Clandeboye Park after two months, the ladies went down 2-0 in what was an entertaining fixture, which to be fair, was in the balance right up to the last quarter.
A Dungoyne goal from a free kick late in the first half gave the visitors the lead as the Seasiders, still reeling from a seemingly never ending injury crisis, again were down to the bare bones.
Bangor Ladies new signing Ruth Evans in the game against Dungoyne
Squad: Deidre Savage; Paula Dougherty, Leanne McGarry, Christina McNamara, Trish Webb; Ruth Evans, Lyndsay Torville, Jenny Boyd, Carolyn Scott; Natasha Lee, Tina Sharpe. Sub: Susan Cull.
A firm, lush surface fresh from a two-month football-free spell of maintenance by Bangor FC groundsman Brian Ritchie, welcomed both sides and provided probably the best surface either team has seen in recent weeks.
Bangor had beaten this side 2-1 in the quarter final of the divisional cup just a few weeks ago, in an entertaining fixture at Bloomfield Road, the Seasiders snatching their spot in the semi final in the 87th minute, Lauren McAteer firing in an unstoppable header.
This one never reached the heights of excitement of the previous fixture, but was fiercely contested for over an hour, despite the Seasiders trailing for most of the match, but managing a few near misses.
Striker Lee, who has battled up front tirelessly in recent weeks, did create a chance to equalise but the Dungoyne keeper made the vital save.
Cull then lifted a superb ball over the advancing defence for the young striker who rounded the No.1 but took the ball too wide and just couldn’t find the back of the empty net.
With an air of caution, Savage just back from injury was substituted having got through the first 15 minutes, without incident, Sharpe taking over the goalkeeping duties for the rest of the game.
Another blow was the withdrawal, with a recurring ankle injury, of left sided midfielder Carolyn Scott, 10 minutes before the break, with the Seasiders still trailing. Half time 1-0.
Thankfully Scott returned at the start of the second but despite the numerical match-up, in truth Bangor were effectively down to ten for the second forty-five.
Lynsey Turville in the Seasiders' midfield with Boyd
Bangor did respond well though and produced their best spell right at the start of the second half, Natasha Lee again going close, this time striking the inside of the post, as the home side piled the pressure on, looking to get back into the contest.
Having survived this let-off, Dungoyne settled down again and played their best football at the back, keeping Bangor at bay, despite the best efforts of Boyd and Torville in midfield who were starting to win the battle in the middle of the park.
A few more half chances followed, Cull providing the class, while Lee the strength and energy, but it was one of those nights for the teenager, who just couldn’t get clear of a determined visiting defence.
The game was in the balance right up to the last 18 minutes when a harmless looking strike seemed to deceive Tina Sharpe in the Bangor goal and slipped through her gloves in a ‘Robert Green’ style to double the Dungoyne advantage.
Bangor's Christina McNamara in her first game since May
Although this strike lifted the visitors it didn’t disrupt the performance or the tempo of the home side that continued to press and look to get something out of the game, which was generally very entertaining, although not a classic by any means.
And so it finished, although defeated, manager Andy Craig remains defiant: “I was pleased with the attitude and application of the players, we all know we have been struggling with injuries, and have gone into our last four games with basically just whoever has been available.
On two occasions we have been without a full squad, so the spirit of the players has to be praised, we are up against the odds, but I believe the side have the grit and experience to fight their way through it.
BANGOR LADIES SECURE THE 2009 CHAMPIONSHIP
Courtesy of bangorfc.tv
“We have set ourselves realistic targets this year, primarily aiming to stay in the top half of the table and secondly going all out for at least a cup final place. With just four league games left, and having already secured our place in the semi-final, if we can win two of our remaining league games, we are in with a very good chance of achieving everything we set out to do.
“I am also expecting a few of the absent faces to be returning after injury; McNamara is back, Scott and Savage are close to a return, while McAteer, Woods and Dockery should all be available for the league run in – which is a major plus.
“And if we look at the bigger picture of having achieved what we have this year with almost half of the squad unavailable then it underlines my confidence, that this team can go on and challenge for the division within the next two seasons.
“But it’s the big derby game next and I have every reason to expect to be going through, having rattled the league leaders recently, I know it will be another tight game and one that everyone at Bangor Ladies Football Club are looking forward to."
So it’s back-to-back games next week, both against rivals 1st Bangor, and both away, first it’s the big semi final on the Monday (2nd), and then on the Wednesday (4th) it is the return of the league programme. Both games are evening kick-offs with a 7.30 p.m.start.
For more information on Bangor Ladies Football Club - the Borough's only Premier Ladies football club and details of how to get involved in the "World's Fastest Growing Sport" just contact manager Andy Craig on 0773 2277854. All new players are always very welcome.
