For Bangor Ladies last Wednesday, it was the final day of what has been a profitable season. While there was a feel of disappointment that they did not ultimately secure the 3rd-place finish they craved, there is a lot to feel good about going forward.
Despite the bulk of the chances and a lot of positive link-up, Crewe’s efficiency ultimately denied the hosts the three points. The consensus view gauged around the ground is ‘the only way is up’, and if not the result then the display certainly reflected that attitude.
It has been a closely contested fight for the proverbial bronze medal berth all season. The two table-toppers – Lisburn Rangers and Ballyclare Comrades – have showed their class and credentials with comprehensive wins all campaign.
Pre-match, Rangers had already sealed promotion as champions. They would not drop a point in any of their 10 matches all season. Ballyclare, ending on seven wins in their nine fixtures, had a lock on 2nd-place as the action rounded out as well. The main battle was probably the one the hosts here were embroiled in.
The contest between Bangor and Belfast Celtic for 3rd was the main pre-match talking point. It meant a lot to the Seasiders to seal this spot.
They knew that – with a little bit of help beyond their control – a win would secure them that spot.
It brought about a significant crowd. Despite rather murky weather conditions and an earlier fall to darkness signifying the ever-nearer shift from summer to autumn, the turnout was impressive and the crowd made their voices heard as the team took to the pitch.
Head coach Mark Duff lined the Ladies up in a 4-4-2 system, comprising a strike-pair of Leah Robinson and Jodi Keenan and the attacking impetus of Lydia Clarke and Beth Sloan to the respective left and right wings.
A moment of silence in memory of St. James’ Swifts player Molly White, who had sadly passed away a few days before, was observed pre-match, ahead of a kick-off shortly after the scheduled time of 8pm.
Bangor made their presence felt early, and it was rewarded with the game’s opening goal on 10 minutes.
While Crewe played out from the back, an errant ball sideways was picked up by Robinson, who quickly turned to face goal and side-footed low to the goalkeeper’s left to find the bottom right with excellent aplomb.
A couple of touches set her for the shot, keeping composure to place from about 10 yards and laying a base to build from.
It was a consistent feature of the first half. Alertness and anticipation to pick up on loose balls, driving towards goal where possible.
But despite a strong start by the Seasiders, Crewe had pegged back level – and before the half-hour, had turned the tide entirely. For having relatively few chances of their own accord, what they did have was made to count and when they bore down on goal, they picked their placements wisely to make their mark on the scoresheet.
At 27 minutes, the scoreline now read 1-2 to Crewe. But the Ladies did not rest on their laurels.
Bangor kept as they meant to go on after. After a slippery spell where the match was more in the balance, more end-to-end, they once again asserted control over proceedings. On 36 minutes, the match was evened up once more – and awareness of a second-ball again played a part.
Keenan’s initial shot was well-saved by the visitors’ shot-stopper but she could not hold it. Step up Robinson to be first to the rebound and slot it in at the second time of asking.
The link-up between the strike-pair caught the eye, and their roles were defined. Robinson was the main focal-point, a receiver to feet able to drop from the opposition defensive line and create channels for others to run into as defenders followed her movements.
It was one explanation behind the hosts having a lot of chances from cut-backs and crosses near the byline. Low, driven deliveries targeted across the face of goal for a runner to connect to inside the area, be it in the centre or by the back-post. Robinson could supply runs by the likes of Sloan and play a ‘pre-assisting’ part in chances being created.
Meanwhile, Keenan’s best is often seen off the ball. Clever in where she starts and when she times her runs, able to target the defensive blind-side, she is tough to restrain with her ability to cut in with the ball and keep it close, and in turn aim shots at goal when the pitch is opened up.
The versatility in the frontline’s movement regularly bore fruit in setting chances up, but there just lacked a final connection.
Hence when the referee blew the half time whistle, Bangor were frustrated not to be ahead.
Another tactical observation was the well-drilled nature of the hosts’ defensive line. It felt like every time a player stepped out to contest a duel, the others surrounding instinctively held back to cover the space behind.
Crewe’s system was a direct one with orchestrated pressing, thus finding an ideal balance between battling touch-tight in ground and aerial duels and preventing a runner being played in behind was vital. Even if two goal concessions in the first 45 may not highlight this, it felt like the Ladies had conducted this capably for the large part.
The rotations were well-done and it felt like there was a lot still to give. When the players walked back out, they started front-footed once more.
Yet with the score ta 2-2, Crewe missed a gilt-edged chance to restore their lead.
A floated ball that looked like it had been over-weighted had in fact been played perfectly. It set a one-on-one chance just a few yards from goal, yet somehow the Crewe attacker blazed it over the bar. A reprieve for Bangor (and for those, myself included, who parked their cars behind that stand to not see any smashed windows) on 65 minutes.
And on 68 minutes, the Seasiders put things right. For the second time in the match, they held the lead. Robinson’s low shot struck the base of the post, the goalkeeper dived and missed, the ball feel invitingly into the path of Miya Wiles by the left-hand post and she stroked classily into what was practically an open goal. 3-2 Bangor.
But no sooner had they built a lead again than Crewe had got their own back. Lightning doesn’t strike twice and parity was restored at 3-3 on 69 minutes, practically with their first attack from kick-off.
It was another piece of direct play which supplied this. Irish League kick-offs seem to have been popular in recent days – see Kylian Mbappé’s opener for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday evening the day after Ronan Hale’s 7.92-second opener for Cliftonville – and this was another one that was played to pretty devastating effect.
The Crewe runner reacted quickest and kept cool to slot it home. Not quite a delectable chip or delightful overhead take, but enough to trickle it into the net.
Three apiece it became, and that was how it would finish. 4th-place was the end result of Bangor Ladies’ league season.
The feel among the camp afterwards was very much one that got away. It went down as the Ladies’ only draw of the season – a rarity to see the spoils shared – and they had chances to add a decisive seventh goal of the match that would have sealed them the points and a two-handed grip on 3rd.
It is no use dwelling on hypotheticals, though. The facts speak to a strong season and a bright future.
The focus among all at the club on what the next steps to success should be is crystal clear.
There is no hiding how much endeavour and effort has hitherto been placed to take forward strides. Some big leaps were made this term.
And – there is still a probable chance of promotion. It could be that alongside the top two, the next best two join them in the Championship. There is continual expansion ongoing among the Northern Irish women’s footballing pyramid, with the top-tier Premiership going up from a six-team league to an eight-team division this term.
If that transpires, and it seems likely that it may, Duff explained in the hospitality suite post-match that it will mean their levels will be pushed once more.
He also praised how much they have already contributed to this upward trajectory.
“It will be even more hard work than what we were planning,” he explained.
“Credit to you girls for doing all the hard work. The board want to see progression and you are absolutely fitting the bill.”
Northern Ireland’s historic Women’s Euros squad this summer was made up in large part of locally-based talent – including a couple of Bangorians in Rebecca McKenna and Ashley Hutton. The potential to grow the women’s football landscape further from a hyper-local perspective is a collective responsibility, that of associations, leagues, clubs and personnel on and off the pitch, and it will benefit everyone.
Across this club, a lot of passionate people are involved and proud to lend their abilities to the continued growth of the women’s sector.
This was a big season for the club. Another big season is forthcoming. There is a lot to like, the way the team is playing both on Wednesday and throughout, and the next phase of the vision is oven-ready to be implemented.
You are advised to stay tuned.
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