It was a scintillating start to Premier Intermediate League proceedings for Bangor. The team looked sharp and up and at it from the first peep of the referee’s whistle, and a recent trend of hitting the back of the net early was continued.
The damage was largely done in the first half, little let-up from minute one and with the scoreline reading five-nil in Bangor’s favour, a stylish statement of intent was made. Spirits were high in the camp at the match’s end, and the focus quickly turns to making sure the trend continues at the Limavady Showgrounds on Saturday.
Against Queen’s, Karl Devine had the ball in the net within the first two minutes – even if it was disallowed – and in the weekend showdown with Greenisland, a four-minute salvo had the Seasiders 0-3 up by the 10-minute mark.
On Wednesday evening – a fairly warm, dry and optimal night for football – Ryan Arthur had Bangor’s new PIL campaign up and running within 180 seconds. Early goals have been a theme in the season’s infancy, and have proved an important tool to assert a foothold.
You could potentially interpret the team as a 3-4-2-1 at points, with Jamie Glover pushed slightly higher to the left opposite Scott McArthur as attacking midfielders at different points, but the shape opted for by Lee Feeney initially looked to be more of a 3-1-4-2 formation, with both wingbacks pushing high and support with crosses. Either way, a back-three base has been a system that has worked, and if it is not broke, then there is no need to try to fix it.
A delightful right-sided corner by Reece Neale, wearing the captain’s armband with Lewis Harrison on the bench, was met by the head of the aerially-imposing Arthur with a perfect mix of placement and power. As Distillery goalkeeper Callum Rooney shuttled slightly to his right, the centre back dealt off the challenge of Carson Elliott without much trouble and directed his attempt square down the middle.
The net bustled, the crowd roared. The hosts were in business. A let-up was not to follow.
On 10 minutes, it was inches from two. Ally Ferguson provided a peach of a cross from the right towards the penalty area that was glanced goal-bound by Ben Arthurs, but only the left-hand post was to deny the perennial top scorer his first league goal. For now, at least.
It felt like Ferguson’s deliveries were done as much with the intent of the ball spinning into the net as they were finding a man in the box.
Even where no-one connected, it felt like the ex-Donaghadee player’s balls could be considered a goal-threat. This cross for Arthurs was one such – it even had some from the other side of the ground questioning if the striker actually got a touch – and it was not the only one.
Seven minutes later, the second did arrive. It was coming. From another corner, this time from the left, Arthur struck again.
Glover’s sumptuous ball towards the back-stick found Arthur by this area. From here, having evaded his marker, he directed the ball back across and found the top right corner.
Another chance followed on 24 minutes as a delicious low delivery by McArthur was agonisingly unable to find someone to poke it home. Distillery then had one of their best chances of the match when a well-struck free kick by Elliott from about 30 yards grazed the top of James Taylor’s crossbar on 33 minutes.
But on 37 minutes, Bangor widened their cushion once more. A worked move resulted in a cut-back by Arthurs from the left, and having been provider for the second, Glover turned punisher for the third.
Deployed to make attacking runs from midfield in Feeney’s system, he hit a lovely cushioned side-foot that found the bottom right corner. After his beautiful effort in Greenisland, a long-distance strike that clipped the underside of the bar enroute to the back of the net, it was two in two for the versatile fan favourite.
It took only two further minutes for that tally to become three in two. The woodwork again assisted the ball’s passage in.
Glover pressed Whites defender Patton out of possession and raced towards goal with clear room ahead. Despite Rooney rushing out to try to close the angle, he kept cool composure to side-foot low into the net via the base of the right-hand post.
39 minutes gone and it was four. Bangor were five up at the break against Greenisland. It wasn’t to happen again, surely?
Three minutes later, Arthurs made up for his earlier post-strike to make sure it did.
He was one of several unmarked home players in the box – Ryley D’Sena was right behind him – and he was the one to strike. He found the top right corner from a right-sided delivery, and it meant he had scored in each of the Seasiders’ three opening matches. He is a player who lives for making the net bulge. Right now, he is doing that repeatedly.
With one additional minute played, referee Stewart Long blew up for half time. A rapturous applause greeted all those in blue and gold as they walked off the pitch. From a home perspective, you could have asked for little more.
The second half proved not as goal-laden but still fruitful. Feeney had the luxury of resting Arthurs for the second half, as Ethan Boylan entered the fray in his place, while on 54 minutes Bangor fans caught the first glimpse of ex-Distillery captain Aaron Harris in their colours. He was subbed on for John Boyle – himself only debuting on Saturday and used in a deep-lying midfield role here – and was naturally welcomed warmly by home and away supporters alike. Harris acquitted himself tidily, passing the ball about with elegance.
On 62 minutes, McArthur almost added his name to the rapsheet. He did well to retain the ball under pressure before inventively flicking the ball towards goal, but the bar stood in the way of him converting this piece of ingenuity into a goal.
Distillery later had Patton sent off in the 80th-minute mark and ended the match with ten. The second half did not yield any more strikes, and a few definitive peeps of Long’s whistle after a couple of additional minutes signalled the end of the game. A 5-0 win and the first three points of the league season collected come this spectacle’s conclusion.
It was the perfect way to set up this Saturday’s clash with Limavady United (3pm kick-off). An excellent effort all-round and a happy home faithful.
I caught up with a high-spirited Ryan Arthur in the post-match, who was very satisfied with the impact he made from those two early set-pieces.
“Yeah it’s great, getting two goals and to be honest I could have had two more later on.
“If Reece [Neale], Dylan [O’Kane] and the lads keep sending the balls in I can fancy getting 10 to 15 goals a season.”
It was felt last season among supporters that the threat from corners and free kicks could have been enhanced a bit. To add to Arthur’s brace, we have already seen goals like a long-distance laid-off free kick goal by Devine against Queen’s, and an incisive finish starting from a dead ball by O’Kane that set things rolling in the weekend’s Greenisland match.
Arthur was also impressed with those around him who helped secure a third consecutive clean sheet of the season.
On how he has linked up with fellow centre backs D’Sena and David Hume, he commented: “It’s a good partnership. Ryley’s really came on and Davy, who I played with in my first spell here, he has that experience.
“James Taylor’s came in and asserted himself between the sticks, he’s really vocal.
“Boyler’s [John Boyle] came in, he can be used in defensive midfield and centre back, he can play both and he’s put himself about, and he’s great with his feet as well.
“[Aaron] Harris came on too, he knocked it about nicely and kept things flowing.”
It was all-round sterling work from the team on a defining day of action. It is a long trip up north this weekend, so it would add greatly to the feel of satisfaction if the Seasiders can build on this with another three points.
Perhaps the best part is that Feeney was still at the top of his voice on the touchline. He wants a winning mentality all the time, and even when the team is comfortably to the good in the second half, there is no air of relaxation. The manager is driven, the players are determined, the fans are delighted. One suspects this will be a big theme in Bangor’s season.
Brilliant work to claim this victory. Now it is swiftly onto the next one in a couple days’ time.
Featured image from Adam Hutchinson.
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