Bangor left the Limavady Showgrounds with three points in the bag and two wins in two in the Premier Intermediate League. Alongside newly-promoted Ballymacash and Dollingstown, the Seasiders are one of three early pace-setters with maximum points at this early stage of the season.
This win was distinctly different to the victories to date. It proved as battling a contest with Limavady as could be forecasted – particularly in the second half – but there was enough resolve across the team to hold an early advantage right until the game’s end.
In Lee Feeney’s squad selection, there was just the one change personnel-wise to the side that began the midweek rout of Distillery, with Lewis Harrison restored to the start for his first league appearance of the season in place of Ryley D’Sena.
The Australian had picked up a minor knock but was fit enough for a spot on the bench, while John Boyle was moved from the deep-lying midfield role he featured in for the opener (where Harrison usually is and did so again) to fill his void as the right-sided centre back of three.
There was also a first matchday inclusion for new arrival Tom Mathieson, who was named as a substitute.
Ahead of a 3pm kick-off, the ever-changeable nature of Northern Irish weather could be felt once more. There were bright blue skies with not a drop of rain on departing Bangor, however a drizzle was felt and darker clouds in the air on arrival to the Showgrounds.
The players were already up and at it. Whether pouring or shining, pre-game preparations looked to be running smoothly. The big news coming in from the opposite camp meanwhile was that star line-leader Alex Pomeroy was not in the squad.
A player who scored twice for the Roesiders on Bangor’s last visit, that 4-2 defeat at the tail end of April, manager Andrew Law would have to look to his other outlets to impact should the hosts have wanted to seize victory and send the Seasiders faithful home disappointed.
Bangor were not to be left despondent in the early stages, though. The ball was kicked off shortly after the scheduled time, and within the first five minutes of the match the visitors had signalled their intent.
Scott McArthur was sent down the inside-right channel and looked to have a clear view of goal, but a clean last-ditch tackle closed down the shot.
He was denied on that occasion. It was an excellent intervention by the last Lims defender. On 10 minutes, he would not be restrained a second time.
A flick-on sent behind for McArthur put him in a straight one-on-one with goalkeeper Paul Wells. Both went for the ball, a loose one which the keeper hoped to claim, but he was second-best. The Seasiders’ number 12 got there first, was caught at the heels and went down, cueing referee Simon Mackay to point to the spot without delay.
“You’re missing the target big man,” shouted one optimistic home supporter behind the goal as Ben Arthurs stepped up.
But Big Ben doesn’t miss. The keeper went one way, Arthurs sent the ball the other. The net bustled and Bangor took the lead.
“Come on big man, ‘mon big man!” The big man took it in stride.
With a 0-1 lead, the Seasiders continued to push for an instrumental second. On 18 minutes, Arthurs glanced a looping header off the top of the bar, and the striker was involved again on 26 minutes as he received and rounded an off-his-line Wells but could not find the net from a narrowed angle – the ball also agonisingly out of McArthur’s reach by the back post when the shot-come-cross fell his way.
On 42 minutes, the visitors struck the woodwork once more when Harrison – who scored the winner in the 0-1 pre-split success on this venue last season – had a venomous drive denied by a mix of the post and the goalkeeper’s fingertips.
The half time whistle peeped. The odd chance fell here and there for the hosts but it was certainly the Seasiders who enjoyed the bulk of opportunities.
It was remarked on how high Reece Neale was advancing to join the press. He was a useful support act to Arthurs and Jamie Glover, closing the space for Limavady to link up short to feet while David Hume shielded the space behind him.
The back-three was authoritative in direct duels ground and air, while James Taylor commanded his area and dealt with any shots that came his way.
The most frustrating element was that the lead hadn’t at least been doubled. When the second period restarted, on 48 minutes, the visitors’ advantage was almost cut entirely following Limavady’s best sequence to that point.
With an expanse of room to run into, Dean Brown contrived to spurn a gilt-edged chance. A combination of cool-headedness under pressure by Taylor – who did not jump in to risk giving a penalty away as had earlier happened at the other end to Bangor’s benefit – and clever back-post coverage by the recovering Boyle to deny a tap-in ensured the visitors were not punished. A bit of a let-off.
Remarkably, the hosts nearly stuck it into their own net just four minutes later. McArthur was tackled cleanly by the Lims’ Jack Mullan, but the intervention was goal-bound and it took sharp reactions from Wells to get down and quite literally save his midfielder from embarrassment.
On 56 minutes, the topsy-turvy nature continued. Limavady earned a free kick on the edge of the box after Ryan Arthur was penalised. Struck low, it was a mere inch from finding the bottom-right from Ryan Doherty after a worked routine.
With the very next attack, Arthurs’ effort was just wide of the opposite left post. No-one was really in control from the half to the hour and while it made for entertaining viewing, equally with a lead to defend it was pretty nerve-wracking as well.
It was a resilience test the Seasiders up to then were passing, not that more security would have been unwelcome.
Bangor started to find their rhythm a bit more beyond the hour. Harrison thrashed a fierce volley just wide on 69 minutes, Arthurs flicked a header barely over the bar on 78 minutes.
The captain covered every blade of grass. He had a lot of room to cover and shield but he barely put a foot wrong all afternoon.
Hence the manner he had to come off in will be of concern to Feeney. A late clash of heads left Harrison bloodied, with CJ Sullivan replacing him off the bench while a bandage was swathed around the area of impact. As is protocol with head injuries, it was only right that he was replaced and tended to.
It would have further frustrated the manager for how fresh he looked. He is used to shouldering the responsibilities that come with the armband, but he looked mobile and fleet-footed. His tackling was well-timed and he kept it ticking on the ball. He showed authority in his display.
In part because of his subbing-off, seven minutes of additional time were played. Substitute Jordan Hughes – who looked confident taking opponents on and weaving ways to shoot himself from his introduction on 68 minutes – placed a super curling effort barely the wrong side of the left-hand post in the first of those added minutes.
That was the closest either side got to hitting the target in that spell. When referee Mackay blew for the last time, one goal had done the job.
A second league win on the spin and a fourth successive victory in all competitions for Bangor – with clean sheets kept in all of them – was secure.
The away end was in good voice and strolled down to the pitch-side to serenade and clap their soldiers for a safe passage of a tough task. You never want to make a 150-mile-round trip like this to be headed home without a win to savour.
It was less flattering perhaps for the ref or near-side linesman while the action endured.
With perfect records in league play to be put to the test next week, as Dollingstown concurrently saw Armagh City off by a 4-0 scoreline, such a well-fought win as this surely inspires positivity and momentum ahead of another close clash at Clandeboye Park this Saturday 3rd September (3pm kick-off).
Feeney was again an active touchline presence. He perennially paces the touchline, observing his outfit with a fine eye and is on it in a flash if he sees a player who he feels needs to up their game within the match.
The team all-round is healthily pushing each other and that inspires these types of battling results. They showed they can win well with the Greenisland and Whites victories – but here they displayed they can persevere when the going gets tough too. To evidence that you can win in different ways is vital to attaining future successes.
That could also prove to be the case against the Dolly Birds at times. The focus switches to this. How satisfying it would be if an early start of three wins in three – all in fixtures the Seasiders lost last season – could be achieved.
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