Following the postponement of the weekend’s football after the sad passing of Her Majesty The Queen last Thursday, it will have been a full week between fixtures by the time Bangor face high-flying Annagh United in the BetMcLean League Cup tonight (7:45pm kick-off).
In the first round of this tournament, third in line of the list of priorities if one were looking from the Premiership perspective, the Seasiders will be eager to do one better than last week’s spirited display against top-flight high-flyers Cliftonville. Those flying the flag on the pitch are hopeful of a diligent and dedicated performance being translated into a win and progression to the 16-team stage two.
The Yellows had been due to face Belfast Celtic in the Steel and Sons Cup second round on Saturday, however that fixture will now be re-arranged.
Meanwhile, next in line is a crunch clash against a team somewhat shared in the theme of heartbreak from last term.
As a newly-promoted side into the second-tier, Annagh United defied all expectations to finish in 2nd-place. Their reward was a spot in the promotion play-off, the chance for a step-up to the Premiership and the possibility of demoting a decorated local rival over two legs.
Alas, they were unable to seal the deal in the end. A 2-3 home defeat to Portadown was followed by a 1-0 reverse at Shamrock Park. With trips between the grounds no longer than a 10-minute walk, the closeness of the venues was matched by how well-battled the games played out. Football is a game decided by tight margins, after all.
Had the all-red outfit from the Tandragee Road prevailed, it would have been back-to-back promotions. Earning their Championship place having been atop the Premier Intermediate League when Covid-19 forced Northern Irish football’s early curtailment in 2019/20, a documented intermediate history has translated well to the senior level. If last season was an over-performance few saw coming, this term they’ve displayed that they are no flash in the pan.
Annagh have started in flying form. They sit in second once more, with four wins and a draw in their first five matches.
They sit level on points with table-toppers and near-neighbours Loughgall – the one side to deny them a 100% winning record after the sides played out a 1-1 draw in late August – securing wins over Knockbreda, Institute, Ards and Newington.
Be wary if they are losing in a match too, because it’s rarely finished until the final whistle with them. The 1-2 win over Stute at the Brandywell was thanks to strikes in the 83rd and 86th minutes after falling behind on the half time stroke. Their home victory over Ards by the same scoreline followed a similar pattern, while they also answered back to an early goal concession to beat the Ton 1-4 at Solitude.
As a wise man once said in the Bangor press box, “a two-goal lead is the most dangerous lead in football.”
With this lot, it feels like no lead is safe. It’s no less that in the last Irish League meet of the sides back in November 2019, Zac Fletcher had handed Bangor a 13th-minute lead on the road only for two long-range drives to totally turn the tide and deliver Annagh the points.
Of course, said shared heartbreak is in the form of the Seasiders’ like-minded two-legged play-off defeat to Knockbreda. A dramatic 2-2 draw at Clandeboye Park in the first leg was followed by a couple of early second half goals that saw the Breda Park side retain their Championship (and in turn senior) status by a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.
Manager Lee Feeney is satisfied with early results, but he still feels his side still have a way to go to get to their performance-wise peak.
Prior to the fixture against Celtic being put back, he told the County Down Spectator: “I told the boys at half time on Saturday (against Dollingstown) that we were only playing at around 40% of our potential and I know that we can be better.
“We drill into the boys that every single outfield player in our team can and should score.
“Whether that’s from a set-piece or from open play, there are going to be chances.
“Our wingbacks (Ally Ferguson and Reece Neale against Greenisland) have scored this season, our centre-half (Ryan Arthur against Lisburn Distillery) has scored this season and I want to see more of that.
“The Greenisland match was probably our most complete performance this season in terms of how clinical we were in front of goal.
“Defensively we have been on it every match but we just need to be a bit more ruthless at the other end of the pitch.”
Such a message is just as applicable against Ciaran McGurgan’s team today given how unfazed they are by in-game setbacks. Feeney – who may opt to return to his favoured full-strength team for this fixture after seven alterations in the side that faced Cliftonville – will hope his boys are firing fit at both ends of the pitch.
There is another elephant in the room. The six clean sheets Bangor have kept in a row. 540 minutes plus whatever variables of added time without conceding. Not even in the famed centenary year when the Seasiders romped to the Ballymena League title did the club achieve that. And not since those two goals against Breda in mid-May have they let in a goal in a competitive context.
It is not just arguable but fair to say it is what the players and management are taking most pride in early doors. Shut-outs are key. However, the culture around the place is to always demand more. When you achieve six, you don’t rest on it. You do all in your power to make it seven. You just keep raising the bar higher and higher and higher.
The match with the Reds also evidenced the reward that sense of competition for places is bringing. It is a valuable resource to have strength in depth, players healthily pushing each other in training and on-pitch. It will be a tough test against a strong team – visiting Clandeboye Park in a competitive capacity for the first time in a half-decade, as the return meet of the 2019/20 campaign was struck off – but in-house, spirits are high that they can upset the odds.
The most recent clash of the teams was in this off-season just passed, where Annagh were 2-0 victors in a pre-season friendly in Newcastle.
Boasting forward threats like early top scorer Conor Mullen – one of two Armagh City representatives in last season’s third-tier Team of the Season who The Annagh snapped up this summer – it is a well-poised game where both sides should ask questions of each other and provide a bit of excitement.
To counter the threat of four-goal Mullen and others, Bangor have been boosted by Ryan Arthur’s return from holiday this week. The outlook is positive on the injury front, with a handful of players close to a return to match sharpness and the vast majority fully-fit, while some others are just back from spells out and have looked well at it in action.
That friendly was as much a team bonding occasion for both sides, with pre-match beach-side training and a fulfilling lunch as appetizers to the main course match in the afternoon.
The vibe around the camp is harmonious, and you can see a collective fight from the team to achieve season goals.
Moreover, with a thrilling hit seven-goal Sunday final between Cliftonville and Coleraine last season, the League Cup – by far the youngest of the traditional top four senior competitions (the Irish League, Irish Cup and County Antrim Shield being the others) having only been established in 1987 – is rising in prominence. It is a competition you want to do well in.
This is a tough first step, but equally another measure of where the team is at. Feeney called the clash with last week’s north Belfast adversaries – the current holders of this trophy after triumphing 4-3 over the Bannsiders after extra time at Windsor Park in March – a “free hit”.
This is perhaps not such. It could be tense, it could be tetchy. But Bangor, as will Annagh, have every right to fancy their chances. It should be close.
Elsewhere, owing to the postponement of football over the weekend, the launch of the club’s new Girls Academy will now take place from next Sunday, 25th September.
Available for all girls born between the years of 2011 to 2015, this is the latest exciting development step in the Ladies section. Taking place over four taster sessions, lasting between 11:30am until 12:30pm across four Sundays, it is a great chance to get involved with an ambitious and friendly setup where player and personal growth is at the fore.
For more information, you can contact girlsacademy@bangorfc.com.
Meanwhile, Saturday was World Suicide Prevention Day, and as part of this the club released a video of the club’s Facebook where members of the playing squad, mental health and wellbeing team and club hierarchy participated to encourage people to speak out if you are feeling low.
It is well worth eight-and-a-half minutes of your time, and there is always someone to speak to around the club, who will listen to your concerns and who will try to help answer any questions you may have. The ‘We Care – You Matter’ team comprises Lee Purcell, Gary Faulkner, Kenny Greenhill, Kerry Ferguson and Paul Cain.
Feel free to check out the new art on the Clandeboye Road stand when you are at tomorrow’s game too. Some really pretty designs have been placed which not only brighten up that part of the ground but reflect the type of ethos that Bangor F.C. wants to have within the community.
Featured image from Bangor F.C. website.
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