After securing their passage through to the second round of the Intermediate Cup against Albert Foundry last week, Bangor’s next port of call is the challenge of Glentoran II in the Steel and Sons Cup last-16 this Saturday. The match, which takes place on the grounds of Ashfield Boys High School in east Belfast (1:30pm kick-off), should prove an intriguing test of mettle for the Seasiders.
The second string of the city’s east’s most trophy-laden team have a distinctly rich pedigree in this competition, and will not be a challenge to take lightly given they knocked a fellow third-division opponent out in the last round. There are some highly-rated young guns to watch out for and who have proven themselves when afforded their senior opportunities, so the Yellows will need to be on top of their game to prevail.
Bangor enter this fixture on the back of last Saturday’s nerve-jangling extra time win at Foundry, where their journey was within seconds of ending at the first hurdle.
Michael Halliday’s equaliser in the third minute of second half additional time cancelled out the hosts’ opener in the first period, before the Glentoran icon completed the turnaround in the eighth of 20 extra time minutes to prevail 1-2.
An 11-year veteran of the Glens‘ senior side between 1999 and 2010, his former employers’ second team were not so lucky. While the Seasiders celebrated in west Belfast, the feel in the air of an all-Reserves clash for Glentoran II against their Coleraine equivalents was one of disappointment, as the Bannsiders emerged 2-1 victors.
That is no reflection of a team lacking in top-level talent, however. When first-team boss Mick McDermott rotated his panel for their visit to Clandeboye Park to face Ards in the County Antrim Shield quarter-finals last Tuesday, any Bangor fans in attendance got a good insight into some of the youngsters the team is likely to face at Ashfield this weekend.
Perhaps the stand-out of them all in that match-up was front-footed attacker Kirk McLaughlin. The 18-year-old, who was handed first-team minutes by Oran Kearney for Coleraine last season, joined the Glens over the summer and has since cited the prospect of full-time football as a major reason for making the capital move in an interview with Sunday Life Sport last week.
His sublime side-footed finish against the Seasiders’ fiercest rivals during a 1-4 win for the 2nd-placed side in the Premiership indicated his quality and potential. His mazy dribbling and high-level technical ability are factors to be wary of.
Also featuring in that match-up – and named man of the match – was Northern Ireland Under-19 international Aaron Wightman.
The Newtownards teenager can operate both from fullback or the wing such is his attack-minded outlook towards the game, and has a burst of speed about him that requires defenders to keep alert for his next move. He scored a hat-trick against Dundonald in the second round to help them progress to stage three with an emphatic 5-0 victory.
Joe Crowe, who was at the centre of controversy when his ineligibility for Glentoran’s Irish Cup quarter-final win over Newry City last season led to their retrospective expulsion from the competition, is likewise a feature either in midfield or defence for the Seconds. By coincidence, the senior fold face City away in the Premiership this weekend, so a few first-teamers may stay in Belfast to lend their expertise and try to help the Reserves into the last-eight.
They have quite the array. That they were able to go away to Ballyskeagh and defeat Lisburn Distillery 1-2 in the third round implies they have what it takes to claim a major scalp.
Simultaneously, Bangor were in west Belfast, where second half strikes by Ben Arthurs and Adam Neale ensured this tie’s set-up after seeing off Belfast Celtic 0-2 at Glen Road Heights.
Neither featured in the Yellows’ win at Foundry – the second of three trips to the city’s west this October, with a return to Celtic in the Irish Cup third round next Saturday – but both are in the frame to return this week.
Neale was a late call-up to Harry McConkey’s UEFA Regions Cup selection, and he helped Northern Ireland to a creditable four points from nine in their four-team group stage. He scored the opener against the Swedish select Region of Gothenburg side on matchday two, setting off an eventual 3-0 win for his team.
Top goalscorer Arthurs, meanwhile, was a Covid-19 absentee. With Jordan Hughes pulling up early in last week’s clash, both their returns will be useful in bolstering the striker berths.
Lee Feeney – absent from the touchline last time with John Douglas deputising, albeit set to return this week – will be assessing the match-fitness of centre back Ryan Arthur, who has missed the last two matches with an ankle injury, and attacking midfielder Scott McArthur, also hobbling off prematurely to be replaced by Dylan O’Kane in the Paisley Park affair. Both are possibilities to make the matchday squad this week.
Young centre back Callum Mills was also in receipt of minutes for Bangor Reserves last Saturday, and was part of a steely defence that shut out Carniny Amateur and Youth in the Junior Cup second round at Clandeboye Park to progress with an assured 3-0 victory. A player Feeney rates highly, his first-team return does not seem far away – but this is likely a week too early for both Hughes and his fellow experienced attacker Ethan Boylan, who was also an injury absentee last time out.
It is no secret that this is a competition the Bangor boss has long had on his bucket list, and the side have previous against this exact opposition in the final.
Many supporters will remember that occasion with fondness, though it is also rich in the memory for its peculiarity.
On 25th December 2004, those brave enough to risk domestic wrath travelled up to Seaview as the Seasiders and Glentoran II faced off in that year’s showpiece, only for the match to be abandoned on 68 minutes due to heavy snowfall. Of course, this was prior to the instalment of an artificial surface at the Shore Road venue, when it was less weather-resistant.
The following Wednesday, the 29th December, the match was replayed. A Seconds side comprising a young Jamie Mulgrew – little did he know he would become their arch-rivals Linfield’s second-highest all-time appearance-maker – fell to a 2-0 defeat, as goals by Andy Morrow and Marty Verner meant the ribbons were draped in yellow and blue.
Eric Halliday’s side were winners that day. Any scoreline in the Yellows’ favour would do in the hope of making a first final since 2011, when Frankie Wilson guided Bangor to the spoils at Larne’s expense.
Glentoran II are record champions of the Steel and Sons Cup, drinking from the wine glass of glory on 13 occasions, however they have not went all the way in two decades. In fact, they have not featured in a final (well, one that counted, given they were disqualified in 2012 after fielding an ineligible player earlier in the competition) since facing the Yellows, last doing their victory lap with a 1-0 win over Antrim’s Chimney Corner in 2002.
In league play, they have not been short of entertainment value this term. In nine matches, their record reads: won five, lost four, goals for 25, goals against 20. They were in action on Monday, seeing off Carrick Rangers Reserves 1-5 to bolster an average of over two goals scored and two goals conceded per game.
It may not be unreasonable, therefore, to suggest goals could flow at either end in this one.
Bangor’s pride in clean sheets is documented as well, mind. They’ve kept nine of them in the 12 matches played so far, with their win at Foundry last week being both the first time they managed to come from behind to win a game this season and the first time they have won a game without an opposition shut-out.
As the 6th-placed side in the Premiership Development League, it is important to note that youth football is a changeable and unpredictable environment where positions in the table are not the best barometer of quality.
Assistant manager Douglas pointed out as much.
| Steel and Sons Cup | Last-16 (22/10/22) | |
| Wellington Rec | vs | Dunmurry Rec |
| Immaculata | vs | Dunloy |
| Ballymena Reserves | vs | Crewe United |
| St James’ Swifts | vs | Ards Rangers |
| Crumlin United | vs | Larne Tech O.B. |
| Comber Rec | vs | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Willowbank | vs | Albert Foundry |
“Anyone that’s playing reserve team football for Glentoran will be deemed to have enough quality to step up into the first-team, so we know we will be getting a very technically-gifted side,” he explained to Neil Watson in this week’s County Down Spectator.
“They will also have the luxury to add in senior players with first-team experience, so we will absolutely be ready for another difficult encounter.
“It’s a cup we really want to do well in so we will be looking forward to the fixture.”
There is ability in abundance in this Glentoran II side. It will be a tough test without doubt that should be approached professionally once more. On the note of potential first-teamers being laid off to compete in this clash, like an Ally Roy or Danny Purkis for example – there is a set limit on the number that can be included – it should not be discounted.
Three wins from three so far for the Seasiders in October. Three to go. Here’s to hoping not too much undue drama unfolds.
Elsewhere, Bangor Reserves have learned their opponents in the third round of the Junior Cup this week. They face a long away day to Drumquin, just outside Omagh, for a tie that will kick off at 1:30pm on Saturday 19th November.
This week, the Reserves face Newington for the second time this season, travelling to Valley Leisure Centre to face the north Belfast team on Saturday. That match kicks off at 11am in the Championship/PIL Development League.
The club is pleased to announce a sponsorship deal with That Prize Guy, whose branding will appear on the team training tops.
Meanwhile, Bangor is delighted to confirm the arrival this week of Leah Bradley to the team as a podiatrist, and will assist by generally helping to deal with ankle or foot-related injuries before, as and when they happen.
Leah is a registered podiatrist who graduated from Ulster University in 2020 and is working in private practice.
“My main role at the club will be routine health checks on the players’ foot health. I will also deal with any niggles and make sure they can go out onto the pitch pain-free,” Leah explained.
“I want to ensure minor issues don’t become major problems for players and stop a player getting injured. In the future, I intend to look at players’ biomechanics to help offload pain and help with their running.”
Head of medical services at the club Luke Neal added: “I am delighted that Leah has joined the medical team at Bangor Football Club. Her main job will be taking care of the players’ feet, to ensure they are fit and healthy to get on the pitch.
“It is vitally important that the feet of our players are well looked after and they understand short and long-term foot health. Also, if Leah can help with improving injury recovery, then her role will be invaluable.
“We are building a medical team at Bangor FC to help with physical performance and injury prevention, We have worked with the coaching team to promote new training methods and we have also opened a new gym at the club (located in the beige containers next to the press box – look out for the big Bangor logo) to help build player strength to reduce injuries.
“The Board is determined to deliver success on the field, but we are also united in the vision that we must lay the foundations for future standards off the pitch, to ensure the club’s sustainability.”
Marc Orbinson is the subject of this week’s ’20 Questions’ series, where the summer arrival sheds his insights into the climate around the club.
Somehow one suspects he’ll be down the pecking order of the quiz team selection among his teammates with his ‘five’-a-side selection.
Finally, the club wishes to clarify that news surrounding the death of former Bangor hero Ricky McEvoy over the weekend are untrue. It is advised that the Gibraltar-born midfielder, who was a fan favourite in the 1990s and played a role in iconic moments as the 1993 Irish Cup victory over Ards and scoring the club’s first-ever goal in Europe against Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia in the Cup Winners’ Cup that year, was the subject of a “cruel joke”.
“The weekend’s news regarding Ricky McEvoy has thankfully proven to be untrue,” read a Bangor FC Tweet released on Tuesday morning.
“Ricky’s family have advised that Ricky was the subject of a cruel joke.
“We wish Ricky and his family well, and hope to welcome Ricky back to Clandeboye Park in the near future.”
Club chairman Graham Bailie replied under the Tweet: “This is such a relief and great to hear Ricky is keeping well.
“Anyone who feels the need to create sick jokes like this one need to have a good look at themselves.”
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