Over the course of two trips to this stage, Glen Road Heights has proved a happy hunting ground for Bangor. After securing a 0-2 success in the Steel and Sons Cup third round to kick off a perfect October, anyone of a Seasider persuasion will be hoping that is a positive omen for November having recorded a 0-3 victory over Belfast Celtic this time around.
It sets up an all-Premier Intermediate League tie on the 26th of this month away to Limavady United in the fourth stage of the Irish Cup, with the winner prolonging their competition stay into the new year as clubs from the top two tiers enter the fray for round five. There wasn’t much let-up from the Yellows in this west Belfast bout, where all the damage had been done by half time with the same high standards upheld.
Delayed a week due to an unsuitable playing surface, Bangor returned to this perched hilltop venue in high spirits.
Having secured a fifth win in a row a week-and-a-half prior at home to PSNI – an effort that took the club top of the third-tier – the players would have gone in with clear hopes of adding a season-high sixth.
As with the last trip, there were bright blue skies above and a distant view of the Mourne Mountains setting a scenic backdrop. Not the worst place in the world to watch what the travelling support hoped would be a winning endeavour.
Regarding team selection, manager Lee Feeney rang a handful of switches from the 2-0 prevailing over the Police. There were first starts of the season for Michael Halliday and Gareth Beattie, as the former replaced the cup-tied Adam Neale and the latter his younger brother and vice-captain Reece who is injured.
As usual captain Lewis Harrison likewise continues to nurse a knock, Beattie donned the armband from the start on Saturday. Elsewhere, there was a reinstatement to the starting panel for Scott McArthur – influential from the bench in that PIL matchday six encounter at Clandeboye Park 11 days previous – and a fully-rehabilitated Ryan Arthur, taking Tom Mathieson and Ryley D’Sena’s places in the side respectively.
For being a pre-match doubt, striker Jordan Hughes was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench, while CJ Sullivan was included in the 18-strong selection for the first time in eight matches as the ex-Glenavon Under-20s midfielder seeks to make his impression on Feeney.
A moment’s reflection was had just before kick-off, dedicated to the memory of Steel and Sons Cup-winning former Bangor boss among others Frankie Wilson who had passed away the previous week.
The ball was then set rolling by the Seasiders. It wasn’t to be long before they set up their stall for the afternoon.
Just seven minutes had elapsed by the time the ball was first placed in the back of the net. It came about as a long ball was sent forward, with McArthur and Arthurs quite literally using their heads to generate the game’s opening goal.
Former Stirling University man McArthur nodded the ball into the top scorer’s path, with Arthurs turning provider on this occasion when he flicked it back into the 23-year-old attacking midfielder who had continued his run.
Finding himself in space after this incisive one-two, McArthur displayed superb composure when placed one-on-one with Celtic shot-stopper Paul McLaughlin, side-footing into the centre beyond his former teammate’s reach to put Bangor ahead. It is no secret the local talent wants to add more goals to his game, and he delivered his third of the term in this instance.
Arthurs recorded a similar set-up in the sides’ first meet when he fed Adam Neale in to score, and lightning struck twice as the Kircubbin star gained his sixth assist of the season.
Where on the first visit Bangor had impacted most in the second half, it was the first 45 on this trip where the goals flowed.
| Premier Intermediate | Matchday 7 (5/11/22) | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers | 1 | 0 | Moyola Park |
| Lisburn Distillery | 1 | 4 | Armagh City |
| Portstewart | 2 | 0 | PSNI |
| Queen’s University | 1 | 1 | Limavady United |
On 24 minutes, the Seasiders doubled their advantage. A fine floated ball over the top from Karl Devine picked out the run of Seanna Foster, who was foraying towards the right byline to offer an outlet for the former Dundela midfielder.
The energetic right wing-back got his wish, receiving in his stride with a well-weighted first touch. On the Cliftonville loanee’s second touch, he let fly an enterprising low shot from a tight angle, and was suitably rewarded after picking out the gap between McLaughlin and his near-post as the ball nestled in the opposite bottom-left.
It was ex-Linfield and Warrenpoint Town player Foster’s first goal for Bangor on his 10th appearance. His industry and technique are reflective of the Premiership standard he has played at in his career, and now he has added to his two assists to date with a first finish of his own.
Two to the good, there were chances to extend. McArthur was inches from doubling up, but saw his right-footed shot curl just the wrong side of the right-hand post, while Dylan O’Kane – starting consecutive matches for the first time in over eight weeks and another with an increasing eye for goal – let fly a right-footed fizzer from 25 yards which McLaughlin held.
But on 42 minutes, the decisive third dagger did arrive. You had to feel happy for Beattie as he trebled the Yellows’ lead.
Having missed much of the early-season, and only making his first appearance as Reece Neale’s injury-enforced replacement in the PSNI success, the club stalwart was a danger off the bench and it was his spilled shot which Arthurs was readily on hand to poke home for Bangor’s second goal.
Here, a parry by McLaughlin from Foster’s left-footed attempt fell the way of left wing-back ‘Beats’, and the long servant swivelled nicely onto his right foot to fire low and in. By the left side of the box, he took a couple of touches to set himself, and made no mistake in finding the net through a crowd. The lead was three, and truthfully it could have been more.
Arthurs will feel he should have added a fourth before the half’s conclusion. A recipient of a flick-on himself this time, Halliday had attracted the pressure and supplied his much younger strike-partner room to run into, but he slid his low shot just wide of the bottom-left as another one-on-one chance presented itself.
On that note, referee Keith Halliday signalled the half’s end. It was a period where Bangor had dominated much of the play, with signature defensive solidity at the other end which meant Celtic did not pose much threat to James Taylor’s goal – despite, as speculated pre-match, player-manager Stephen McAlorum opting to deploy ex-Knockbreda man Brendan Glackin from the start this time alongside fellow dangermen Darren Murray and Denver Taggart.
Feeney was to be dealt an unfortunate blow, however, when an injury put short centre back David Hume’s outing.
And with no natural centre backs on his bench, it meant Ally Ferguson got a run-out on the right side of a back-three alongside Ryan Arthur and John Boyle. The first time regular wing-back Ferguson has played within that line this season, it would be a test of his mettle.
As the second 45 minutes restarted, barely 120 seconds had gone before Arthur narrowly placed a header past the right-hand post, while on 53 minutes, Arthurs drew sharp reflexes from McLaughlin – joining the Seasiders on loan from Glentoran as a 19-year-old in the 2020-21 season – who turned the goal-hungry striker’s shot round the left stick for a corner.
The goalkeeper largely impressed in the sides’ first meet, and was alert on the hour to deny Beattie his second of the afternoon. The on-pitch skipper then pulled off heroics at his own end to keep the visitors’ clean sheet intact, hooking away a back-post header off the line from a right-sided corner on 63 minutes where Taylor had been beaten.
McLaughlin then stopped Halliday from converting his third goal of the season in all competitions. The Irish League veteran may be double the shot-stopper’s age and scoring Irish Cup-winning goals for Glentoran while his opponent was still a child but his instincts have never faded, though the east Belfast hero could not finish with a flourish on 74 minutes. Moments later, it was more routine for the ‘keeper as he claimed McArthur’s floated ball.
Aaron Harris and Ross Craig entered in place of O’Kane and McArthur on 78 minutes. The former was making his fifth substitute appearance in the last six fixtures, while the latter was almost on the end of a well-worked sequence that would have yielded him his first goal since re-joining Bangor in the off-season.
On 83 minutes, a clever goal-bound flick by Halliday from a left-to-right switch of play was left by Arthurs in the knowledge that Craig was behind him. It was shrewd decoying in the penalty area by the frontman, but McLaughlin came out with a flying punch right as the ex-Bryansburn Rangers attacker was about to connect to this service.
There was a brief cameo for Hughes on 85 minutes, with the one-time Premier Intermediate League Player of the Season getting some mileage as he continues to recover from a knock sustained in Bangor’s marginal Intermediate Cup first round victory at Albert Foundry in mid-October. After another good day’s work, 85-goal hero Arthurs got a rest.
Halliday signalled for the match’s conclusion after playing three added minutes with no further drama. A 0-3 win with no fuss.
| Irish Cup R4 (select ties) | 26/11/22 | |
| Ballymacash Rangers | v | Banbridge Town |
| Bourneview Mill | v | Moyola Park |
| Crewe United | v | St Mary’s Y.C. |
| Windmill Stars | v | Dollingstown |
A 12th clean sheet in 15 matches – a record that fills you with pride the more you add to it – is on the board, which the Seasiders will hope to extend even further with a win at Foundry in the Steel and Sons Cup quarter-final this weekend. We all want that Seaview trip. Preferably two!
In a month of knockout football, there is not much licence for slip-ups this November. Recording assured victories like this is a good way to start.
The Irish Cup will be put to the back-burner in the meantime, with at least two – three if that Steel last-four battle against either Crewe United or Ballymacash Rangers is booked – games to play before that 150-mile-round date at the Limavady Showgrounds on the 26th.
Professionalism is at the heart of this strong start to the campaign, and it was seen once more on Saturday. Long may this upward trend continue.
Elsewhere, it was a frustrating afternoon for Bangor Reserves, who were eliminated from the Junior Shield on Saturday by Clough Rangers. Finishes from Scott Atchison and Charley Craig put the Under-20s on the scoreboard, but Clough came out on top with a 3-2 victory.
While Davy Downes’ side, who remain in excellent form to start, bow out of one competition, Isaac Caldwell’s Under-18s progressed in another. In a re-scheduled match-up with Fivemiletown United, a long trip to Aughnacloy and back was at least with reward after they recorded a 2-4 success in the second round of the Harry Cavan Cup. Helped by a couple of top-order goals by Curious Candy Man of the Match Mason Bowater, including one from the halfway line, Crusaders Under-18s await in round three.
In the rest of the youth action, there were wins for the Under-15s over St Oliver Plunkett (3-0), the Under-14s against Celtic Boys (3-1), the Under-13 SBYL team versus TTBS Juniors (6-1), the Under-13 NL outfit with Greenisland (2-0) and the Under-12s facing Bloomfield (3-1). A 2-2 draw for the Under-11s against their Albert Foundry equivalents completes an excellent weekend of Academy action.
Meanwhile, the Girls Academy is growing nicely, and always welcome for new players to come in. It is available for girls born between 2011 and 2015 to join, and you can contact girlsacademy@bangorfc.com to register your interest and join in this exciting development in the Ladies sector. Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings at Clandeboye Park from 6-7pm.
The senior Ladies are also on the lookout for new players, volunteers and coaches to help out ahead of next season. If you are interested, feel free to message the club’s Facebook or Instagram account, where you can be signposted to the relevant authorities.
Featured image from Gary Carson.
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