Ecstasy. Euphoria. A night of epic proportions. A night where a spirited Bangor secured their spot in the Steel and Sons Cup decider. In the five-and-a-half years since the incumbent board assumed control right as the club had been ignominiously demoted from the Irish League, the Seasiders’ defeat of Ballymacash Rangers at Seaview to book their place in a Christmas Eve showdown surely ranks as a recent high.
What was a nerve-wracking affair saw emotions fly, but the tension was relieved come the final few peeps of the referee’s whistle. Knowing there is the chance for a first piece of silverware under Lee Feeney’s guidance, the vast travelling support serenaded their heroes who had fought tooth and nail to a man to deliver that dream date on the 24th December.
It felt like there were ghosts in need of banishing given the heartbreak of a year ago and the painful nature of the Yellows’ elimination.
Conceding a couple of goals in extra time when Bangor made this stage in November past, it was Newington who got to the 2021 final at the Seasiders’ expense. A repeat of such a fate certainly would have been tough to take.
Mercifully, that did not happen. Under the bright lights of Seaview on a cold and chilly night, the Cash this time the foe, just a single goal proved enough to determine the outcome in contrast to the eight-goal thriller last time out.
A celebratory feel took hold in north Belfast. Fists punching the air, arms flailing. The boys in yellow and blue took every drop of it in.
It was just what was needed to build back momentum following that surprise shootout defeat three days prior against Strabane Athletic in the Intermediate Cup second round.
Bearing in mind there is a big Irish Cup date this Saturday coming – Limavady United, now back under the tutelage of former Coleraine hero Paul Owens, in the fourth round – this victory feels like a valuable one on a number of fronts.
On Tuesday, Feeney made a handful of alterations from the 1-1 draw with Strabane after 110 minutes of regulation.
There was a return for usual first-choice James Taylor in nets, replacing Marc Orbinson, while in defence Ryley D’Sena stepped in for David Hume as the latter’s return from an injury absence is managed.
Hume and Gareth Beattie both dropped to the bench, with Cliftonville loanee Seanna Foster reinstated to the start at right wing-back in place of the latter. Scott McArthur, meanwhile, joined Jamie Glover and Adam Neale in a trident up top as Jordan Hughes dropped out, while Karl Devine assumed Aaron Harris’ place in the final one of five changes for this test.
Referee Richard White, who in fact was also the man in the middle when the teams met at The Bluebell in the league, signalled for kick-off promptly at 7:45pm. Ballymacash got the ball rolling and set the early pace.
The last-four debutants enjoyed a few set-piece opportunities within the first few minutes. It was a storm Bangor had to weather before their first threat emerged on 13 minutes.
An enterprising move saw McArthur take Reece Neale’s long ball in his stride down the left channel, delivering a decent ball into the box where Adam Neale was lurking. The in-form Ballynahinch ace could not get goal-side of Cash goalkeeper Brian Neeson in time, however, and it was saved under contest by the shot-stopper.
On 18 minutes, a right-sided corner from left wing-back Reece was played short to McArthur. The 23-year-old attacker’s delivery from the inside-right channel was again enterprising, and it found the head of Glover but the ex-Ards man could not guide his header on target.
Where summer returnee McArthur had proved a positive creative outlet so far, he found himself in on goal on 20 minutes as he took Adam’s lay-off, but had his blushes spared by the offside flag when he missed the mark in a one-on-one.
23 minutes had elapsed when Taylor was called into action, alert and agile to divert Gary Davidson’s powerful attempt over the bar. He was not tested when Ballymacash’s Jack Smith fired over on the half-hour, helped by Ryan Arthur’s positional sense when it looked like the pitch had been opened up.
There appeared to be some agitation from a vocal Feeney on the touchline in a half that always felt on the balance.
“Adam, how many offsides?” he bellowed at his striker when the latest of a flurry of raised flags had been lifted against his frontline. He also called out to Glover for improvements in his decision-making, trying to do his bit to fire his men up and seize initiative when neither team seemed to be sustaining possession.
He got an answer from Neale. A line-leader entering on the back of bagging 10 goals in his last seven matches, he drew a save from Neeson on 34 minutes as he let fly from a tight angle by the right, before his 37th-minute header by the left stick from tireless captain Lewis Harrison’s inswinger was parried out for a corner by the Cash keeper.
The following flag-kick was almost prodded in by John Boyle – and the former Warrenpoint and Newry City stalwart has had an eye for attack-minded contributions of late – but the centre back poked narrowly past the right post.
It was Taylor’s turn to be on high alert when a Ballymacash free kick was almost volleyed in by their captain Jordan Morrison, but the 38-year-old plucked the shot from the air gracefully on 39 minutes. Three minutes after, Adam Neale only narrowly missed out on connecting to Glover’s cross from the inside-left with Neeson rushing out to clutch the ball.
The half time whistle sounded from White after one additional minute. Not quite England versus Iran levels of stoppage in this one!
A deadlock which remained intact, both Feeney and opposite number Lee Forsythe will have had time to contemplate ways to gain an edge.
In the former’s case, a personnel switch was seen as part of the solution. Hume only stayed in reserve for 45 minutes before entering for D’Sena on the restart of the second stanza, albeit Feeney upheld his starting shape.
White blew to commence the second period, and Bangor looked from the outset like a side who meant business.
Where Ballymacash – backed by a plentiful faithful with choreos and drums – started front-footed with their kick-off for the first half, it was the same for the Seasiders in this instance.
The stanza was only four minutes old when Harrison let fly from distance, his 25-yard shot from the centre wide of the top left courtesy of a wicked deflection that had Neeson stranded. Feeney has regularly called on his skipper to involve himself more in the final third and the 23-year-old wasn’t far off with this one.
It was not to be chance-laden as a physical battle in the middle-third ensued. From a Bangor point of view, though, the Cash were being kept at bay as they set up to send long balls into the path of the physical Zach Barr.
Boyle and Ryan Arthur were enjoying commanding displays in defence and winning their duels. Not that it was the tonic to lift the nerves, mind, for what the game really needed was a goal.
Adam Neale side-footed over on 62 minutes when he received from Harrison’s lay-off on the edge of the area. From 20 yards out, he got too much of his boot under the ball as he aimed for the top right and it sailed well high of the crossbar.
But on 76 minutes, half of Seaview was sent into raptures. Adam Neale to McArthur back to Neale, laid into Glover and the 21-year-old did the rest.
He set himself for the shot from the edge of the box. From 20 yards, he took a couple of touches to set the attempt and he couldn’t have curled it any more delectably. The ball hung in the air, time seemingly slowing, a momentary pause in the noise from the main stand.
And then, an explosive chorus of cheer. It felt like a rave when it powered in.
Neeson’s dive proved futile, Glover’s shot raised just too high and the ball just nestled in the top left corner. The youngest player on the pitch at that point, he raced to celebrate in front of his fans. The bench arose from their seats as the young star was surrounded by his exuberant teammates. This was his moment.
But. But. 15 minutes and more to play. You can never just rest on one. While there is time on the clock, you can’t lie down.
Indeed, there was a moment in defence on 65 minutes that had every right to be celebrated like a goal. Barr played in Smith, Cash looked like they were in one-on-one against Taylor, yet up stood Boyle to deny him right as he was about to let fly. Their threat wasn’t to wane.
The closest chance, however, fell to a Seasider boot. On 89 minutes, Adam Neale flicked the ball into the path of official Man of the Match McArthur, but the local lad poked the ball straight into Neeson’s arms from inside the six-yard box. It was a direct sequence of play as the team with a deficit to cut piled bodies forward, the pitch opened up towards the end.
It was a series of throw-ins on which Bangor closed the game on. Having tried for a second on the counter, it went out with a whimper. And when Seaview’s electronic scoreboard ticked past 90, that turned out just as they had wanted.
White called time. Out let one last roar, knowing what was next. That date all had craved. A chance at a real major trophy.
“Not a bad Tuesday night… onto the next one, great win”
Ryan Arthur (via Twitter)
As Dunmurry Rec defeated Immaculata on penalties – a 5-4 shootout success following a goalless draw at Larne’s Inver Park – the shape of this year’s Christmas Eve festival is now crystal clear.
Outstanding displays to a man on the pitch. From the team to bench to management to supporters, such a collective effort must be lauded.
What follows on the day before Christmas is arguably the biggest game in Bangor’s recent history, and a career-high outing for many members of the Seasiders panel. Quite simply, what an endeavour, and what an opportunity to add some more silverware to the cabinet.
| Steel and Sons Cup | Semi-finals (22/11/22) | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers | 0 | 1 | Bangor |
| Dunmurry Rec | 0* | 0 | Immaculata |
Amid all this, though, it is important to remember there is still a game to come on Saturday. The players will still be replenishing their energy and bracing themselves for what promises to be a difficult afternoon at the Limavady Showgrounds in the Irish Cup.
But no better way to build up steam for that fourth round tie this Saturday than to prevail in this one.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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