Attentions are cast to the Irish Cup this Saturday, with a key date in the fourth round at the Limavady Showgrounds awaiting Bangor in a straight battle to stay in the competition come the new year. Fellow third-tier team Limavady United will be vying for the same objective that all those of a Seasider disposition want, and being a 150-mile-round trip to the north coast and back, it is not an adventure you want to end without claiming any spoils.
The Yellows have already claimed victory once on Showgrounds soil this season, after a Ben Arthurs spot-kick proved enough to secure all three points on their first away day of the current Premier Intermediate campaign. That success at August’s end at a tough venue felt satisfying, but since then there has been change at the Roesiders – notably in the dugout – which poses new challenges for Lee Feeney and his squad.
As Arthurs’ 11th-minute penalty bustled the net, it was Andrew Law watching on ruefully from the touchline when Lims goalkeeper Paul Wells – who tripped up Scott McArthur to concede the spot-kick in the first place – was sent the wrong way by the Kircubbin star.
On Saturday, there will be a (somewhat) fresh face in the dugout. Following a league defeat at home to Tobermore United two weeks ago, the call was made between the club and Law to part ways.
His successor was unveiled as Paul Owens. Player-manager of Limavady first time around prior to joining Oran Kearney’s coaching team at Coleraine, Owens opted to depart the Bannsiders and rejoin the outfit where he won a Premier Intermediate, Craig Memorial and Intermediate Cup treble in 2017. In his first match back, he will want to start front-footed.
The players will be fired up to impress the new boss as well, and on that basis it could be tricky to know what exactly to expect.
Irrespective, it is hard to doubt the high spirits those in the Bangor camp find themselves in right now.
In one of the most important matches in the Yellows’ recent history, the players rose to the occasion and then some.
Jamie Glover’s delightful curled effort on a cold and chilly Tuesday night in north Belfast booked the club their spot in the Steel and Sons Cup final at Ballymacash Rangers’ expense.
The 21-year-old’s left-footed take, struck sweetly and delicately to nestle in the top left corner, sent Seaview’s main stand into raptures. It implies that he is back to his inspired best after a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury. He’s a young ace who will aim to keep delivering, particularly motivated to lift his stock after how he left Cash shot-stopper Brian Neeson grasping at thin air with such a well-placed attempt.
Glover also made his stamp when Bangor travelled to Limavady in the post-split seven months ago, striking a first half brace in an eventual 4-2 defeat.
Same end product, different result would not be unwelcome. He struck one from distance on that drizzly day at the end of April, too.
The ex-Ards player will have been further buoyed by his manager’s words after the match on Tuesday.
“I thought Jamie deserved it,” Feeney told Aaron Agnew of DigiVibe Media after the match. “He dug deep, and he kept trying and trying.
“There was a few chances, a few opportunities that him and Scott (McArthur) had to maybe create a few more opportunities for goals but it didn’t happen, but they kept plugging away and plugging away and yeah, a very pleasing goal.
“I thought the front three (Glover, McArthur and Adam Neale) was super and the link-up was brilliant.”
On bagging his sixth goal in 13 appearances this campaign, he will be undeniably keen to add to his tally and given that Adam Neale is cup-tied in the Irish Cup this season, Feeney will be rallying his troops to share the load on the goal front. Arthurs’ absence since the Steel quarter-final victory over Albert Foundry 13 days ago further highlights the importance of delivering a finishing touch from all areas of the team.
That said, compared to a week ago when the Clandeboye chief was sweating over the match fitness of the likes of Glover himself, Lewis Harrison, Reece Neale and David Hume, such fears of a large contingent swapping the pitch for the treatment table are palpably down.
Captain Harrison was tireless in midfield, vice-skipper Neale never pulled up and as a half time substitute, Hume did as asked.
If Arthurs is not fully fit to play, one can expect one or both of Jordan Hughes and Michael Halliday to be in the frame to start. Callum Mills is just back after a fortnight out with a calf injury, while locally-bred attacking midfielder Tom Mathieson is also building his way back.
Switching focus now to the shape in which the Seasiders find Limavady in.
The Roesiders did not stress in the slightest in the Intermediate Cup. No fewer than nine unanswered goals were put into Ballinamallard United Reserves’ net last Saturday, establishing a tantalising home tie with Valley Rangers in the competition’s next round.
It was the heaviest win in the entire second stage. Quite the plinth for Owens – who was confirmed on Monday – to re-enter on.
In the league, they failed to win either of their two outings this month. They lie in 7th-place, winning both their matches in October but failing to taste the glory of victory in any of the other five – not that prior escapades count for much in matches such as these.
They took down PSNI at The Dub (1-2) before besting Portstewart in a clash of regional rivals on their home soil (3-1). And while we are on the topic, they drew three of the quintet they could not seize total spoils in, and Bangor’s joyous endeavour in the summer is the only time a team has kept a clean sheet against them in the third-tier.
They took Premiership Newry City to penalties in the League Cup, and while they finished marginally wrong-sided of a 13-goal thriller with Strabane Athletic – the same unit who advanced to the third round of the Intermediate ahead of Bangor last Saturday – in the Craig Memorial quarter-finals, defeats of Orangefield Old Boys and Woodvale combined with a first round walkover have set up this upcoming date in the Irish Cup and a chance for a happier day at the office.
The Seasiders, meanwhile, edged out Queen’s University, Strabane (round one, that is) and Belfast Celtic. As one of two all-Premier Intermediate ties – Ballymacash Rangers versus Banbridge Town being the other – the stakes are high in the pursuit of glory.
It will call on the panel to keep their heads firmly forward. Limavady have earned their due respect.
“I thought the front three was super and the link-up was brilliant”
Lee Feeney after the Steel semi-final success on Tuesday night
No less than that star striker and third-tier Team of the Season representative Alex Pomeroy is likely to be back in the fold, given he was absent from the first meet of the teams and provides a stern physical challenge for any centre back. The 25-year-old striker has three in the league this term, while 26-year-old Ryan Doherty – who did play in the initial date – is their top scorer on four.
League-wise they’ve scored in six of their seven matches and are yet to keep a clean sheet, so it may not be a bad assumption to say chances could arise at both ends. That said, Feeney has taken immense pride in his side’s defensive resolve.
“I brought in a bit of experience in John Boyle, James Taylor in nets and then I brought Ryan Arthur back who I think we missed (at) the end of last season,” he continued.
“So along with Davy Hume, and then we’ve got Ryley D’Sena there from Larne, so we’ve brought in quality players.
“They’re working really hard and they’ve got that wee bit of desire to get clean sheets and they thrive off clean sheets – they want it more than me so that’s a good thing.”
Immediately before taking on the mid-week Cash outing, Bangor had conceded in consecutive games for the first time all season – and at that, the quarter-final bout with Foundry saw a deeply dubious award of a goal that appeared not to cross the goalline – and to restore order with a shut-out at Seaview, a 13th in 18 outings, will have been very satisfying.
Boyle and Arthur handled the commanding Zach Barr sterlingly between them. The backline must deal with Pomeroy, Doherty and co in the same way.
There is a lot of mental fortitude about this group, and they will be cautious about getting too ahead of themselves about Christmas Eve.
The focus is always on what is immediately ahead, and the reward for victory in this match-up is to be in the mix alongside Premiership and Championship big-hitters come the new year.
| Irish Cup | Fourth round (26/11/22) | |
| Ballymacash Rangers | v | Banbridge Town |
| Ballymoney United | v | Finaghy |
| Bourneview Mill | v | Moyola Park |
| Crewe United | v | St Mary’s |
| Crumlin United | v | Greenisland |
| Tandragee Rovers | v | Oxford Sunnyside |
| Windmill Stars | v | Dollingstown |
The draw for the fifth round – or first round proper as it is also known – is on the 6th December. Bangor will need to be at their best again to book their spot.
Meanwhile, The Under-20s are back in league action having prevailed in the third round of the Junior Cup away to Drumquin United last week.
They face a top-of-the-table battle against their Ballymacash Rangers equivalents, hoping to emulate the senior side’s feat knowing they will provisionally take top spot if they avoid defeat.
It is a Friday night outing for Davy Downes’ men, with kick-off at The Bluebell at 8pm. Having secured five victories from six outings so far this campaign, the Reserves will move to 18 points and above Warrenpoint Town with a win – they are currently one of four outfits level on 15 points, with Newington being the other – and potentially build some breathing space if other results go their way.
The Junior Cup fourth round draw has also been made this week. A date with FC Antrim awaits for the Reserves, which takes place at Clandeboye Park on the 7th January 2023.
Elsewhere, there is also a knockout focus for the Under-18s, as Isaac Caldwell’s side prepare to take on Crusaders Under-18s. That clash in the third round of the Harry Cavan Cup at Clandeboye Park takes place this Saturday with a 1:30pm kick-off, booking their spot after defeating Fivemiletown United in stage two.
Featured image from Life Through A Lens NI.
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