It is another adventure on the road for Bangor this Saturday, and a return to Premier Intermediate League action after a full schedule of cup matches throughout November. This weekend’s clash at The Dub against Queen’s University is the first of three successive third-tier outings in the final month of an eventful year, with an escapade north to Portstewart and a home bout with Banbridge Town also preceding the Christmas Eve Steel and Sons Cup decider everyone has on their minds.
As Lee Feeney has been keen to stress, however, the most dedicated focus is always on the most immediate priority, and an in-form opponent lies in wait in south Belfast who will want to go out and give the Seasiders issues. It will take resilience to see through the intriguing test that the Students have to offer.
In a round-up of November’s fortunes, there was just a solitary minor blip that interluded an otherwise excellent month.
Starting and ending with the Irish Cup, the Yellows took down Belfast Celtic (0-3) in round three at Glen Road Heights before booking a date in the last-32 of Ireland’s oldest football competition in seeing Limavady United off (1-2) up north in the fourth stage.
The Steel was similarly joyous, firstly prevailing in a quarter-final battle at Albert Foundry (1-4) and then eliminating Ballymacash Rangers in a tense last-four showdown at Seaview (0-1) to earn a shot at putting seal on some festive cheer against Dunmurry Rec on Christmas Eve.
It was in the only home outing of the month where that hiccup emerged, with a penalty shootout defeat to Strabane Athletic in the Intermediate Cup (1-1 after extra time) spelling an early end to the Seasiders’ chances in that tournament.
There is always going to be limited licence for slip-ups when the settings are like these, but where the club had set out before this campaign to go far in the Steel and into the Irish Cup’s fifth level, manager Feeney and the ever-professional playing panel deserve commendation for fulfilling these early-season objectives.
That said, it’s a forward-minded mentality with this group. They relish on building streaks together – be it victory runs or successive clean sheets – and with nine wins in the past 10, the motivation is to extend this.
“Every game’s a tough game,” emphasised Feeney ahead of this upcoming examination of Bangor’s credentials.
“Every game’s a hard game, even the games we’ve had the big scorelines in, we’ve had to put the work in to get the big score.
“When you look at the game against Greenisland (a 0-8 victory in the Steel and Sons second round), we still had to work our socks off up there to get that result.
“I would actually say the easiest game we had was the one we lost, against Strabane – we were in first or second gear, I couldn’t even see them scoring to be honest and that’s a dangerous game state to be in.”
The boss has shown his skill this season in ensuring the focus is on delivering the maximum effort irrespective of opponent, and he has not rested on his laurels in ensuring his players are not left reeling from the winter chills.
| Premier Intermediate | 3/12/22 | |
| Ballymacash Rangers | v | Limavady United |
| Lisburn Distillery | v | Banbridge Town |
| Moyola Park | v | Dollingstown |
| Portstewart | v | Armagh City |
| Tobermore United | v | PSNI |
Bangor have already got a taste of what Queen’s are all about. The sides’ first competitive fixture of the campaign was with each other at Clandeboye Park in mid-August, where first half goals by Ben Arthurs and Karl Devine earned the Seasiders a 2-0 win over the white-shirted unit in the Irish Cup first round.
It was sun-kissed and warm-weather by the seaside that day. Such conditions would be but a dream on entry into a new month.
That summer bout was also the university outfit’s first competitive fixture since their drop-down from the Championship last season.
Embroiled in a bitter fight with Knockbreda for their second-tier status last year, it was an effort they would not taste success in. They went down automatically in 12th-place and Breda beat Bangor in the play-off to stay up.
Not only was it a demotion in division, but also one in status. When they secured promotion to the Championship in 2019, their attained Senior status, but now are back at Intermediate on their return to the third level of the Irish League.
So it was only reasonable to expect that they would not wilt in their pursuit of clawing their way back to those heights.
Sat 3rd-place in the Premier Intermediate going into this weekend, of late they have enjoyed a timely surge in form. The Students – overseen now by James Lavery after Peter Thompson’s nine-and-a-half years at the helm came to an end on last season’s conclusion – achieved consecutive away day successes in their last couple, seeing off Dollingstown under lights at Planters Park (1-2) 10 days ago before besting Armagh City in a six-goal thriller at Holm Park last Saturday (2-4). This puts them two points behind Bangor with two more games played.
In cup settings, they gave Dungannon Swifts a good run for their money, as a 3-0 defeat at Stangmore Park in the League Cup obscures the fact that they had kept their hosts – who had a full-strength team lined out – scoreless for over an hour. They were even closer at Clandeboye Park against Ards, where they were 0-2 up in the County Antrim Shield last-16, only to be derailed by a red card that invited the Seasiders’ great rivals to storm back and claim a 4-2 victory. They are not to be taken lightly.
There is the prospect that, should Queen’s be successful this weekend, the Yellows will drop outside the top two for the first time this term.
But of course, the attitude of a team who enter with just one regulation-time defeat in 19 matches will never be glass half empty.
“Every game’s a hard game”
Lee Feeney
Last week was a big test of credentials for Bangor, and the boys in yellow and blue did not disappoint in whether they would live up to the billing.
Coming off that shootout loss, Jamie Glover’s left-footed diamond into the top left against the Cash at Seaview made it a Tuesday night to remember, before two placed headers by Michael Halliday and David Hume meant that glorious evening in north Belfast was backed up by a brave win against the Lims at the Showgrounds.
Feeney brought back all of Glover, Hume, captain Lewis Harrison and vice-skipper Reece Neale to the fold – and what seemed a risky decision in that Strabane date has since proved worthwhile given the results that followed.
He will be counting on Arthurs returning to action before long, as the top-scoring Kircubbin ace approaches three weeks since hobbling off early against Foundry in that Steel last-eight date. His strike-partner Adam Neale, cup-tied against Limavady, could equal Arthurs’ tally of 11 goals this Saturday.
Harrison and Seanna Foster were substituted at half time six days ago but neither player sustained any major damage. Tom Mathieson is also working his way back from the treatment table having not played at all in November, while Ethan Boylan is also close on his awaited return from injury.
It has been a key aim for Kilkeel chief Feeney to have the goals spread around the team. He would have been able to draw some interesting conclusions from the Roesiders battle in terms of where the shots arose.
It is hard to think of a match in recent times where so high a proportion of goal-bound attempts came from the defensive line.
Ryan Arthur was denied twice by a couple of sensational reflex saves from on-song shot-stopper Paul Wells, while John Boyle registered three good looks at goal from set-pieces within the first 20 minutes – including one cleared off the line – and Hume had got in the box from a throw-in to add the Seasiders’ second.
Arthur has declared his ambition to try to reach double figures in goals this season, while Boyle has adapted seamlessly to a more attack-minded role in the system over the past handful of weeks.
With Hume having equalled his whole-season tally for goals last term (two), shot-taking from across the board is worth watching for. Dylan O’Kane’s corner deliveries were delicious on the north coast, while Reece Neale sent some threatening throws from the side as well.
“I said one would do me… now two will do me!”
David Hume after scoring his second goal of the season last Saturday
Feeney also reserved praise for the evergreen Halliday in speaking to Neil Watson following last Saturday’s success.
“He is very unique, and I have no doubt he still has a couple of years of playing left in him,” he said of the 43-year-old in this week’s County Down Spectator.
“He lasted the full match on Saturday on a heavy pitch and his performance levels never dipped. I spoke to him afterwards and he said he felt great – he is a machine.
“Off the pitch he is incredible as well. He sets a brilliant example for everyone at the club, including the younger players in the dressing room. He conducts himself well and offers his advice to the dressing room.
“The players look up to him as well. Whether he is playing or not, Michael is a big part of what we are trying to achieve at the club.”
Based on Saturday’s hosts’ record this season, it could be that chances come healthily at either end. If you are a betting individual, you’d be swiftly placing for BTTS given Queen’s have scored in every game and are also yet to keep a clean sheet in third-tier play.
Three of their eight league outings have comprised five or more goals. A 3-2 victory over PSNI, that 2-4 win over Armagh – a match comprising four different goalscorers for the visitors – and a 3-4 home loss to Portstewart too.
A couple of familiar names to Bangor supporters are in the Students fold as well. Midfielder Chris Middleton is joint-top on the side’s scoring charts with three, playing for Bangor as a highly-rated youngster and then rejoining the club in September 2020, while Adam Calvert was a member of the unbeaten centenary year team of 2018-19.
Another former Yellow in Ben Mulgrew was on the scoresheet during his side’s win at Dollingstown, netting the equaliser that led the Queen’s charge to come from behind and take the spoils.
Middleton has 22-year-old forward Lorcan McIlroy for company on top of the goal charts, while Christian Irvine (21), Corin Gallagher (20), Marc McKenna (22) and Johnny and Dan Mairs (both 21) are young talents as well.
Player to watch:
Ex-Bangor man Chris Middleton has returned to Queen’s, where he won the third-tier title in 2019, and started brightly. The 28-year-old was also well-trusted when at Harland and Wolff Welders, where he spent six years.
It should prove a stern test of credentials. The professionalism that has characterised the team all season will need to be seen again.
For once – or at least it feels like that – three points are on the line rather than a place in a cup. A sixth win in seven league ties would be welcome.
Meanwhile, Bangor Reserves are in league action this weekend hoping to fight back strong from an agonising 2-1 defeat at Ballymacash last Friday.
Davy Downes’ team host Loughgall’s equivalents, 7th-placed of eight teams, at Clandeboye Park with hopes of closing what is now a three-point gap to the Cash at the summit. A win would move the Seasiders onto 18 points out of a possible 24, and kick-off is at 11am.
In the rest of the youth action, the Under-18s are in action against Carniny Youth, while the Under-17s will contest against Celtic Boys. The Under-13 NL and SBYL sides face tough tests against Linfield and Ards respectively, while the Under-14s play Bloomfield and the Under-15s will try to take it to Castle Juniors in an inter-city derby this weekend.
It was a superb mid-week for the Under-13 SBYL side, who ended the SBYFL Supplementary Second Division top and completing an unbeaten term with a 6-3 victory over Groomsport.
Elsewhere, the monthly Seasider 200 draw will take place this weekend, where one lucky individual can pocket £100. To be in with a chance of claiming that prize, as well as helping to sustain the progress the club is making, you can contribute by chipping in as little as £5 per month. Details on how to enter are enclosed.
And there is also an exciting announcement to make on the Girls Academy. Due to popular demand, the club has decided to expand, and now girls born in 2016 will be able to join alongside those born between 2011 and 2015.
The Academy has weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings at Clandeboye Park from 6pm to 7pm, and you can find out more information as well as register your interest in this exciting development by contacting girlsacademy@bangorfc.com.
Bangor can also confirm a brand new partnership with Life Expert, who are already sponsoring the club’s Under-13s training kit.
And they have a new deal for Seasiders supporters to unveil. Click on the link to find out more on what you could gain.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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