Tobermore United 2-0 Bangor: The bitter, and rare, taste of defeat

The sensation of losing a match has almost felt alien to Bangor in recent months, but such feelings were endured after suffering a 2-0 defeat at Tobermore United last weekend. A tough outing it promised to be at Fortwilliam Park and such a premise was delivered on as the Seasiders were unable to find a way past a stubborn Reds rear-guard, albeit it was a blow softened as news filtered in of other challengers also dropping their guard.

Now with over half of their pre-split fixtures played, a first third-tier loss in nine months serves as a reminder that the run-in has begun – and any slip-ups will see no prisoners taken for any team in this division. For those of a yellow and blue persuasion, it can perhaps stand as a refresher as well as mark the start of the season’s business end.

For the first of two trips to this venue – the Seagulls will be back on an as-yet-unconfirmed date to face relocating Moyola Park later on – Bangor boss Lee Feeney felt it sufficient following an imposing midweek win over Banbridge Town to make only one switch.

Dylan O’Kane was called into midfield with captain Lewis Harrison unavailable, forming a double-act alongside Karl Devine with the rest of the starting panel unaltered from that 4-0 success.

Up top, Tuesday’s deadlock-breaker Jordan Hughes kept his place despite the return of Adam Neale to the matchday 18, while Seanna Foster would have had an appetite for a goal ahead of enjoying his 26^th birthday cake the following day.

Adrian Whiteside’s Tobermore team featured all their big guns, including their nine-goal top scorer Declan Martin who was a familiar face in a much-changed squad from the one Bangor last competed against a little over a year ago.

Referee Simon Mackay signalled for kick-off at 2:02pm, with Scott McArthur setting the ball rolling for a fixture that started with traffic in only one direction.

It is fair to say that goalkeeper Morgan Moore had his hands full for Tobermore. The first chance emerged when the 21-year-old shot-stopper’s heavy touch was pounced on by Hughes, who cut it back for the underlapping Foster, but an alert covering defender intervened before the Cliftonville loanee could pull the trigger on four minutes.

Seven minutes had elapsed when the former Moyola Park man got two strong palms behind a Devine shot from just outside the box, while on 10 minutes, after an interplay with Foster, Arthurs was to be denied by the agile keeper’s legs as he let fly from much closer range.

An 11^th-minute Ryan Arthur header from O’Kane’s right-sided corner was not far over the bar, while parries by Moore firstly from David Hume and then Scott McArthur from the resulting flag-kick on 18 minutes inspired confidence that a Bangor breakthrough was not far away.

Thereafter, though, the hosts started to make inroads. With 23 minutes played, their main marksman Martin registered his first sight at goal with his shot just a whisker wide thanks to a deflection en route, while a home corner four minutes later required what looked a near-goalline clearance to keep the score even.

After an all-action opening, the half’s denouement was much more chance-dry, with only a 37^th-minute attempt by new boy Ciaran McKeever that rose well over the bar worth noting.

Mackay saw little point in adding much on. The half ended goalless and on a rather flat note.

Feeney did see fit to make a double change during the interval. Ballynahinch sharp-shooter Neale entered for Hughes, while Jamie Glover was introduced in place of McArthur to join Arthurs as a new trident up top.

Tobermore re-entered unaltered, suggesting Whiteside was content to keep consistency to their system. With 45 minutes of football to play, the outcome of the match still hung very much in the balance as Mackay allowed play to restart.

Bangor started out on the front foot once more. On 47 minutes, the elder Neale sibling placed a knock-down header into the path of Kircubbin ace Arthurs, but it was a swing and a miss from the 24-year-old as he could not connect to direct it goal-bound.

Three minutes later, Glover had an opening when supplied by an Arthurs flick-on header, but the 21-year-old found Moore’s legs to be a decisive obstacle to goal just as the man supplying him had discovered in the first period.

It was positive again from the visiting Seasiders, and ex-Ards attacker Glover was then to rue his luck on 62 minutes when the stubborn Moore came once more to Tobermore’s rescue. Alas, the second half then started to draw parallels with the first when a 20-minute stint of pressure by the away side was to be followed by the hosts evening it back up.

A free kick from 25 yards by Tobermore captain Tiarnan Rafferty rose just over the bar on 65 minutes – Mackay signalled for a corner despite on first glance appearing to cleanly breach the upright.

That opportunity came only five minutes before the game’s first goal.

With the pitch opened up, a long ball was supplied into the path of the onrushing Owen McKeown. He had the beating of Hume down the inside-right channel, weighting his touch well before lifting the ball over James Taylor and into the net.

A new arrival to the Reds from Amateur League Premier Division outfit Crumlin United, agile winger McKeown had netted his first goal in his fourth appearance for his new club. The 25-year-old’s return to the Irish League, having kitted out for Ballyclare Comrades prior to joining Ciaran Caldwell’s squadron in the summer, had taken off with this well-executed lob.

And as Bangor forged forward for an equaliser towards the tail end – Feeney shortly afterwards replaced Hume with the veteran Michael Halliday in search of a goal to get back into proceedings – a late counter ultimately allowed the home team to put it to bed.

Three minutes deep into added time following a scramble to shoot in the opposite area, the risk was necessary from the visitors’ point of view. When McKeown took off again, this time from the inside-left, he had open room to operate in and kept his composure to place into the opposite top right beyond Taylor’s reach.

Effectively with the game’s last kick, the diminutive forward had doubled up and booked total spoils for Tobermore. Mackay blew for the match’s end not a moment too soon after.

A tough day at the office for the Clandeboye club with a frustrating first league defeat of the current campaign.

That said, for any potential grievances on the day, they weren’t alone. With Ballymacash Rangers and Queen’s University also missing out on maximum spoils – the former bagging themselves a 92^nd-minute equaliser to salvage a point at home to Armagh City, while the latter fell 2-1 at Lisburn Distillery – the phrase ‘missed opportunity’ feels wider-spread.

All in all, it is the first league game Bangor have lost since a 4-2 reverse in last season’s post-split at Limavady United last April, a cumulative 13-game unbeaten run. There is not much leeway for more slip-ups on this path to promotion, but heart can be taken in that this was not a loss that was fully punished elsewhere.

A warning shot, if you will. With the Premier Intermediate taking a back seat for the Yellows this matchday coming, supporters can be left to scan the results across the PIL on Saturday following this Friday night’s Irish Cup sixth round spectacle against Crusaders.

And then what follows that date with Stephen Baxter’s Crues is a 15-game successive streak purely of the league. What Feeney has always desired, and what supporters are looking forward to.

That is where the players will want to build momentum. The belief remains that there is the fire in the dressing room to do that.

There was, however, a continuation of recent winning ways for Bangor Reserves back home.

In welcoming league leaders Ballymacash Rangers to Clandeboye Park, a tricky assignment was always to lie ahead, however a Tom Mathieson hat-trick and a strike by substitute Jake Anderson helped the second string to a healthy 4-1 win.

A decisive victory that props Davy Downes’ men up to 2^nd-place in the table, now above Newington with a game fewer played and within three points of The Cash at the summit.

The Under-20s’ fourth consecutive success in all competitions – scoring 22 goals and letting in just two across that span – has them in sublime nick to sustain their title charge, putting a handful of disappointments in the league and cup well in the rear-view mirror with those defeats of Ards (twice) and Knockbreda in conjunction with Saturday’s show.

Up to 27 points from 13 matches, Loughgall represent the Seasiders’ next foes this Saturday coming. Kick-off at Lakeview Park is at 11pm.

Meanwhile, in the Girls Academy, the Under-10s and Under-12s were in action in the South Belfast Youth Football League against Bloomfield and Clonduff respectively.

Both teams gave a superb account and played some nice football versus two talented sides, and the development of both age groups has been pleasing for all to see as the women’s sector grows. Some good play, lots of enthusiasm and two impressive and sporting games on show.

“Smiling faces, learning and developing each week!” explained Head of Women’s Football Michelle Crawford. “That’s what it’s all about.”

The Academy action also saw Isaac Caldwell’s Under-18s deal a thumping 7-0 success over Wellington Rec, while the Under-14s and Under-15s were 2-0 victors over Cliftonville and Killyleagh YC respectively.

Featured image from myself.

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