This Friday night sees Bangor take to the turf for what is forecast to be one of the Premier Intermediate League’s season-defining match-ups. The Seasiders, in second, will entertain third-tier leaders Ballymacash Rangers at Clandeboye Park in a fixture that could have a handful of impactful outcomes come match referee Niall Devlin’s final blow for time – namely, that the gap at the summit will be either three, six or zero points-wise.
With three games in hand to make up on The ‘Cash, this is the Yellows’ chance with nine matches of the pre-split remaining where the opportunity to make inroads on their nearest title challengers is directly within their own grasp. For a second time in a fortnight, in front of their own fans, the players will be fired up to deliver on the fifth day of the week and register a big boost of momentum in the run-in. The points staying in Bangor would feel like a statement as the hosts try to wrestle into top spot.
Going into this third duel of the campaign between the North Down pride and the promoted west Lisburn outfit, it could not be better poised.
A victory for Bangor last Saturday in Armagh ran parallel with Ballymacash’s draw on the north coast away to Limavady United.
Midfielder Joshua Cahoon’s opener for the visitors just before the interval was cancelled out by Roesiders front-man Alex Pomeroy’s successful conversion from the penalty spot early in the second half, the score finishing one apiece.
The Seagulls, meanwhile, swooped in to take three points from Holm Park, with siblings Reece and Adam Neale on target each way of half time to add to Ben Arthurs’ clinching spot-kick.
That 0-3 victory for Friday evening’s home team marked a return to winning ways having lost the previous two, while the club from The Bluebell’s tie at the Rathmore Road Showgrounds was their second in their last three.
All in all, it means that, come the close of play at Clandeboye, the oft-disputed term ‘six-pointer’ could ring true.
“Yeah, big game, we try to beat (Ballymacash) and then we can push on and think about the split”
Adam Neale, after netting in Bangor’s victory at Armagh City last week
A Ballymacash win furthers the breathing space at the top to six points, while success for Bangor puts them on an even footing with two teams on 37 points at the PIL summit. A draw, which in these contexts can feel relieving for the players and coaches but underwhelming for spectators, would keep the gap at three.
A four-goal swing could even see the Seasiders assume top spot in victory. Don’t bet on it, though, if the first couple of meetings are anything to go by.
In the first league joust back on a sunny September afternoon, it took an Adam Neale equaliser – on his debut – deep in second-half added time for Bangor to steal a point, with French line-leader Guillaume Keke having given the red and white-striped hosts the advantage with six minutes of regulation to play.
Then, as the two forces collided again at a chilly Seaview, Jamie Glover’s left-footed stunner with a quarter-hour left was the only goal in late November when the Clandeboye clan booked their ticket for the Steel and Sons Cup final.
Now it returns to a home stomping ground. What is there to be written in the next chapter?
Well, there will have been decisions in the week for respective managers Lee Feeney and Lee Forsythe to make on how they will approach this.
With Ballymacash having added a few new faces since that most recent clash on the Shore Road just under three months ago, the latter will hope one of them can prove a difference-maker.
Young winger Dylan Sinnerton, a former Cliftonville academy player who made the move from Lisburn Distillery last month, was named Man of the Match in The ‘Cash’s home thumping of PSNI 13 days ago. The 19-year-old joined alongside the tenacious Ryan Newberry – who previously plied his trade under Forsythe at Ards Rangers – as well as ex-Ballyclare player Kyle Beggs, who has been tasked to help fill the void of departing winger Justin Armstrong, and former Harland and Wolff Welders man Ryan Deans.
They are new threats the Bangor defence may have to nullify come kick-off (8pm), and serve to add some unpredictable spice just in case either side thought they had the other cracked.
With Feeney’s panel almost unaltered during the winter with no new incomings, familiarity has proved of benefit.
“It’s a massive match in the context of the league and we’re really looking forward to it”
Lee Feeney
Adam Neale and Arthurs totted up their goal count across all competitions to 36 with their strikes post the pause in the Cathedral City, while Reece Neale’s sixth finish of the season after just 14 seconds has him joint alongside Glover in third.
Former Glentoran prospect Jamie has been stuck on a half-dozen since netting in north Belfast against this very opposition, but could his former Ards team-mate Brian Neeson be once more reminded of the 21-year-old’s penchant for causing trouble at some point here?
Ballymacash can pose their own diverse threat in front of the goal, too. Former Portadown ace Jack Smith is the league’s top scorer on 13 – helped in no small part by a remarkable five-goal haul in a 0-8 hammering of PSNI at The Dub – while defender Jordon Morrison recently embarked on an eight-strike splurge in just three games to prop him up to 10.
Ex-Portstewart focal point Zach Barr and Islandmagee favourite Michael Moore also pack a punch, with both on five for the season to date.
Player to watch:
Recently catching the eye with one of the Premier Intermediate’s most explosive finishing displays during Ballymacash’s 0-8 thumping of PSNI, Jack Smith‘s Premiership exposure with Portadown having also represented Derriaghy CC with distinction in the Amateur League singles out the 25-year-old as one who means business. Image from Paul Harvey/Ballymacash Rangers media.
It speaks to the importance of both clinical edge and defensive prowess – which Feeney deems a defining factor behind who comes out on top.
“It will be fine margins that separate the two teams,” the Kilkeel supremo told Neil Watson in this week’s County Down Spectator. “And it’s a cliché, but it will come down to who defends better and who takes their chances.
“I’m in no doubt both sides will have their moments in the game but I’m confident that our boys will be up to the challenge.
“Both teams have shown that they are capable of getting results so far this season and Ballymacash will fancy their chances as well.”
Trying to predict what will and won’t occur is always dangerous, but Ballymacash have certainly shown bottle of late.
An added-time equaliser from a familiar name in the Irish League in Keke earned them a point from two goals down at home to Armagh City three weeks ago, while they also twice came from behind to conquer Dollingstown in a game where captain Morrison netted four.
The centre back was on target once again when The ‘Cash edged Tobermore United 2-1 at the start of January – points gained that they will hope prove precious come the end of it all.
| Premier Intermediate | 18/2/23 | |
| Bangor | vs | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Lisburn Distillery | vs | PSNI |
| Queen’s University | vs | Moyola Park |
Statistically, it is also the meeting of the flight’s top-scoring attack versus the division’s meanest defence.
The visitors have scored 48 goals in their first 16 games as an Irish League club, while their hosts have let in only five throughout their 13 this term. As far as clean sheets go, these teams furthermore lead the way when it comes to the league, with Bangor’s James Taylor (eight) edging his opposite number Neeson (seven) going into this titanic showdown.
The set-piece threat of former Dundela man Morrison and the Seasiders’ Ryan Arthur is documented, no less than that two of the former’s finishes in that 4-2 defeat of the Dollybirds were penalties. Bangor, indeed, are a perfect four from four from 12 yards, with Arthurs (three) and Adam Neale (one) hitting the target.
Both teams have the wholesale prowess in front of goal and alertness to switch onto even the slightest moments of sloppiness to suggest that each must perform at their most optimal at the back.
“It will come down to who defends better and who takes their chances”
Lee Feeney
Feeney has also spoken of wanting the so-called ‘twelfth man’ to play its part in willing the players on come Friday.
“We are at home and we will be fighting hard to get the three points. It’s a massive match in the context of the league and we’re really looking forward to it,” added the former Linfield hero.
“I’m hoping for another big crowd to get out and get behind us because it really does make a difference.”
It is an important night for a variety of reasons. It is also widely expected to have the largest attendance of any Premier Intermediate fixture all season. Surely, then, you can expect to see two buoyant sides take to Clandeboye Park’s artificial turf with the stakes ramped up.
Hopefully the game matches the occasion, too, with two clubs smelling blood. Sniffing an opportunity to strengthen their position and send chills up their adversary’s spine. It all sounds tantalising.
From a Bangor point of view, you just hope you’re the one smiling at the end.
Bangor Reserves, meanwhile, face a tough assignment on Saturday when they welcome Warrenpoint Town’s equivalents to Clandeboye Park in Section B of the Championship/PIL Development League.
Currently sitting five points behind leaders Ballymacash – whose second string also play on Friday night, hosting Loughgall at The Bluebell – with two games in hand, the ‘Point have played the fewest games of any team in the league (11) but have been picking up points when it’s counted, having 26 prior to kick-off.
Indeed, they will usurp Davy Downes’ troops in the table with a win, so the hosts must be well-focused to not suffer any slip-ups and keep pace at the top as they fight for the fruits of victory.
Kick-off in what should be a competitive duel of County Down clubs is at 11pm.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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