The Friday night lights seemed to spur Bangor on when they hosted Crusaders in the Irish Cup a little over a fortnight ago, and similar feelings of hype and status were evoked on the fifth day just passed when the Seasiders entertained league leaders Ballymacash Rangers. A 2-0 victory in an intense affair lifts those in yellow and blue onto a level pegging with the west Lisburn club, now only trailing the promoted side on goal difference.
Goals near the start and end of an enthralling duel from the Clandeboye Park outfit’s runaway top two scorers mean that, with home games against north west adversaries Portstewart and Limavady United to come, the Yellows could open up a six-point gap at the Premier Intermediate League summit come the beginning of March as they make up their games in hand. There is work to do, but these are the sort of results that inspire belief.
The possibilities going into kick-off had been laid bare. By full time, the margin in the table would be either zero, three or six points. The floodlights felt like a befitting backdrop to this high-stakes clash, which had the distinctly varying contrasts of nerves and steel to the fore.
In terms of Bangor’s team selection, manager Lee Feeney made merely one adjustment from the previous week’s victory against Armagh City, with Jamie Glover – whose last goal came in the Steel and Sons Cup semi-final against this very opposition back at November’s tail end – entered the fray in place of Scott McArthur, who dropped to the bench.
There was a return to the matchday squad for Dylan O’Kane, who was absent for that fixture in the Cathedral City six days prior, while the 43-year-old Michael Halliday’s prowess could also be called upon as the evergreen striker came into Kilkeel supremo Feeney’s final 18 as well.
Ballymacash fielded a typically strong side, though the absence of club captain Jordan Morrison would have come as a blow for Lee Forsythe in the build-up to Friday night’s showdown.
Local favourite Morrison, who returned to his boyhood club after six years with east Belfast outfit Dundela, swapped Wilgar Park for The Bluebell and recently embarked on an eight-goal scoring splurge in just three matches from defence, but having been forced off through injury to put an unfortunate cloud over a four-goal haul against Dollingstown, Bangor would be spared from such exploits while the popular centre back is absent.
It is, of course, not solely down to one player why they entered as leaders, though.
Joshua Cahoon – scorer of their deadlock-breaker in an eventual 1-1 draw away to Limavady United last weekend – was in from the start, while Guillaume Keke, who put the Seasiders to the sword in the first meeting as he opened the books from the bench, would hope to play a similar role as he again was named among the seven eligible substitutes.
Throw in 13-goal Jack Smith, the top-scoring contributor to an attack that has led the way with 48 league strikes in total, and the home defence would be given little time to dither should they have wanted to shut the door on their battling competitiors.
Both teams were led out to a rapturous reception from both sets of supporters on a wet night in Bangor, the atmosphere undeniably matching the hype in the hope that the action on the pitch would do the same.
The Seasiders seized advantage within five minutes of kick-off, striking early just as they did at Holm Park last time out.
A long punt was hooked up the pitch for Adam Neale to race onto, putting the Ballynahinch sharp-shooter in a straight shoot-out with an off-his-line ‘Cash goalkeeper Brian Neeson having got behind the defensive line, and the 29-year-old got his head to the ball first and watched on as it trickled over the whitewash for an early lead.
Met with a clamorous roar from the home faithful inside a packed Clandeboye Park, with Neale having bagged his 11th goal of an inspirational league crusade, the fans would have hoped such celebrations would set the tone.
Their spirits were surely lifted 10 minutes later, too, when referee Niall Devlin made a brave decision to send one Ballymacash man for an early shower.
A late challenge from tricky winger Dylan Davidson on Bangor right wing-back Seanna Foster was deemed by the man in the middle to have met the threshold for a straight red card.
Appearing firmly stunned by the call, former Glentoran man Davidson had his hands on his head, and Devlin’s call did not go without protest either on the pitch or from the stands.
All the while, as a melee ensued in front of the main stand, 26-year-old Cliftonville loanee Foster – who was also recently subject to a high-footed intervention from Moyola Park’s Caolan Gillan that this exact official likewise judged was worthy of direct marching orders – received treatment on the side and geared up to go again, as both sets of players recollected themselves to get back into swing.
Despite being left with one fewer in red and white on the artificial surface, Ballymacash’s spirit did not seem to deplete.
They were presented a golden opportunity on a rain-drenched night to restore parity from 12 yards, when Jack Smith was bundled over in the area and Devlin showed little hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Division top scorer Smith stood up and took responsibility, the former Portadown man after yet another third-tier strike to add to his kitty, but he was to go up against a shot-stopper in outstanding form of late.
The one-time Amateur League ace, a representative of Derriaghy CC prior to linking up with Paul Doolin and the Ports last winter, opted to strike low to his right, though James Taylor guessed his intentions and got two strong palms behind the ball to parry away.
38-year-old Taylor has made no shortage of important stops throughout this term; few more so than this one, preserving the home team’s lead until the half. Even if 23-year-old Davidson’s dismissal left the visitors – who hitherto had not lost an away league game all season – at a man disadvantage, though, there was no doubt they were still in the hunt.
‘Cash boss Forsythe would have been keen at the interval to put this message home to his boys and get down to business once again.
Meanwhile, his namesake Feeney, equally an ever-demanding presence on the touchline, would have used the penalty near-miss to warn his players that the match was far from done – and that they were still well within reach.
The game’s second goal would have proved decisive. Thankfully, from a home persuasion, it landed in the net they wanted it to.
Karl Devine let fly a rasping shot from distance that struck the right-hand post, the former Dundela midfielder not renowned as a goalscorer but almost netting a long-distance piledriver for what would have been his first since early August.
Indeed, the seasoned Neeson may warrant credit for just extending his frame enough to influence the ball’s trajectory. It is blink and you’ll miss it, but the one-time Cliftonville and Ards shot-stopper appears to barely get a touch that palms it onto the upright and away.
Forsythe’s substitutions also reflected a clear intent to win the match, including some of his January captures in the equation.
With 68 minutes gone, wingers Dylan Sinnerton and Kyle Beggs entered the fray – the latter, perhaps surprisingly, for the eagle-eyed Smith – as Ballymacash adopted a front-footed approach down the sides. There was also the entry of Frenchman Keke, an Irish League veteran who not long ago netted a last-ditch leveller to break Armagh City hearts.
Fortunately from a home standpoint, lightning wasn’t to strike twice. Bangor achieved what they set out to do on 83 minutes.
A tantalising delivery from the effervescent Reece Neale was put on a plate for Ben Arthurs to arrow a header in at the near post, Neeson not able to parry away as he sprawled over to try and throw a spanner in the works. The Kircubbin hero exceeded his entire total from last season after netting his 20th goal in all competitions, scoring for the third successive match and extending the cushion with only seven minutes left to play.
The 24-year-old frontman knows how to turn the screw for the big occasion. He can count finishes in a cup final, a sixth-round Irish Cup joust against a Premiership opponent and now a top-of-the-table tussle under the floodlights.
It clinched the points. Devlin’s whistle peeped for the final time, and Bangor claimed the total spoils for a result that feels significant.
Another clean sheet upheld – the 10th in just 14 league outings – and plus three for the table that elevates the Seasiders to 37 points.
A four-goal victory was required for Bangor to emphatically move top, but it felt naive to ever plausibly consider that. Having also kept the breathing space at five points to Queen’s University in third, who defeated Moyola Park on Saturday, this has the feel of a key result as the Seagulls look upward. Feeney would have been well impressed by the perseverance his troops displayed, and that his panel delivered once more in front of a big crowd.
“I’m hoping for another big crowd to get out and get behind us because it really does make a difference”
Lee Feeney, speaking to Neil Watson in Thursday’s Co Down Spectator
Making sure to note how influential the ‘twelfth man’ can be in advance, thriving in front of another congregation north of 1,000, the boys on the pitch made sure to send the home fans away happy that they made a noteworthy gain on the fabled path to second-tier promotion.
With the 40-point mark in sight against Portstewart this Saturday coming, the Seahawks will be the next point of focus.
| Premier Intermediate | 18/2/23 | ||
| Bangor | 2 | 0 | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Lisburn Distillery | 3 | 1 | PSNI |
| Queen’s University | 3 | 1 | Moyola Park |
A 13th victory against the Mullaghacall institution, who Bangor defeated back in early September courtesy of Adam Neale’s brace either side of the interval, will further act as a boost to spirits.
As much as wins like these can be revelled, continuing to back them up and keep the winning momentum ticking over is all the more integral in the sprint to the finish line as 13 more matches remain.
And Friday definitely was not an outing without its trials and tribulations. The half-empty way of looking at it is that had the game been levelled from the spot, things could have turned out differently. The half-full approach is that having players like Taylor – just like the one-on-one save he made early against Armagh – who rise to the big occasion is a necessity on Bangor’s kind of plight.
It is never Feeney’s instinct to sit still. Plenty more dedicated work will be going in, with the Seasiders only just crossing the halfway mark in terms of their total league games played.
Nevertheless, if your allegiance lies in Clandeboye, it is hard after a result like that for a beaming smile not to appear.
The business end is true to form. But this was very much business well done.
There was, however, disappointment for Bangor Reserves the following day, as Warrenpoint Town’s equivalents took maximum spoils with a 0-2 victory at Clandeboye Park.
Goals either side of half time from The ‘Point‘s Niall Lennon proved deciding, and propped the fellow County Down club above their rivals from the seaside into third place in the league.
The Under-20s have a six-point margin to make up on leaders Ballymacash Rangers, with the top four now only split by that half-dozen amount. With The ‘Cash having played out a 3-3 draw with Loughgall, the margins remain fine as Bangor aim to start a refreshed run of wins.
David Downes’ squad visit Lisburn Distillery next week, with 12 matches left in which they will want to pick up as many victories as possible to stay in the hunt.
In the rest of the weekend’s Academy action, there was a rare defeat for Isaac Caldwell and the Under-18s, who lost 2-1 against Newhill, but victories for the Under-17s who fended off Northend United 2-1, The Under-15s who claimed victory against Aquinas by the same scoreline, and the Under-14s who were handsome 5-0 winners in a North Down derby with Ards.
Meanwhile, there was cause for celebration in the women’s sector, as it has been confirmed Bangor FC Ladies will be playing up a level from last campaign in the NIWFA Championship next season.
With pre-season preparations ongoing, new manager Ethan Boylan received a boost in that his side will test their mettle at this elevated pedestal. As training goes on and pre-season friendlies continue to be arranged, the team know where their standing will be, come the start of play.
“Competing in the Championship is an exciting opportunity for the players and management”
Ethan Boylan
Boylan admits he is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“Competing in the Championship is an exciting opportunity for the players and management at the club,” he said.
“The girls have been training for a few weeks and have been working hard in pre-season.
“I will continue to build the team over the next few months with the aim of bringing success and growth to the women’s game at Clandeboye Park.”
“We are excited about the challenge ahead and I believe we can take the momentum from the past few months into the new season”
Michelle Crawford
Head of Women’s Football Michelle Crawford added: “Competing in the NIWFA Championship is a massive boost for Bangor FC Ladies.
“We are excited about the challenge ahead and I believe we can take the momentum from the past few months into the new season.
“We have continued to make progress over the past year and now with the appointment of Ethan Boylan as first-team manager, we can look forward to the season ahead.”
The club’s We Care, You Matter team, meanwhile, have set up a walking group called Walk’n’Talk, with the first iteration of this new project taking place this Thursday 23rd February at 7pm.
It is designed to highlight the benefits of walking over a five-kilometre distance while also making it social and enjoyable, with tea and coffee on offer afterwards. No registration is required, with anyone interested in participating asked to meet outside the Social Club on that date.
Finally, the club was saddened to learn this weekend of the passing of the grandmother of Bangor midfielder Dylan O’Kane over the weekend.
The thoughts and condolences of all associated with Bangor are with Dylan and his family at this most sad time.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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