Bangor were in fine fettle on Saturday, punching in another three points for the season tally with a fine victory at Dollingstown. On a grass Planters Park surface promising slips and slides, there were no trip-ups as far as the scoreline was concerned as the Seasiders reacted in fighting fashion after being pegged back level during the second half’s early knockings.
A hat-trick for mercurial marksman Ben Arthurs – his 100th strike for the club sandwiched between the duel’s deadlock-breaker and his match-ball clincher– proved a primary inspiration to prise the maximum reward out of this escapade. The visitors’ grip on first-place becomes tighter, with an eight-point chasm separating themselves from second-placed Queen’s University, yet there are no intentions of letting up as the Premier Intermediate League split edges nearer.
On Saturday, manager Lee Feeney did something that he seldom does – name an unchanged team.
From Bangor’s most recent competitive outing, a 0-2 victory at Banbridge Town two weeks prior, Kilkeel chief Feeney saw fit to retain the exact same starting XI from that successful visit to Crystal Park.
If you have the winning formula, you will not be overly enticed into altering it. This meant that impressive performers of late like Tom Mathieson and Aaron Harris kept their places; their match sharpness gradually built up, with Harris particularly catching the eye in the injury-enforced absence of Karl Devine.
Boosted further by that mid-season friendly versus Lisburn Distillery seven days before, where Feeney’s charges defeated Barry Johnston’s Whites 5-1 and took advantage of a break in the schedule to organise a clash for the sake of freshness and fitness, it was hoped the Yellows would have their signature fighting mentality on show at Dollingstown.
There was a first senior matchday squad appearance in six competitive outings for Marc Orbinson – the substitute shot-stopper having both played in the previous week’s joust at Clandeboye Park and in Bangor Reserves’ trip to Ballymacash the night before – while 20-year-old Larne loanee Ryley D’Sena would have had eyes on some minutes from the bench as the Australian defender continues his recovery from a recent ankle blow suffered last month.
Referee Joseph Mullan led both teams out, and signalled for kick-off at 2:01pm with the hosts’ Gary Liggett getting things under way.
The first 20 minutes, though, was nothing short of a siege on Dollingstown goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan’s goal.
Reece Neale registered a shot on target within the first 90 seconds after gobbling up Harris’ lay-off, but it lacked power and was an easy claim for Buchanan. On six minutes, Mathieson had his effort diverted behind off defender Louis McKeown before Ryan Arthur scooped over from the resulting corner. It was, incidentally, Neale on set-piece duty.
Just nine minutes had elapsed when Bangor deservedly opened the scoring. The product of a precise interplay from the right, Adam Neale pulled out to link in the underlapping Seanna Foster; the Cliftonville loanee receiving on the run before supplying a delectably inviting cross for Arthurs without breaking stride.
The 24-year-old met head-on and guided beyond seasoned stopper Buchanan for the game’s first goal – it had set the tone for the tie’s burgeoning stages.
On 13 minutes, Adam Neale’s low drive towards the bottom right was denied by the purple-shirted Buchanan, while the 31-year-old used his feet to beat away right wing-back Foster’s fierce attempt barely 60 seconds later. Both 26-year-old Foster and his opposite attacking back Reece Neale found the ‘keeper in their way again before the opening stanza had even reached its halfway mark.
Thereafter, the chances started to lull – but not as a result of Bangor dropping their guard.
With 24 minutes gone, Arthur missed the mark from a set-piece, and on 33 minutes Arthurs fired wide from a tight angle after younger Ballynahinch sibling Neale offered the service.
A quick-thinking throw-in by ‘Big Ben’ had set Mathieson goal-bound with 35 minutes played, but Buchanan kept his nerve to deny the former Ballyclare star. Centre back Arthur – also ex of the Comrades and hungry for his fifth goal of the current campaign – was winning out in the air but not quite hitting the target, a note that the half virtually ended on.
Mullan signalled for half time, and on a pitch bearing the brunt of some recent rainfall, Bangor were well in control.
A one-goal lead is always precarious in football, though, and Feeney – sporting a distinctive flat cap on the touchline, fending off a low sun that gradually eked through the clouds as the afternoon advanced – would have been all too keen to reinforce this message.
Opposite number Stephen Uprichard surely told his soldiers to take advantage of the potential for slips on loose ground and work the Dollybirds back into the game as soon as possible following the restart.
The Seasiders spine were live on television the last time they had conceded a goal, when Philip Lowry was at the double for Crusaders to continue their retention journey in the Irish Cup.
Lowry’s second was early in the second half, with 493 minutes passing without concession since. But that streak was broken a mere three minutes after the interval at this venue.
It was Dollingstown’s Jonathan Ewart, the side’s joint top scorer in league play prior to kick-off, who took sole command of the club’s goal chart when he arrowed a placed finish into the bottom right corner roughly 15 yards from James Taylor’s net. A pass spread across the goal-face found the 22-year-old, and he shaped his body speedily to fire low.
And it fuelled the hosts with belief. The kind of belief one would anticipate in such a situation as this, against an opponent hungry to rediscover the winning trail after seven PIL matches without victory fruits.
It triggered a 10-minute spell where Bangor were often needing to back-pedal, opportunities being generated with verve and a palpable fear among those in the stand that a lack of clinical edge in the first half would, ultimately, be punished.
Stat attack:
- Bangor have had a remarkable three occasions this season where they have went over 450 minutes without conceding a goal.
But the Seagulls know how to weather a storm, and that was so on 57 minutes courtesy of a new centurion.
A right-sided free kick was whipped in by Foster and, thanks to an awkward bounce of the ball, fell favourably into Mathieson’s path. Taking a few touches to shape his shot, the 23-year-old sufficiently stung Buchanan’s palms enough that he could not get a grip on the ball – he pushed straight into Arthurs, and what was the tall striker’s 100th goal in yellow and blue turned out to be one of his easiest as he stroked into an open net.
‘The Kircubbin shuffle’ was one particularly amusing phrase coined in training during the week.
So we’ll make it that Arthurs has ‘shuffled’ his way into the historical archives!
Neither outfit was done, however. On 64 minutes, Buchanan had his bearings covered to tip Adam Neale’s low drive around the post, while his brother pulled off some goalline heroics to clear from a Dollybirds corner five minutes later.
A looping header was guided goalwards from a right-sided flag-kick, and it had ex-Glenavon stopper Taylor beaten, but the recovering Reece was in the right place at the right time to prevent Dollingstown from bagging a second leveller. It was some inspired positioning from someone whose attacking instincts have perhaps overshadowed his defensive steel.
On a day where Ireland Rugby were snapping up a famous Six Nations Grand Slam, white lines were very much a talking point on the agenda. There was sincere controversy on the strike that ultimately cultivated some breathing space, but Bangor were hardly complaining.
75 minutes had been played when the inspired Foster whipped into the six-yard area, with Arthurs using his chest to manifest an improvised attempt and striking the inside of the post. Buchanan gathered and the blue-shirted home team surged up the other way, despite the far-side linesman seemingly flagging that the ball had, in actual fact, crossed over.
After the attack petered out, Mullan consulted his assistant and subsequently confirmed the visitors’ third goal. It wasn’t pretty but for the second time in 2023, following his first treble against Tandragee Rovers in the Irish Cup fifth round back in January, Arthurs would have a match ball to take home with him afterwards.
All this attention for this titan of a man who first became a Seasider as a 20-year-old in 2018, scoring 38 goals in all competitions to help propel Bangor back into the Irish League. On 81 minutes, new hero Adam Neale made his say and engraved his name on the scoresheet too.
Player spotlight:
Has Seanna Foster delivered a better performance in a Bangor shirt? His two assists, and so nearly setting up a spectacular third for Ben Arthurs’ heel flick, were just reward for a high-quality flurry of crosses throughout and the work-rate and industry that have defined his time with the Seasiders. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Foster was at it again with another intuitive low cross, and Arthurs was denied a stunning backheel fourth by Buchanan’s quick reactions. Similar to the second goal, mind, the purple-shirted stopper could not hold on and it fell to former Rathfriland ace Neale to slam home.
Stat attack:
- Ben Arthurs and Adam Neale have 29 league goals between them, a tally only four other clubs’ entire goal hauls can better in the PIL.
A free kick guided well high of Taylor’s crossbar by Dollingstown’s Stephen Acheson was the closest either divide got to a sixth goal of the game throughout a fairly settled final 10.
In the end, Mullan deemed only two minutes to be sufficient as he sounded the final whistle.
Results elsewhere – notably Ballymacash Rangers suffering a home reverse to Portstewart and Queen’s University taking full spoils in what initially was billed as a third-versus-fourth meet-up away to Limavady United – meant victory for Bangor extends the lead from six to eight points, and with two games in hand on the Students below.
| Premier Intermediate | 18/3/23 | ||
| Armagh City | 1 | 2 | Lisburn Distillery |
| Ballymacash Rangers | 1 | 2 | Portstewart |
| Dollingstown | 1 | 4 | Bangor |
| Limavady United | 2 | 3 | Queen’s University |
| Tobermore United | 1 | 2 | Moyola Park |
Promotion is still to be certified, but the Seasiders require just a solitary point more to assure themselves of top spot for the split.
Confidence is brimming. The desire, naturally, is to back that up against Tobermore next.
The goals from Saturday’s victory over Dollingstown. Video from Sarah Harkness.
After the game, Arthurs set his sights on adding to his goal kitty.
“Buzzing to hit 100 goals for this club,” he enthused.
“Hopefully (I can) get 30 at least this season, maybe 35; whatever it takes to win the title.”
Currently on a pretty neat one-goal-a-game total of 26 finishes in 26 games, including nine since the start of February, Saturday’s hat-trick also shoots Arthurs on top of the third-tier goal count having netted 15 in league play.
“Buzzing to hit 100 goals for this club. Hopefully (I can) get 30 at least this season, maybe 35”
Bangor striker Ben Arthurs on hitting a century of goals for the club and his targets for the rest of the campaign
Indeed, he leapfrogs Adam Neale in that metric too, but the 29-year-old is hot on his heels in outright second-place with 14.
Either way, to have two front-men in their form leading the charge, and the outstanding service conjured up by the likes of Foster and Reece Neale, bodes well as Bangor turn their focus to their hosting of the Fortwilliam Park club.
The only team to defeat the North Down pride across the PIL this term, there is a burning fire after a half-dozen league wins on the spin to return the favour on Clandeboye Park’s artificial turf.
The Goal-Cam perspective from Saturday’s victory away to Dollingstown. Video from Darran Gilpin/Bangor FC Twitter.
Keep the wins piling up and a Championship step-up is all but a certainty.
Bangor Reserves were to be left disappointed on the road, though. They had travelled to Ballymacash Rangers after a positive recent run of form but were undone 3-1 at The Bluebell to slip below their hosts.
Despite breaking the deadlock through Sonny Redford in the first half, a swift treble by The ‘Cash had them in the ascendancy at the interval and it was not an advantage they would relinquish.
With Warrenpoint victorious over Newington as the division’s top four teams collided across Friday and Saturday, the Seasiders drop down a couple of places into third behind The ‘Point and the west Lisburn club. It leaves the Under-20s three points off the summit with eight games of their season remaining to play.
| Champ/PIL Dev League | Section B | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers Under-21 | 3 | 1 | Bangor Reserves |
| Knockbreda Reserves | 0 | 3 | Ards Seconds |
| Loughgall Reserves | 3 | 1 | Lisburn Distillery Under-21 |
| Warrenpoint Town Reserves | 5 | 2 | Newington Under-21 |
Manager David Downes was disappointed with elements of the performance in the first half, but also added that he was pleased to see improvement in a team that looked more like their usual selves after half time.
“(It was) frustrating because all three goals came from our own mistakes,” he reflected.
“First half we mirrored how Ballymacash played, forcing the play by hitting the long ball just like them all the time. We completely changed our game, and not positively; I was very disappointed that we didn’t play our own game.
“We completely changed our game, and not positively; I was very disappointed that we didn’t play our own game”
Bangor Reserves boss David Downes on his disappointment with his side’s style of play in the first half
“The second half we were decent, (we) got the ball down and played football. Created a few chances and could have scored two or three with a better final ball or better finishing. We had much better controlled possession and didn’t give the ball away so easily as we did in the first half.
“At half time I was disappointed not by the scoreline but how we applied ourselves. I was very happy at full time because the boys gave a much better account of themselves in the second half playing (their) football the right way.
“We had much better controlled possession and didn’t give the ball away so easily as we did in the first half”
Bangor Reserves boss David Downes on the improved second half display away to Ballymacash Rangers on Friday night
“(The) only downside was Charley Craig had to come off with a suspected broken wrist. Obviously we all wish him well and a speedy recovery.”
Meanwhile, tickets for the special ‘Yer Men in Spain’ documentary which is being screened in the Social Club next Friday are now on sale.
The event, which costs £5 with all proceeds going towards Cancer Research UK in memory of the late club President Billy Palmer, will also include a question and answer session with former Northern Ireland legends Gerry Armstrong, Billy Hamilton and George Dunlop as the tale is told of the Green and White Army‘s escapade in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Bangor Social Club chairman Alan Corbett stated: “We are delighted to have had the support of Evan Marshall and NI Screen to bring this truly wonderful documentary to Bangor FC.
“The film shows footage of the late Billy Bingham’s squad, featuring the likes of Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, Martin O’Neill, Billy Hamilton and Norman Whiteside on and off the pitch. It also features interviews and footage from fans in Spain and in pubs and venues across Northern Ireland.
“This includes footage never seen before and presents a wonderful and unique opportunity for fans to immerse themselves in what was a monumental journey and achievement.
“The film shows footage of the late Billy Bingham’s squad, featuring the likes of Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, Martin O’Neill, Billy Hamilton and Norman Whiteside on and off the pitch”
Bangor Social Club chairman Alan Corbett on the contents of the ‘Yer Men in Spain’ documentary
“We are also pleased and honoured that former Seasiders and members of that ’82 squad Gerry Armstrong and George Dunlop, along with Billy Hamilton, will attend the event. A Q&A session with Evan, following the film, will provide further fascinating insight from Spain ’82, and from their time as internationals under the legendary Billy Bingham. We are very much looking forward to what will be a fantastic event.”
Speaking on Billy, an iconic figure in Bangor’s history who sadly passed away in the summer of 2022, Alan said: “Billy was a hugely popular figure at the club; a true gentleman who was a lifelong supporter of Bangor FC, and we’re honoured to make this gesture in his memory.”
Tickets are limited, and you are advised to purchase as early as possible to avoid the disappointment of missing out.
You can do so, and contribute to a great cause, through the embedded link.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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