It is a return to Clandeboye Park for Bangor this weekend, as the Seasiders brace to lay out the red carpet for Tobermore United with intentions of preserving their advantage at the top of the Premier Intermediate League table. A point all but guarantees the Co Down hosts will enter the post-split as division leaders, but boss Lee Feeney will set his side up for victory against an opponent who gave him food for thought during the first bout.
The lead was extended to eight points last time out, additionally with two games in hand on second-placed Queen’s University below. It is a commanding position, however slip-ups can send a smell of blood into the nostrils of those among the chasing pack – added motivation behind this side’s unflinching desire to win.
The Yellows were on the road last weekend, and leaped over a difficult hurdle with a sound defeat of Dollingstown.
Primarily inspired by new goal centurion Ben Arthurs’ hat-trick at Planters Park, Bangor recovered from being pegged level by the Dollybirds’ Jonathan Ewart at the beginning of the second period to run out 1-4 victors.
Subsequently added to by Adam Neale’s late clincher, 24-year-old Arthurs set a number of markers. The fan favourite raked home his second match ball of 2023, propped up his overall goal count in yellow and blue to 101 and shot to the top of the PIL scoring charts this season with 15.
Ballynahinch front-man Neale is hot on his coattails with 14, slamming beyond goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan to make sure of the three points and put any notion of a hiccup on a slippery playing surface beyond doubt.
And with both line-leaders having that distinctive killer eye right now, they will be readying themselves eagerly for the visit of Tobermore.
Back at the tail end of January, the Seasiders traversed to Fortwilliam Park in good spirit – but were to leave disappointed.
A couple of late strikes by the red-shirted hosts’ Gary McKeown inflicted a first loss in the third-tier for nine months on Bangor. It was a frustrating afternoon where, for the visitors applying pressure and getting goal-bound looks, clinical edge was lacking and the home defence held firm to see through a 2-0 victory.
The Reds, who have since swapped out Adrian Whiteside for once Limavady United chief Andrew Law in the manager’s position, showed that they could penetrate the leaders’ strong defensive armour.
“I think Tobermore might’ve been a wee wake-up call, remind us not to take our eyes off the ball”
Bangor striker Ben Arthurs following what was the club’s fifth straight victory against Banbridge Town three weeks ago
Therefore, Feeney will be keen to see a response from his boys as they bid to extend the winning run built up since then.
Following the 0-2 win at Banbridge Town three weeks ago, Arthurs – who bagged a brace in that success at Crystal Park – referenced the significance of the United reverse post-game.
“I think Tobermore might’ve been a wee wake-up call, remind us not to take our eyes off the ball and we’ve got to keep focused on what’s ahead and all that,” he explained.
“We’d a few of those last season where we took our eyes off the ball and it cost us, and this season we’re not making the same mistakes, keeping focused and taking it as it comes.”
Since then, half a dozen fixtures in this division involving Bangor have been contested. 18 points out of 18 have been safely brought back to the seaside.
Only naturally, then, the chance to go seven up and continue to boost their standing appeals to this crop of players.
Eighth-place in the PIL and hot on the heels for a top-half finish, Tobermore United enter hoping to resurrect their form at a crunch time. They have four games to play – a double-header versus Banbridge Town and a home duel with Dollingstown follow this weekend’s affair – and will be fighting tooth and nail.
History lesson:
The only team left with a chance of doing a pre-split double over Bangor, Tobermore’s 2-0 win on January 28 was a reversal of fortune. An early Kyle Woods finish helped the Seasiders to all three points at Fortwilliam Park last January, while Ben Arthurs, Jack Upritchard and Reece Neale netted in a Clandeboye Park August 2021 season opener that was the club’s first PIL fixture in 536 days. Image from Sarah Harkness.
A stinging derby defeat last Saturday against Moyola Park (1-2) followed a home humbling against Paul Owens’ Limavady (0-5). Their other fixture in March ended in a win by the odd goal in five at Dollingstown where, despite young goalkeeper Morgan Moore’s early sending-off for handling outside the penalty box, they twice came from behind for a victory.
As much as fortunes may have wavered, there is no doubt that they have a bit of steel that can cause adversaries issues.
Form guide (PIL last five):
- 18/3/23 – Tobermore United 1-2 Moyola Park
- 11/3/23 – Tobermore United 0-5 Limavady United
- 4/3/23 – Dollingstown 2-3 Tobermore United
- 25/2/23 – Tobermore United 0-1 Lisburn Distillery
- 11/2/23 – PSNI 2-2 Tobermore United
Continuing to count primarily on the goal-getting of Declan Martin, who has 10 goals and appeared in all 18 of the side’s league games this season, they still have plenty of sources for finishes elsewhere.
Former Crumlin United attacker McKeown’s breaking of James Taylor’s resolve notwithstanding, Rhys O’Mullan (two), ex-Moyola man Mark Edgar (two) and Ciaran McKeever have done their part alongside three-goal Daniel McIlhatton.
Only the Dollybirds have outscored them among the sides fifth to 12th, and just Moyola have a better defensive record in that contingent. Where last season they picked up a mere seven points and did not scoop up so much as even a solitary win, they have upped their game this time around and have the ability to tackle the league’s big-hitters head-on.
Player to watch:
A physical presence who did well to close the Bangor attack down during the last meeting, seasoned defender Eoin Gillan will have more of the same on his mind. The 30-year-old former Portstewart man joined Tobermore over the summer and has featured in the majority of their games since, coinciding with an improvement in their fortunes. Image from Sarah Harkness.
They are 15 points better off with nine matches to play – over triple their whole-term tally a year ago – and still have fuel in the tank.
Law, whose Roesiders team have given Bangor a handful of head-scratchers in recent times, will rally his troops on their trip to the seaside with a momentum-boosting league double on the radar. It is also a peculiarity that, of the 22 points they have prised, 14 have been on away days which means they fit of the profile of happy travellers.
Feeney – who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, March 21 – knows his soldiers are ready for battle and are skilled at the art of motivating themselves when victory fruits are on the line. After all, you must win your battles to win the war.
“We reacted really well and showed the character that is in the team”
Bangor boss Lee Feeney on the impressive reaction his players displayed to being pegged back at the start of the second half
Speaking to Neil Watson in this week’s County Down Spectator on that sticky start to the second half last week, the manager admitted: “It was the first time in a long time that I thought we looked like conceding a goal.
“Dollingstown have experienced players and an experienced manager (Stephen Uprichard) and they regrouped at half time. At the start of the second half, they really put us under pressure and got their goal.
“We reacted really well and showed the character that is in the team. Even with the scores level, I was in no doubt whatsoever that we were going to go on and win the game. The mentality in the squad is unbelievable and the boys have become a real winning machine.”
While Karl Devine continues his rehabilitation from injury having missed the last five weeks, the rest of the squad is largely fit and firing. That will come as welcome news for the Kilkeel chief, who insists a fully-charged playing panel will be of the essence as the business end of the league campaign continues.
“The mentality in the squad is unbelievable and the boys have become a real winning machine”
Bangor boss Lee Feeney on the application and attitude of the squad
In addition to the fine goalscoring form of his two punishers in chief, with Arthurs and Neale accounting for 21 goals combined since the turn of the year, Adam’s younger brother Reece has 14 set-ups from left wing-back while Cliftonville loanee Seanna Foster opposite him recorded two assists last week that were just reward for some of the best football he’s played after returning from a recent ankle niggle.
| Premier Intermediate | 25/3/23 | |
| Banbridge Town | vs | Armagh City |
| Bangor | vs | Tobermore United |
| Lisburn Distillery | vs | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Moyola Park | vs | PSNI |
| Portstewart | vs | Limavady United |
| Queen’s University | vs | Dollingstown |
In Devine’s absence, Aaron Harris has stepped up to the plate and then some, with the one-time Lisburn Distillery captain joined by local lad Tom Mathieson in preserving a place in the starting line-up throughout the past handful of weeks.
But waiting in the wings to impress when called upon are the likes of Dylan O’Kane, Scott McArthur and Jamie Glover, while Australian defender Ryley D’Sena is also building back up to speed to add depth to a typically strong spine.
Restarting a streak of shut-outs will be on the agenda for Taylor and Co too, with Ewart’s bottom-right strike breaking a 493-minute spell without conceding and leaving them on the hunt for a record-extending 23rd clean sheet this campaign.
Above all, though, the priority is three points. Three points that would propel Bangor up to 52 in total, beyond the whole-season tally of last year’s crusade.
Feeney was frank in stating that the first joust’s outcome “hurt the players”.
“I remember a couple of their players celebrating in the faces of our players coming off the pitch,” he reflected in that same Spectator interview, “and our response was to remind them that they’ve still got to come to Clandeboye Park.”
The objective is self-explanatory, and the players will be all too keen to deliver once again.
It is a busy Saturday of action at Clandeboye Park this weekend, and you are well advised to make as much of it as possible.
At 11am, Bangor Reserves aim to return to winning ways when they entertain Loughgall’s equivalents. The second string had the bitter taste of defeat to contend with last time out, losing to Ballymacash Rangers at The Bluebell seven days ago, and will be keen to atone for that reverse against the west Lisburn club when they square up to an opponent who have had their number so far this term.
“I would rather play teams like Loughgall every week so the boys are challenged as high as they can be”
Bangor Reserves boss David Downes on the test he expects Loughgall to pose to his side on Saturday
When the teams met at the start of February, the Villagers twice emerged from behind to emerge with a 3-2 success at Lakeview Park, while in the first clash at Clandeboye in early December it was again the Co Armagh club to take home the total spoils – they edged proceedings by the odd goal in seven, a 3-4 goal-fest.
The third duel of four the clubs will contest this campaign, the Under-20s will want to get on the board and keep pace with Warrenpoint and The ‘Cash above.
Taking heart from an improved second-half account last Friday, head coach David Downes said: “I would rather play teams like Ballymacash, Warrenpoint, Loughgall and Newington every week so the boys are challenged as high as they can be, it’s how it should be.”
Sonny Redford is on electric form at the moment. He bagged the opener that ‘Cash tussle, merely six days after a stunning four-goal individual display in a handsome derby success over Ards. Adam Ambrose also netted in that 5-0 rout against his former team and will hope to mark the scoresheet this week as well.
After that, you can head to the Social Club where the We Care, You Matter team will have their latest Tea and Coffee connect afternoon.
Following the success of the first edition, held on December 17 in advance of the ultimately abandoned league fixture against Banbridge Town, another has been arranged and there will be hot beverages and buns on offer as part of an event encouraging chat and conversation.
You will be made to feel most welcome. The event starts at 1pm – hence you can head straight on down after the Reserves match.
Opportunities for match and ball sponsorship for the match against Tobermore are open, and if you would like to sponsor what is the penultimate home match before the split and enjoy some hospitality while watching the club, contact via direct message on Twitter or email sponsor@bangorfc.com.
Finally, a limited number of tickets remain for the screening of the ‘Yer Men in Spain’ documentary in the Social Club next Friday, March 31.
The event, which features a full viewing of an insightful programme on the Northern Ireland national team’s World Cup escapade in 1982, also features a question and answer session with legends Billy Hamilton, Gerry Armstrong and George Dunlop, as well as the NI Screen film archivist Evan Marshall.
A light supper will also be provided on what should be a richly entertaining end-of-week evening. Tickets for this night out can be purchased via the embedded link – but you are advised to act fast!
Featured image from Gary Carson.
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