Bangor brace for a first-versus-second duel this Saturday, as Queen’s University visit Clandeboye Park for a crunch affair that could prove defining come the season’s end. Perched eight points above this weekend’s opposition and having played two games more, an opportunity has been served to the Seasiders in that they can deal a potentially terminal dent to the Students’ hopes of automatic promotion – bearing in mind, of course, how desperate the white-shirted institution will be to keep that aspiration alive.
But such are the stakes at play that, for the hosts’ formidable home form, there will be a fire lit in Queen’s’ bellies that makes this match-up quite tough to call. With one more meeting of the teams to come post the split, which could feasibly be home or away, this arguably represents the most important joust to decide just what will ride when they face off then.
Twice Bangor have played this outfit this season, and twice it has been those in yellow and blue revelling in the joys of victory.
In the very first competitive outing of this crusade of dreams back in August, first-half finishes from Ben Arthurs and Karl Devine booked the Seagulls a first-round success in the Irish Cup, while strikes by the veteran Michael Halliday and red-hot Adam Neale were enough for the three points when the North Down pride travelled to The Dub in early December.
Though whereas home comforts were felt as the shining sun beat down on Clandeboye, that traversal to south Belfast in the winter produced a nerve-shattering conclusion.
Adam Neale and Michael Halliday were on target in the first league meeting back in December. Video from Darran Gilpin/Bangor FC Twitter.
Left back Ronan Young danced into the 18-yard area and placed a pinpoint side-foot beyond James Taylor to bring Queen’s back into the contest. With the deficit by now halved, centimetres were in it when a would-be freak goal from former Yellow Chris Middleton was narrowly averted, while millimetres was the measurement when Young sent a distance free kick rattling back off the upright with virtually the game’s last kick.
A picture of calmness after the storm was painted on the face of Reece Neale – whose delicious delivery set Halliday up to power a header in for the second goal – when the victory was mercifully ratified.
“Nervy one, but at the end of it, a win’s a win”
Bangor left wing-back Reece Neale’s immediate post-match viewpoint on the Seasiders’ victory away to Queen’s University in December
“Nervy one, but at the end of it, a win’s a win,” explained the vice-captain following that dramatic afternoon.
“You can’t expect to go to these sorts of places and have it easy.
“These are the games that define your season, and however you see it, it’s three points in the end.”
It was always billed as an encounter that could tip both ways, given the palpable keenness with which Queen’s would have wanted to restore the Senior status that they lost on their relegation from the Championship last term.
That desire still burns bright for James Lavery and his squadron, and they laid bare their credentials clearly on Dub Lane that day.
Naturally, they will be eager to replicate that fighting spirit over the full 90 on Bangor’s artificial surface in the hope of prising the points back to the capital.
Composure in the face of adversity is a quality this group have shown repeatedly, however, and manager Lee Feeney has had little if anything to doubt about the will to win in his side.
Such a mentality will again need to be on total display in order to pass a stern examination, but on a seven-game win streak during which just one goal has slipped into the back of Taylor’s net, the momentum and faith is riding high that Bangor can once again make the grade.
Last weekend, Tobermore United were the latest to suffer defeat as the players indefatigably aspire to preserve a perfect home record.
10 wins from 10 matches, and close to 1,000 minutes since the most recent goal concession in league play. With the success six days prior taking the consecutive streak of home PIL shut-outs into double-digits, there will be no let-up even against a potent attack that averages over two goals a game.
Despite a relatively slow start to proceedings against the Reds, it never looked like the hosts would relinquish their grip on proceedings when Arthurs coolly rolled in his 27th strike of the campaign in all competitions to open the scoring. Receiving from Aaron Harris’ weighted ball behind, the same assister was on hand to set up Lewis Harrison from a floated free kick that had Bangor two up inside half an hour.
Right wing-back Gareth Beattie then emerged from the substitutes’ bench with a side-footed daisy-cutter into the bottom right 15 minutes from the end, making sure of three points that would prop the Seasiders above the 50-point marker. The target this weekend is to raise the mark by three more, namely scooping up 55 points from 60 available.
Tobermore threatened in the early stages, with ex-Glenavon ace Taylor gathering a distance free kick from Mark Edgar before denying Gary Keane when he let fly from 25 yards. It was to be, though, that the Fortwilliam Park charges would be sent home with nothing to show.
Queen’s, who kept pace with a slim 1-0 success over Dollingstown thanks to Ben Mulgrew’s early finish, will be confident of a different outcome. Since a humbling 0-3 home reverse to Ballymacash Rangers at the start of March, defeats of Limavady United and the Dollybirds have lifted their spirits in the same way a perfect five wins from five in February did before.
Player to watch:
Delivering a decisive winning goal last weekend and with ties in the past to Bangor, Queen’s can count on Ben Mulgrew‘s leadership from midfield and his drive with the ball. He is a threat Bangor will want to keep quiet as the 29-year-old aims to offer a creative spark. Image from David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press.
Mulgrew, the Students skipper and younger sibling of Linfield legend Jamie, struck his third of the season last weekend, while fellow former Seasider Middleton tops out the scoring charts for the Academics on eight.
The variety of their goal sources is worth noting, with Ciaran O’Hare and Lorcan McIlroy on five apiece, Matthew Hughes and Adam Robinson each on four while the aforementioned Young is level with Mulgrew on three. A blend of youth and experience is widespread and an attack-minded, open-ended style of play is abundant under the Lavery administration.
Form guide (PIL last five):
- 25/3/23 – Queen’s University 1-0 Dollingstown
- 18/3/23 – Limavady United 2-3 Queen’s University
- 4/3/23 – Queen’s University 0-3 Ballymacash Rangers
- 28/2/23 – Queen’s University 3-1 Banbridge Town
- 25/2/23 – PSNI 0-3 Queen’s University
Replacing the outgoing Peter Thompson, who was in charge for almost a decade, Lavery has also displayed an ability to eke out results.
Of their 14 wins coming into this clash, nine have been by a one-goal margin, which evidences a sense of mental resolve and resilience to see out pressure situations and take the total spoils.
And after working under Thompson’s coaching staff, he is deeply immersed in the team’s values, with the results undeniably portraying them as one of the division’s most in-form sides. Clandeboye Park is familiar turf for some of his players too, as in addition to Mulgrew and Middleton, Adam Calvert is a familiar face of recent times having made 13 appearances in the Centenary season; the 26-year-old has been a mainstay in defence.
History lesson:
2022/23 is the first season Bangor and Queen’s have been in the same division since the current board took over, with the Seasiders having claimed victory in the two meetings of the sides prior to this one. The Students do, though, have three former Yellows in their line-up in Chris Middleton, Ben Mulgrew and (pictured wearing #5) Centenary season hero Adam Calvert. Image from Gary Carson.
Since raking in an away success at Planters Park against Dollingstown at the end of November, Queen’s have notched up 12 victories from 15 outings, with the only times they failed to pick up the maximum spoils being those two home reverses versus the Seasiders and ‘Cash as well as a 2-1 defeat at a resurgent Lisburn Distillery at the end of January.
One defeat on the road in nigh on six months is not bad going at all, and perhaps with the bit between their teeth more than most this coming Saturday, they will enter especially eager to surge into a higher gear from the outset.
But Feeney, who this week praised the supporters for the backing his outfit have received, is not one to be fazed by prospects others may find daunting.
“On behalf of the players and management team, I want to acknowledge the wonderful support we have received from the Bangor fans,” the Kilkeel chief told the club website.
“It has been noticeable that both our home and away support has been increasing steadily all season. This is great to see as it creates a positive atmosphere at matches, and the players love to hear the fans pushing us on and getting behind the team.
“I am determined to repay our fans’ loyalty and commitment by delivering further success”
Bangor boss Lee Feeney on the desire to deliver future success and give the supporters plenty to cheer
“No one at the club takes the support for granted and I am determined to repay our fans’ loyalty and commitment by delivering further success.”
In terms of availability, while the absence of Karl Devine is a continued hamper – the dynamic midfielder has not been seen in action since mid-February – it has been softened by the outstanding performances of his fellow Belfast native Harris, who now has five assists in as many games.
Australian defender Ryley D’Sena coped admirably as he played an assured full 90 against Tobermore, and the 20-year-old Larne loanee must naturally be in contention to feature here too; indeed, he set up Bangor’s very first competitive goal this term with a precise cross-field ball that Arthurs buried. Meanwhile, after being given a rare rest in that clash with the immaculate John Boyle taking the centre-most berth of the back-three, Ryan Arthur may be in line for a return.
Feeney’s reserves are plentiful, with Scott McArthur and Jamie Glover waiting in the wings in attacking midfield as Tom Mathieson’s sublime form recently has forged on. What changes the boss decides upon will be a hot topic of discussion.
There can be no doubt, though, that personnel-wise the former Ards assistant has a squad that is up to the task.
One giant leap to promotion can be taken with a win this weekend. All the same, it will take another enormous effort to navigate it.
Bangor Reserves, meanwhile, head to Warrenpoint Town that morning – a tricky assignment against the division’s leaders that will call on each player within the side to be firing on all cylinders.
After initially ceding a two-goal lead but ultimately bouncing back to recover a well-earned point last weekend versus Loughgall Reserves, the second string are notably fired up to take full advantage and earn their second victory against the ‘Point this campaign.
Early strikes from Kristian Trainor and Charley Craig had seared the Seasiders into the ascendency against the Villagers, however a hat-trick from the visitors’ Ben Harvey single-handedly had those in yellow shirts chasing the game near the beginning of the second period. Adam Ambrose delivered a close-range leveller and, for the home team applying most of the goal-bound pressure thereafter, a winner was not to arrive and a draw was the end result.
Captain Callum Mills was frank in his admission that it was two points dropped rather than necessarily one gained, however the performance will inspire some confidence that more positivity is to come.
“We were disappointed to lose the lead but we fought back and we got the equaliser and we kept the pressure up”
Bangor Reserves captain Callum Mills on the positive response to going behind against Loughgall Reserves last weekend
“Two dropped I think, I thought (after we went behind) we were all over them,” admitted Mills, the 18-year-old who received the Reserves Players’ Player of the Year award in last season’s awards dinner.
“To be fair, the Loughgall goals were all really high-quality, especially that first one that I suppose gave them a bit of confidence and belief. They kicked on from there, we were disappointed to lose the lead but we fought back and we got the equaliser and we kept the pressure up.
“(I was) gutted when Adam [Ambrose] couldn’t quite connect at the end when the ball just spun a bit too far away from him – and the free kick routine that was just wide too, we pushed at them but we’ll have to settle for a draw.”
With David Downes returning to the dugout, he will hope to deliver instructions that will guide the team to glory.
Perched five points clear of their visitors, Milltown team Warrenpoint will have ambitions of extending their lead at the summit. It was Craig and Scott Atchison, the latter now of Intermediate Cup semi-finalists Rosemount Rec, who were on target in the 2-1 victory that stands as the South Down institution’s solitary league defeat to date – although the border club got their own back with a 0-2 win on their second trip to Clandeboye.
The teams meet again in Bangor’s penultimate match of the season in mid-May. Kick-off this Saturday is at 11am.
Meanwhile, the Seasider 200 Club draw is due to be made tomorrow, with the quarterly £200 up for grabs in the Super Prize draw.
If you would like to emulate the previous draw’s victor, Jonny Ballagh, and win some money while supporting the club, you can sign up via the embedded link.
Featured image from Gary Carson.
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