In a tantalising top-two clash at Clandeboye Park on Saturday, it was a cordial sharing of the spoils for both Bangor and Queen’s University in an outcome that sees the former maintain their eight-point advantage at the Premier Intermediate League summit. On a day that also saw a late postponement deny Ballymacash Rangers the chance to leapfrog to Students into the play-off spot, it can be seen as a point gained for the hosts even if they got pegged back from an initial leading position.
And with two more matches in hand to play, where the Seasiders’ topping of the class for the post-split will be a minimum 10 points if both those outings end in victories, their standing could still be enhanced even more. With NIFL’s camera beaming on north Down, the club put on a show and, it is hoped, added more lines to the script they’d like to write.
The tale of this tie could predominantly be told in the second half, where both the game’s goals were delivered.
Following on from his delightful cushioned side-foot to repay a perfect Aaron Harris dead-ball and double Bangor’s lead against Tobermore seven days prior, Lewis Harrison this time broke the deadlock with a distinctly different drive.
Where pure calm and composure were the traits required first time around, this time the captain rifled in unerringly when the ball fell kindly 20 yards from goal.
He placed devilishly into the bottom left corner at the Hawthorne Court end, the sprawling dive of Queen’s shot-stopper Dean Smyth not able to stand in the 23-year-old’s way.
Stat attack
- Lewis Harrison has scored more goals for Bangor in the space of seven days than in over three years beforehand – bearing in mind, of course, the Covid-19 pandemic that ground football below the Premiership to a halt.
The Yellows’ record when scoring the opener was hitherto perfect in league play. 17 times they had done such this campaign, 17 times the total spoils would either stay in or be headed back to the seaside – including against this very opposition back on December 3.
However, Queen’s let their say be known and broke that proud tally. With former Linfield Swifts midfielder Harrison producing the goods on 52 minutes, it was a little under half an hour later when the Students conjured up a response and displayed their wealth of know-how to gain something from their sojourn.
It was a familiar foe, too. Ronan Young struck the deficit-cutter at The Dub after Adam Neale and Michael Halliday first laid down the gauntlet; it would be an equaliser from the left back here as he stabbed beyond James Taylor to even the game back up 10 minutes from time.
And that was ultimately how it finished. The consensus opinion was that there could be few qualms on the fairness of the result.
Lewis Harrison rifled in a devilish deadlock-breaker against Queen’s University on Saturday. Video from Darran Gilpin.
Yet it feels important from a Bangor standpoint that, in this meet of first versus second, the chasers did not force a full trip-up.
Queen’s have completed their pre-split programme and conclude it on 45 points.
The Seasiders have two trips to relegation-battling PSNI and Moyola Park, whose top-half berth is all but assured, still to fulfil – and six points out of six will prop them up to 59.
It is easy to talk about the task at hand knowing that actually seeing it through in practice will always be a more arduous affair.
But the reflection of April Fools Saturday is that the Seagulls are not left wiping pie off their faces. A highly competent team Queen’s are, and a stern test anticipated in prospect given what the Academics have to fight for reflected in the flesh, but Lee Feeney will regard this as an end-of-term examination passed.
The Kilkeel supremo made just one alteration from the victory over Fortwilliam Park outfit Tobermore the previous week, with Ryan Arthur – afforded a rare rest when he was listed on the bench – reintroduced to the starting line-up in place of Ryley D’Sena in defence.
Carrickfergus centre back Arthur, who had a header cleared off the line in the first battle in south Belfast, was left to agonise once more when Smyth clawed another aerial attempt of his off the line with the scores even at one apiece.
Much of the ground believed it was in, and given the elder Neale sibling profited from the referee’s discretion when he opened the scoring in the winter showdown, you could hardly blame those from the Bangor camp appealing for man in the middle Richard Stewart to do the same – but the official held firm and, on video review, Smyth was well worth his flowers; it was a quality piece of last-gasp goal preventing.
The experienced goalkeeper was also on hand, quite literally, to speedily tip Tom Mathieson’s close-range effort onto the crossbar in the first period. The Bangor local was set up by a weighted lay-off from the blazing hot Ben Arthurs but was unfortunate to find an alert Smyth in his way, coming mere inches from his third strike in yellow and blue.
Player spotlight:
A player who has made no bones about his wish to add to his goal tally this season, Ryan Arthur was back in the starting line-up and almost delivered a finish when Dean Smyth was forced into a one-handed wonder save to deny the defender. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
When Young netted the equaliser, breaking a sure-fire club-record 1,023-minute streak of not conceding a goal at Clandeboye Park in league play, it was warranted by Queen’s in an intense and pulsating match-up.
And despite east Antrim favourite Arthur’s best efforts, there were to be no further goals as an 11-game winning streak on this accustomed artificial surface was brought to a halt.
That said, even if this insatiable desire for success that has led Feeney to label his troopers a “winning machine” was to be put on a slight reprieve by James Lavery’s white-shirted charges – a seven-match run of victories over the last couple of months was halted – a point won is better than none if title ambitions are to be upheld in the home stretch.
Next up for Bangor, ironically enough, is a trip to the University side’s own pitch, where the Police will await them and be fired up to further pull the stops on their visitors’ trophy charge to bolster their bid to avoid the drop. A last-gasp success for Armagh City at home to Portstewart cuts them nine points adrift in last-place, hence a spring to their step may come.
| Premier Intermediate | 1/4/23 | ||
| Armagh City | 2 | 1 | Portstewart |
| Bangor | 1 | 1 | Queen’s University |
| Dollingstown | P | P | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Limavady United | 2 | 1 | Moyola Park |
| PSNI | 2 | 5 | Lisburn Distillery |
| Tobermore United | 1 | 2 | Banbridge Town |
“It’s another one ticked off and another three points on the board,” cited Harrison after securing the points the previous weekend.
“They (Tobermore) have come in wanting to do the double on us and they’d have been feeling good about their chances, so I guess it was nice to get our own back today, but as I say we’ll just keep ticking them off, taking each one as it comes.”
“As I say we’ll just keep ticking them off, taking each one as it comes”
Bangor captain Lewis Harrison following the previous weekend’s victory over Tobermore United, backed up by a point against Queen’s University in which he marked the scoresheet
That same message of ‘ticking off’ once again applies, and while not quite all three points, it is by no means damaging.
Backing a creditable draw up with a couple more victories, starting on Saturday at Dub Lane, would give a sweet taste.
Throughout the meeting against Queen’s, Bangor were proud to welcome along the Same Smiles group from Bangor Elim Church.
The group walked onto the pitch with the players as mascots and enjoyed a kick-about on the pitch at half time. They also had the opportunity to meet members of the first-team squad and savour the occasion that was the match itself.
“It was great to have the Same Smiles group from Bangor Elim Church down for the game this afternoon at Bangor Football Club,” commented club chaplain Gary Faulkner.
“It was great to have the Same Smiles group from Bangor Elim Church down for the game this afternoon”
Bangor club chaplain Gary Faulkner on having the Same Smiles group down at the club on Saturday
“Special thanks to the club for allowing the kids to come down, have a few snacks, meet some of the players, be mascots, watch the match and have a quick kick-about at half time.
“A great and fun time was had by all.”
The club would also like to thank match sponsor, Cabin Stoves, who selected the majestic Harrison as Man of the Match on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday, Bangor Reserves had a tough day at the office when they fell 5-0 away to division leaders Warrenpoint Town.
It proved a frustrating outing where the south Down hosts were two goals up at the break, with strikes past the half-hour by Dauda Shotayo and Edward Otesanya placing the visiting Seasiders at a disadvantage.
The Milltown institution kept up their mean streak after the interval when Victor Ihemeje and Niall Lennon had The ‘Point four up before the hour, while Ihemeje made it five-star when he completed his brace 11 minutes from time.
It comes as a blow to manager David Downes, who returned to the touchline but oversaw the side’s heaviest defeat of the campaign, as the second string sit eight points off the summit with second-place the most realistic target.
Their fate from this point of view lies in their hands, though, and with half a dozen fixtures left to contest, the opportunities to make gains are plentiful ahead of the campaign’s close on May 25. A second trip to Ryan McConville’s Warrenpoint will come on the penultimate matchday, while there is also a visit to an impressive Loughgall and a home duel with Ballymacash upcoming.
Their final day adversaries are seventh-placed Lisburn Distillery, who they also happen to face this Saturday coming at Clandeboye Park. Kick-off against the Whites is at 11pm.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week, representatives of the club were in attendance as Bangor FC signed the White Ribbon charter that pledges never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
In an informative discussion-based session at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church opposite the football club, there were members of all departments of the side – including the board, the women’s sector, the mental health and wellbeing team, media and playing staff – who were there to engage in this important subject.
Community Relations and Liaison Officer Paul Cain, who helped organise the event, stated afterwards: “The pledge will see that the club is never to commit, never to condone and never to stay silent on the theme of violence against women and girls, and follow a policy of ‘listen, learn and lead’.
“I was really proud of the number of people who turned up and the level of representation from all parts of the club. We had people from the board, we had people from the mental health team, people from the women’s sector, people from media… I thought it was a really good evening and I’m really happy and proud with the way it turned out.
“I think the club is setting standards that it never has before off the pitch”
Community Relations and Liaison Officer Paul Cain on the activity going on away from the pitch at Bangor FC
“I think the club is setting standards that it never has before off the pitch. From the mental health and wellbeing point of view, we had the gathering last Saturday (tea/coffee connect afternoon in the Social Club prior to the Tobermore duel), we’ve tonight (Wednesday) and the Walk’n’Talk tomorrow (Thursday), so it’s really refreshing to see all this kicking into gear.
“And this (White Ribbon) is just the start, it’s the first step in a three-year plan, we’ll have future steps that will bring awareness too.”
Finally, the club wishes to extend its condolences to the family and friends of former player Tommy Craig following his recent passing.
Craig, who had a long and fruitful association with Holywood FC in particular, joined Bangor in 1967 and was part of the successful team that lifted the County Antrim Shield for the first time in the institution’s history in 1970.
The club also passes on its thoughts to Holywood at this sad time.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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