The second iteration of a double-header between these two opponents this week, now it is Bangor’s turn to roll out the red carpet for Moyola Park as the Premier Intermediate League season enters the split phase. With a pre-split home-and-away double all but assured over Saturday’s adversaries on a rainy Easter Tuesday duel, Stephen Hughes’ troops will mobilise for battle all too eager to get their own back on the seaside club.
Moreover, The Park would also like to keep the Yellows’ celebration champagne on ice – it could well be a title-winning day for the Clandeboye clan, but it would require fate falling the right way both in and out of their control. In a crusade of dreams, the fairytale ending is finally within reach, but not at the expense of a willingness to win that defines this squad.
On the first trip to Fortwilliam Park four days ago, the reverberation of excitement could be felt all the way back to north Down.
A clean success, sealed with first-half strikes by Adam Neale and Jordan Hughes, ensures the returning hosts this weekend sit on a 59-point plinth at the Northern Irish third-tier summit.
And with that, a 12-point advantage on second-place with only five remaining fixtures to fulfil has been booked.
Dare one say a word beginning with ‘c’ that many would curse at…
The finish line is now in sight after a long season where the highs have so vastly outnumbered the lows that 2022/23 can be ranked among the all-time greats – if, and when, the league title is home and hosed; a new chapter in the history book completed and the chance to move on to what remains unwritten.
The last obstacle is, likewise, the next one. Taking place on Clandeboye Park’s artificial turf, Moyola are the visitors on a day where Bangor can breach the 60-point barrier in just their 23rd match. Just a point will achieve that.
It may take all three, though, to confirm the hosts as that ‘c’ word – at least this weekend.
On the performance, following a couple that would have enticed him to demand more, Lee Feeney was pleased by the display his charges conjured up when they prised the points from the Tobermore venue.
“I was really pleased by our performance on Tuesday,” beamed the boss. “We were totally dominant and the boys performed exactly as we asked them to.
“I was a bit disappointed with the performance against PSNI on Saturday, so it was pleasing to see the boys bounce back so well.
“At this stage of the season, there are a lot of tired legs and tired minds, so we know performances aren’t always going to be top drawer – it’s much more about getting the three points, and the boys are doing just that.”
“We were totally dominant and the boys performed exactly as we asked them to”
Lee Feeey’s delighted reaction following Bangor’s victory over Moyola Park on Easter Tuesday
Continuing his assessment to Neil Watson in this week’s County Down Spectator, Feeney added: “On another day, we might have won by more goals, but we didn’t take all the chances that came our way. Even with that being the case, I thought we were the better team and deservedly won the match in tricky conditions.”
The players’ response has equally reflected a willingness to keep the fire shining brightly, and to uphold the high standards they have set for themselves.
Following Saturday’s account versus the Police, where a nervous one-goal eking of victory left supporters shuffling on the sideline – Neale and Ben Arthurs had handed the visitors a two-goal lead early on before home defender Ryan Woods cut the deficit 15 minutes from time – there was a sense of conviction in the air about the subsequent success over Moyola.
Delivering over 50 goals between them and counting across all competitions, Bangor’s formidable striker sensations have found the support cast on hand to help too. Captain Lewis Harrison, who contributed a marauding effort once more in midweek, netted in successive home showdowns against Tobermore United and Queen’s University, while Hughes was on target with his third of the campaign last time out.
“We know today (performance-wise) wasn’t good enough, wasn’t up to the standards that we set ourselves, but we’re ready to go and make that up when we play again on Tuesday,” promised midfielder Dylan O’Kane at The Dub.
A vast travelling faithful to Co Derry/Londonderry left fulfilled by that confident pledge.
Bad weather failed to dampen the spirits of the yellow and blue army by the side, who braved the spray-filled roads and streets to deliver an additional rally cry to their boys.
Cool finishes from Neale (10’) and Hughes (32’), as in south Belfast a few days prior, opened up a multi-goal chasm. The former collected a neat Arthurs nod-on from Seanna Foster’s on-point delivery, trapping the ball under his spell before lashing home, while the latter latched onto a perfectly weighted Aaron Harris supply and slotted sweetly under onrushing Moyola shot-stopper Jamie Logan to double the advantage.
The quotes section:
“I think the rain helped a wee bit, it made the pitch a bit softer during the game and the ball zipped about more, even when we were doing the warm-up beforehand we were playing the ball along the ground nicely and in the game itself, I thought some of the football (we played) and some of our moves were quite slick” – David Hume on how the adverse weather actually proved of benefit to Bangor on Easter Tuesday.
It was of particular satisfaction to hear chants of “one Jordan Hughes” when the former Dundela marksman marked the scoresheet.
The striker, playing in a slightly more withdrawn position on Tuesday, put in the levels of work-rate and industry that Feeney has been very keen to stress about a player he rates highly indeed.
“It’s much more about getting the three points, and the boys are doing just that”
Bangor manager Lee Feeney on the value of consistently registering victories at this late stage of the season
Adding to finishes versus Banbridge Town back at January’s tail end and Strabane Athletic in the Irish Cup in September, a late surge from the tricky attacker would not go amiss. Neale’s exploits, meanwhile, are no secret to anyone – that’s 23 for the Ballynahinch sharp-shooter since he first stepped through the door, the definition of a difference-maker.
Both players, you sense, would be eager to repeat the feat. In one-time Amateur League ace Neale’s case, he is in pursuit of a third consecutive goalscoring game against this opposition.
When Bangor first entertained usual Mill Meadow institution Moyola in mid-January, the 29-year-old found the net for the only goal of an edgy game.
History lesson:
Bangor’s mean streak when facing Moyola Park continued on Tuesday afternoon, with a fifth consecutive victory racked up against the riverside institution. During that streak, 16 goals have been scored and three let in, with clean sheets upheld in both pre-split meetings this term and in the previous two (1-0 and 5-0) at Clandeboye Park. Image from Sarah Harkness.
The travellers, who would later have Caolan Gillan red-carded, kept the tempo high on what also happened to be a miserable weather day.
It was that sending-off which settled proceedings. Hitherto, much of the play had been end-to-end; James Taylor forced into smart stops, keeping the lead and the shut-out intact.
Moyola, who are often accustomed to playing on an astro-turf surface – if not so much perhaps in the last two-and-a-half months while their riverside home has been closed for now – are expected to be up for a fight.
- Position – fifth-place
- Points – 32 (22 matches played)
- Goals scored – 34
- Goals conceded – 26
- Top scorer – Ian Parkhill (nine goals)
- Clean sheets – six (all Andrew Findlay)
And, with documented danger men in the side, they have it in their capacity to claim a positive result. They did when they took to Coleraine’s Ballycastle Road Showgrounds Saturday past, where top-scoring Ian Parkhill struck on a familiar pitch to assuredly consolidate The Park’s fifth-place standing.
Parkhill – a player well-versed in delivering in the big time, with a loan at Institute last term adding to over 250 appearances in Bannsider blue and white – is, of course, not the only joker in Hughes’ pack.
The 33-year-old is joined by the likes of Tom Patchett, a young winger who saw a guided free kick palmed down by Taylor in Tobermore, as well as the forward impetus driven by the likes of bustling target man Mark Kelly (33) and skilled midfield general Samuel McIlveen (28).
Teenage striker Jaydyn Withers, who was introduced as a substitute late on, joins Patchett and McIlveen on the three-goal ranks – the 18-year-old, who netted a hat-trick in a recent 5-0 rout of PSNI, was recruited from Cliftonville in the winter window and has since impressed – while former Newry City, Carrick and Ards line-leader Kelly is just above on four.
Player to watch:
A hat-trick during a 5-0 home demolition of PSNI stands out as the highlight of Jaydyn Withers’ time at Moyola Park to date, displaying the thirst for goalscoring that gave him such a reputation coming through Cliftonville’s decorated Academy system. The teenager is an attacker keen to prove his credentials at the senior level, and has shown signs of promise since linking up with the Castledawson club. Image from Moyola Park AFC Facebook.
Feeney will be warning his boys that Moyola will still be intent on finishing the season with a flourish. The subsequent victory for Ballymacash Rangers at Banbridge Town has cut the club 15 points adrift of the play-off spot with a 31-strong inferiority in the goal difference column, but while second-place is out of reach for now, one of Ireland’s oldest football clubs will want to build some momentum to carry into next term.
They will be 144 years old this time next year, and being a club with a decorated past on a distinct upward trajectory in the present having bagged a dozen more points than across last term’s entirety, they will hope a positive end now will have the right bearings on their near-future ambitions.
Form guide (PIL last five):
- 11/4/23 – Moyola Park 0-2 Bangor
- 8/4/23 – Moyola Park 1-0 Lisburn Distillery (played at Coleraine Showgrounds)
- 1/4/23 – Limavady United 2-1 Moyola Park
- 25/3/23 – Moyola Park 5-0 PSNI
- 18/3/23 – Tobermore United 1-2 Moyola Park
Their season is not done and dusted merely because they have secured their reservation at the top table at this stage.
The motivation is to continue to display that they belong there. For that, a response mission in Co Down will be on the cards.
“Our result and securing the three points will be our only mission,” declared Feeney. “The mentality of the boys has been superb.
“They haven’t got ahead of themselves at any stage this season and that won’t change now.”
He knows the score. It is, once again, about delivery.
Meanwhile, prior to the senior side’s taking to the turf, Bangor Reserves have an important fixture when they welcome Ballymacash Rangers Reserves to Clandeboye Park for an 11am kick-off.
Two teams right in the mire of it regarding the hunt for a second-place finish, the winner is sure to benefit greatly in this pursuit as just five matches remain in the Reserves’ pursuit of the highest position they can achieve.
Indeed, sitting in fourth, a point behind their visitors having played a game fewer and a further two adrift of current second-berthed side Newington, this can be looked upon as a defining affair for David Downes’ panel.
Last weekend, the second string overcame a slightly jittery start to overcome their Lisburn Distillery equivalents 4-0.
Quick-fire finishes just before the half-hour by Charley Craig and Callum Johnston – the latter with a cool penalty – opened up a two-goal advantage, while Craig completed his brace after the interval and Sam Millar finished the scoring with a rasping and rising drive into the roof of the net as the ball settled nicely for him.
“We had to work hard, took hard work today and it’ll take hard work again next week against Ballymacash,” said two-goal Craig afterwards.
“We have to go into games with the right frame of mind, took a bit to get going today but we had two quick goals there at half time and to be honest it could have been more.
“Personally, I’m happy to get two more goals, it was two good finishes and I’m out to score more. Sam’s was some strike, first-time and got the right connection to make it four.”
The front-man with have his heart set on bolstering his season tally when The ‘Cash come to visit. Last time out, Sonny Redford’s opener was cancelled out in a 3-1 defeat in west Lisburn back in mid-March, while a last-ditch defeat on the first trip to The Bluebell left them agonising back in November.
“We had to work hard, took hard work today and it’ll take hard work again next week against Ballymacash”
Charley Craig looked ahead to Bangor’s clash this Saturday with their Ballymacash Rangers equivalents following a two-goal display last week
However, the meeting that those two reverses sandwiched fell in Bangor’s favour, when Tom Mathieson’s hat-trick and a strike by substitute Jake Anderson booked the Seasiders a 4-1 win at January’s tail end.
Repeating the feat in the final meeting of the teams this term would not be unwelcome from the yellow and blue perspective.
Player spotlight:
While it will have concerned boss David Downes to have seen him hobble off injured late in the game against Lisburn Distillery, Troy Beattie put a superb shift in alongside Callum Mills at centre back, with composed passing and a well-judged positional sense that made him a noteworthy reason why the second string kept a clean sheet at Clandeboye Park. His interceptions were clean and his tackling pinpoint; expect him, if fit, to fight for a starting spot against Ballymacash. Image from Sarah Harkness.
In the other Academy action, Isaac Caldwell and his Under-18s will meet the challenge of Harland and Wolff Welders head-on, while the Under-17s are in action when they face Greenisland.
The Under-15s will do battle with Portavogie Rangers, the Under-13 NL and Under-12 sides each encounter north Belfast opposition in Cliftonville and Crusaders respectively, plus the Under-11s are also in the mire against capital adversaries in Willowbank.
Meanwhile, in a run-through of the full post-split schedule, Bangor will next face Queen’s University at The Dub next weekend after tackling Moyola this Saturday. That is followed by successive home showdowns against Limavady United in the subsequent midweek and Ballymacash Rangers a fortnight from now, while the season closes with a return to Fortwilliam Park to take on Tobermore United three days after the ‘Cash bout.
Finally, Bangor FC wishes to extend condolences to the family and friends of lifelong supporter Jack Emerson, who has sadly passed away.
Recently visited in hospital by first-team player Ryan Arthur and club chaplain Gary Faulkner, Jack ardently supported Bangor for over 75 years and saw them through every high and low going back many years; he was especially thrilled to get his hands on the Steel and Sons Cup.
A figure who will be sadly missed on the terraces, the thoughts of the club are with Colin, Steven and the wider Emerson family circle at this time of grief.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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