It was a front-footed start to the split on Saturday for Bangor, as the Seasiders made it two from two in last week’s double-header with Moyola Park and ensured the first hurdle of five was cleanly jumped at Clandeboye Park. A slow burner that ignited into life once the first had went in, it was a match where fortune seemed to fall the way of the hosts – but at this late stage of the season, three points is what matters most.
Completing a third victory from three against The Park this term, an authentic burst to the finish line with four games in 10 days beckons. Right on the verge of the third-tier title, a point at The Dub versus Queen’s University in five days’ time makes it all but a mathematical certainty; the race is almost run, and it is now a matter of keeping up that victory sensation that has defined the team this campaign. But, certainly as was the case last time, points will still be hard-earned at this late stage.
On a sunny afternoon, in complete contrast to the miserable conditions earlier that week when Bangor travelled to Tobermore’s Fortwilliam Park, the hosts set out to uphold the winning vein.
Having closed out the pre-split with success over Moyola on Easter Tuesday, where first-half finishes from Adam Neale and Jordan Hughes were enough to bring all three points back to Co Down along spray-filled roads, the Yellows braced to repeat the feat and perch themselves on the verge of league glory.
Manager Lee Feeney has rung the changes in the past couple of weeks, and continued to do so for this encounter.
An alteration in goal was most noteworthy, with Marc Orbinson introduced in place of the absent James Taylor, while Dylan O’Kane filled for Aaron Harris in midfield in the two first-team tweaks from 96 hours prior.
On the bench, there were some interesting inclusions too. Ally Ferguson was in the squad of 18 for the first time since a five-goal success over Lisburn Distillery in early January, while teenage left back Sam Millar made his first-ever Premier Intermediate matchday panel having thrived as a mainstay in the Reserves.
The 17-year-old – who delivered a delightful goal against the Whites’ second-string equivalents the week before – was a substitute for the Seasiders’ Co Antrim Shield encounter with Cliftonville in September, and was joined among the seven replacements by Darren Gibbons, the returning Tom Mathieson, Scott McArthur, Michael Halliday and Ryley D’Sena. It was still a formidable array.
Referee Niall Devlin, tackling a Bangor match for the sixth time in 2023 already, led both sets of players out ripe and early.
Both sets of players walk out ahead of kick-off at Clandeboye Park for the league fixture between Bangor and Moyola Park. Video from Darran Gilpin/Bangor FC official Twitter account.
A minute’s silence was held in memory of long-time Seasiders supporter Jack Emerson, who had sadly passed away in the week, ahead of kick-off.
As Devlin signalled for the ball to start rolling, it was Moyola to set things under way – albeit it took a while for the chances to flow.
The quotes section:
“We were totally dominant (on Tuesday) and the boys performed exactly as we asked them to… 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” – Bangor boss Lee Feeney on the importance of collecting every three points as they come (via Neil Watson in the County Down Spectator).
At one end, there was a major protagonist in blue and white. As the talismanic nine-goal top scorer of the side and a player with extensive Premiership pedigree, it was no surprise that Ian Parkhill was driving much of the visitors’ attacking play.
The former Coleraine hero drew a stop from Orbinson – the 28-year-old in senior matchday action for the first time this year – on eight minutes, a rare flashpoint of the opening period of the game where both teams were trading the ball.
With 24 minutes played, however, the ball would be bustling at the opposite net. If there was some good fortune about the finish, the way the move had been constructed perhaps warranted it.
Despite usual first-choice goalkeeper Andrew Findlay being named to the starting line-up, it was 20-year-old Jamie Logan to deputise once more in a late switch to Stephen Hughes’ side. The Castledawson club were to be put on the back foot when a passing sequence originating from a right-sided throw-in was channelled into Ben Arthurs, who held the ball up and linked in the advanced Lewis Harrison.
A midfielder with a thirst for attacking contributions of late, club captain Harrison wove Adam Neale into the equation, who let fly from the edge of the box and wheeled away as the ball nestled in the bottom right corner.
Logan was left with no chance thanks to a wicked deflection that saw him go one way and the shot head the other.
But in any case, it was Adam to start the scoring spree for the third match in succession – that’s also three deadlock-breakers in a row against the Mill Meadow opposition – and attract a loud cheer from the supporters on the side.
Stat attack:
- With three direct goal involvements in the last three home matches, Lewis Harrison appears to have a taste for getting involved in attack more.
The 29-year-old, an Amateur League Premier Division title-winner last term with Rathfriland, has returned to form and came up in the clutch, going from a run of one goal in four fixtures, a relative dry spell by his lofty standards, to three in seven days in a sensational reversion to type.
It was an impressive sequential piece of play that culminated in Bangor’s first goal, which Adam Neale made sure to finish from 20 yards. Video from Sarah Harkness.
But the half’s scoring was not finished. Moments after Neale guided over after Ryan Arthur flicked a near-post set-piece delivery into his path, Moyola earned a free kick around 25 yards out.
That may daunt some people. It didn’t daunt Parkhill.
With 41 minutes gone, the long-time Bannsider pulled a rabbit out of the hat for The Park when he deliciously curled a direct dead-ball into the top right corner.
Stat attack:
- Remarkably, this was only the second goal all season that Bangor had conceded in the first half of a match in the PIL.
You could hardly blame a rooted Orbinson. It was that far placed into that part of the net that you would have been hard-pressed to find any goalkeeper who could have stopped it; a piece of quality that brought the travellers back on even terms. It also elevates the 33-year-old wide-man to double digits for the league season.
It undeniably would have made the respective team-talks that little bit more interesting.
Devlin felt the need only to add one more minute to the regulation 45, the scoreline reading one each.
It was remarkably the first time Bangor had conceded a first-half goal at home in Premier Intermediate play in the best part of a year. Feeney would surely have channelled his soldiers to act swiftly and restore their advantage, whereas for Hughes, the message was likely one of keeping the wind in Moyola’s sails and taking the bull by the horns.
An intriguing second period was anticipated, and six minutes in, a new lead was established.
Again, good luck played its part, but few of a home persuasion would have really cared. After Hughes restarted the play from the centre circle, the hosts surged towards the Hawthorne Court end, and when the ball did nestle low in the net, it was once more a case where the goalkeeper did not have much say in the matter.
Dragging an effort across goal after tries from Harrison (blocked by defender Joseph Reid) and Adam Neale (palmed away by Logan) had fallen kindly for a third bite, Arthurs fired across, but Robert McLean’s intervention proved most defining as what appeared an off-target attempt was bundled over Logan’s goalline by the unfortunate centre back.
The 24-year-old Peninsula favourite who finds himself hot in pursuit of the top scorer award entered aspiring to boost his credentials – but, most importantly, his definitive contribution was to build back the lead, and a course for three points had again been charted.
Ben Arthurs’ attempt was turned into his own net by Moyola Park defender Robert McLean, which restored Bangor’s lead. Video from Sarah Harkness.
As with the first lead, Moyola fought back, and once more it was Parkhill to prove their great source of inspiration.
He came within inches on 79 minutes when he cut inside from the left flank and placed a low curling shot with his right peg. Orbinson was beaten and the defence watched in hope, but the ball crashed back off the right-hand post and away to leave the fans and players alike blowing sighs of relief.
Thankfully for the latter, though, the game’s fourth and final goal was the one that extended the cushion beyond doubt.
Player spotlight:
Edging closer to a remarkable 40 direct goal involvements in all competitions, with 29 goals and nine assists registered so far, Ben Arthurs not only marked the scoresheet again on Saturday but was also influential in holding the ball up and feeding in the runs of other players around him. He tops the league scoring charts on 18, although Adam Neale (17) is running close! Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
And if there were question marks over Arthurs’ first finish, this one was his without any protests.
On the stroke of added time, the Kircubbin man was on the button and had his defender’s beating after substitute McArthur squared across the box.
Another player introduced from Feeney’s selection of seven, namely Mathieson, played a give-and-go to establish the shooting chance, and when Logan parried wide, local lad McArthur was patient and slotted his cross into the six-yard area.
There to slam into the roof of the net with a close-range shot that melded power and placement on the side of his foot, the service was on a silver platter and Big Ben’s devilish drive was what you would expect.
A rising finish from Ben Arthurs rounded off Bangor’s scoring in their victory over Moyola Park. Video from Sarah Harkness.
Bangor could have been confirmed champions on Saturday, but they knew they were counting on a simultaneous Ballymacash Rangers slip-up against Limavady United for that to be so.
A frantic refreshing of phones was in order, but The ‘Cash were not to fall short. French striker Guillaume Keke’s sixth-minute finish in west Lisburn means that, although a play-off spot is assured per the math for the Seasiders, another point is required to all but seal the title.
| Premier Intermediate | 15/4/23 (Post-split 1/Section A) | ||
| Ballymacash Rangers | 1 | 0 | Limavady United |
| Bangor | 3 | 1 | Moyola Park |
| Tobermore United | 2 | 3 | Queen’s University |
Regardless, business goes on – starting with a second trip to south Belfast in as many weeks where Queen’s lie in wait.
Player spotlight:
There was precious little he could have done about Ian Parkhill’s belter of a free kick that equalised the game for Moyola Park, but Marc Orbinson, as he has often been when called upon in James Taylor’s absence, was a solid presence between the sticks and dealt with everything he manageably could throughout the game. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The Students will enter that match-up equally on the back of a winning sensation. Indeed, it was former Seasider Adam Calvert to mark his name on the scoresheet in the dying embers, as the academic institution made their examination too tall for Tobermore on Saturday.
| Premier Intermediate | 15/4/23 (Post-split 1/Section B) | ||
| Dollingstown | 0 | 1 | Banbridge Town |
| Lisburn Distillery | 1 | 4 | Armagh City |
| PSNI | 0 | 1 | Portstewart |
The odd goal in five to add to earlier strikes by a fellow ex-Bangorian in Chris Middleton and Lorcan McIlroy, there can be no doubt that the team from Dub Lane will be fired up to halt the title party.
Having made it edgy at Clandeboye Park right at the start of April, where Ronan Young’s late leveller cancelled out Harrison’s rasping drive early in the second period, the visiting Yellows will need to be on the ball.
It was merely the upright that denied the gallant hosts a share of the spoils when Bangor travelled in December. You could not blame James Lavery for feeling like his Queen’s institution are due one.
And with the chase for second-place and the right of a play-off on the line, expect them to be full of fire.
Three points against Moyola here, Feeney will hope, is what propels his team up to meet that demand head-on.
Earlier in the afternoon, there was disappointment to be had for Bangor Reserves, who were defeated prior to the seniors’ kick-off.
Ballymacash Rangers were the visitors and ran out victors, coming clear 1-4 in what was billed as a key battle in the pursuit for second-place.
The Lisburn club took the lead with 10 minutes played, as a left-sided corner was worked incisively and a shrewd delivery was finished at the back post. Leaving Bangor with a deficit to turn over early-doors, they reacted sharply and were inches from a leveller seven minutes later when Charley Craig’s low drive from a tight angle rebounded off the right-hand upright.
Despite the pressure, it was the travelling team who doubled their advantage five minutes before the break. Goalkeeper Scott Mashal parried the ball back into the danger area after initially making the save, and a Ballymacash player was first to capitalise on the loose ball before slotting into the bottom left corner.
Boss David Downes did not hesitate in reshuffling his pack, introducing Daniel Larmour and Jake Anderson from the bench and changing the formation to counter the threats posed by the opposition’s direct attacking style.
It appeared to pay dividends right at the start of the second half, when Larmour gobbled up Ruairi Wright’s splitting pass across the box, and the young winger kept composed to slide it underneath the onrushing shot-stopper.
Player spotlight:
Despite a frustrating outcome for Bangor Reserves, Daniel Larmour was bright off the bench and offered a bit of directness in attacks from both the wider and inside channels. A well-taken goal as the Ballymacash goalkeeper came out was a sign of his composure, and he quickly sought to create link-ups with his team-mates after coming on just before half time. Image from Joe McEwan.
While a positive beginning after the interval inspired belief that a fightback could be on the cards, such hopes were shot down just before the hour.
Ballymacash restored their two-goal lead, as a well-weighted delivery from the right was pounced upon with a clever back-post header that arrowed past Mashal and into the net.
The two-goal cushion restored, Bangor never really got their mojo back, and the red-and-white-striped side put the outcome beyond reasonable doubt on 78 minutes. A defence-bypassing ball fed the run of a ‘Cash winger, who cut across the goal-face for his team-mate to slam home the away team’s fourth goal.
As far as the table is concerned, Bangor stay in fourth-place – four points behind Ballymacash in third and a further two behind second-position Newington, with a game in hand on both.
Next for Downes’ charges is a home match with Lisburn Distillery this Saturday coming. Kick-off is at 11am.
Moreover, in the absence of a fixture for the Under-14s this weekend, two of the starring members of the squad in Zak and Jack earned chances to impress in an Under-20s setting – both were introduced from the bench later in the match.
In the rest of the Academy action over the weekend, the Under-18s had soared to victory with a 3-0 success over Harland and Wolff Welders, while there were 1-1 draws to report for both the Under-17s and Under-15s who respectively opposed Greenisland and Portavogie Rangers. There was also a handsome win for the Under-11s, who defeated Willowbank 5-1.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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