Just one point. One point from that date with destiny. One point for this band of brothers-in-arms to put the perfect seal on this season of ages. Bangor travel to Queen’s University this Saturday afternoon needing no reminder of what the prize is should they walk away from Dub Lane with at least a draw.
Where the challenge naturally comes in is keeping the heads cool and attentions purely on that typical will to win. The Seasiders did just that last time out to fend off a brave Moyola Park, a result that was no formality, and leave themselves on the cusp of a second piece of team silverware for this campaign. Now, the task turns to a second visit to south Belfast in as many weeks, where a Queen’s institution who have posed problems for their would-be visitors will hope to dampen the mood.
Buoyed by a last-minute success at Tobermore that aided them to no end in their plight for a play-off spot, the academics will aspire to continue soaring when they return to their patch.
Queen’s are hot on the heels of second-placed Ballymacash Rangers as they bid to bounce back to the Championship at the first ask.
And while a 14-point gap with just four games remaining leaves their hopes of wrestling top spot off Bangor all but dusted, by no means will they let their PIL crusade peter out with a limp.
- Position – third-place
- Points – 48 (23 matches played)
- Goals scored – 48
- Goals conceded – 34
- Top scorer – Chris Middleton (nine goals)
- Clean sheets – three (all Dean Smyth)
They are yet to have the better of their north Down foes in three meetings this term, though the two pre-split clashes in particular displayed that they certainly have it in their arsenal to crack through a rigid Seagulls spine.
Three weeks ago, the Students visited Clandeboye Park and presented a stern examination. Ronan Young prodded home a late leveller to cancel out home captain Lewis Harrison’s pummelled drive right at the start of the second half, in a tie that left supporters sweating by the sides.
In the earlier league tussle, nerves were left jangling when Young cut the deficit in half after Adam Neale and Michael Halliday had handed visiting Bangor a two-goal lead within half an hour. The left-back’s woodwork strike with seconds on the clock to go is a finish scarcely likely to be topped on the anxiety charts when it is all said and done; that was very much a ‘take the points and run’ example from the travelling perspective that day.
History lesson:
In three meetings with Queen’s University this season, Bangor remain undefeated, with five different players – Ben Arthurs, Karl Devine, Adam Neale, Michael Halliday and Lewis Harrison – contributing each of the five goals across a 2-0 victory in the Irish Cup first round, a 1-2 success in the league away day and a 1-1 draw in the home PIL encounter. This record is, unsurprisingly, something the Seasiders would like to preserve in the fourth and final meeting of the clubs this season. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Despite shaking knees and hands on heads, a similar positive outcome would be welcome on this second of two trips the Lee Feeney-led battalion will make to encounter Queen’s this campaign.
If that positive outcome arises as hoped, Bangor can crown themselves kings of the Premier Intermediate League.
With a coronation at Clandeboye in the subsequent week.
Of course, that is all tantalising to talk about in prospect – but as is always the case in this sport, action must match the intent.
The yellow and blue shirts did well to overcome Moyola in a game that felt at times like it hinged on a tightrope.
After Adam Neale’s shot from the edge of the box was aided by a killer deflection that wrong-footed goalkeeper Jamie Logan and applied the ideal finishing touch to a breathtaking sequence of passing play, Ian Parkhill’s free kick from 25 yards was a picture of perfection that evened the scores back up.
Despite long-time Coleraine favourite Parkhill – nominated alongside Bangor’s own Ben Arthurs on the PIL Player of the Season shortlist – it was the Kircubbin hero who proved influential in turning the odds back in the hosts’ favour. His low attempt was diverted by back-tracking defender Robert McLean into his own net, before a rising drive he could undoubtedly claim for himself put the result beyond doubt after Scott McArthur’s well-weighted cut-back fed him in his natural stride.
That 3-1 victory, the second such in a double-header against The Park, extended the active unbeaten run to 11.
The quotes section:
“Aye, I think Ben’s going to win it (Player of the Season) and I think he deserves to win it, he deserves the recognition. Making sure we get the two (team) trophies is important for me, hopefully we’re all celebrating winning the title over the weekend” – Adam Neale backs partner-in-crime up top Ben Arthurs to win the PIL Player of the Year award and hopes to seal the deal on the third-tier title this weekend. Image from Gary Carson.
That draw with Queen’s is the only duel, dating back to the middle of February, where the maximum spoils have not been prised.
Feeney can also count on a few returning pieces coming into his equation, too. Ball magnet James Taylor, creative Aaron Harris and the versatile Jamie Glover were all absent last time, but are forecast to be once again ready for selection come kick-off on Saturday.
Midfielder Karl Devine, adopting something of a motivational role in place of his injury-enforced inability to impact on the pitch last week, is not expected to feature – but his presence around the place has certainly offered a lift.
Those that have filled in – namely Marc Orbinson and Dylan O’Kane last weekend – have the ability to turn in steady displays and indicate the strength in depth at the manager’s disposal.
Such is the high esteem Feeney holds in the variety of his panel that he has made sure to avail of it fully in the past number of weeks.
David Hume is banned for this Saturday’s encounter through notching up his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning a void in defence vacated by the Ballygowan man must be compensated.
With Ryley D’Sena – eager to return a champion among champions after his parent club Larne confirmed their first-ever Irish League title last Friday – preferred to the 31-year-old on Bangor’s last visit to this venue a fortnight ago, where an anxious triumph over PSNI was secured, the 20-year-old Australian is in line to play his part on this familiar pitch of late.
Speaking this week to Neil Watson in the County Down Spectator, the Kilkeel chief shed light on how the Yellows are managing the squad.
“We knew we would need a big squad all season and we’ve needed that strength in depth to get us over the line,” explained Feeney.
“I really enjoy throwing players into situations like that (when some players were missing against Moyola) because I want them to show me why they should have been playing more regularly than they have been.
“We are a better unit, a much stronger unit than last season and we are well-equipped to deal with the challenges of the Premier Intermediate League.”
“We knew we would need a big squad all season and we’ve needed that strength in depth to get us over the line”
Manager Lee Feeney explaining the importance of squad depth at this late stage of the season
Confidence has not at any point crossed the line into arrogance, but, ahead of celebrating three years from he first took up the Bangor mantle, Feeney has admitted elements of the performances have not been as sharp as earlier in the season.
Knowing that a tight affair can be expected on the basis of recent fixtures against the university boys, the south Down supremo will surely have eyes cast on a statement.
The quotes section:
“I really enjoy throwing players into situations like that (when some players were missing against Moyola) because I want them to show me why they should have been playing more regularly than they have been. We are a better unit, a much stronger unit than last season and we are well-equipped to deal with the challenges of the Premier Intermediate League” – Bangor manager Lee Feeney tells Neil Watson in this week’s County Down Spectator how he relishes bringing talent into the fold when it is needed most. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The first bout, in addition to the two league duels, was the curtain-raiser to the current campaign back in August. Arthurs and Devine accounted for the goals in the first half; enough to hand the Clandeboye club a route beyond the first round of the Irish Cup.
It is almost time for the show to conclude. Mark it with the crescendo it deserves.
Queen’s’ success over United at Fortwilliam Park was certainly one of bottle. A last-ditch intervention from Adam Calvert – who played his part in Bangor’s last title win in 2019 – ensured a 92nd-minute victory by the odd goal in five on their trip north.
Form guide (PIL last five):
- 15/4/23 – Tobermore United 2-3 Queen’s University
- 1/4/23 – Bangor 1-1 Queen’s University
- 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
Earlier strikes by Lorcan McIlroy (6’) and Chris Middleton (68’) laid down the law in a topsy-turvy match-up, with a Gary Keane brace twice levelling up for Andrew Law’s Reds before defender Calvert struck late to the point of no response.
Each of the white-shirted outfit’s three most recent wins have been by merely one goal, and their promotion play-off charge has been characterised by their ability to both withstand and react to storms.
| Premier Intermediate | 22/4/23 (Post-split 2/Section A) | |
| Limavady United | vs | Tobermore United |
| Moyola Park | vs | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Queen’s University | vs | Bangor |
That finish for Middleton, which came from the penalty spot after McIlroy’s trickery had bagged the opportunity, has him on the cusp of double digits for goals this league term.
Player to watch:
Singling himself out as a talisman of Queen’s’ charge as they aim for an immediate bounce-back to the Championship via the play-off, midfielder Chris Middleton has his sights set on entering double digits for goals this season and will do that if he scores against former club Bangor on Saturday. Image from Gary Carson.
Of course, he is known to the fanbase having first broke through with Bangor as a teenager, returning to the seaside during Covid after some distinguished service kitting out for Harland and Wolff Welders as well as Queen’s; he was part of the side that won promotion from the PIL to the Championship in 2019 and, at the age of 29, will be desperate to repeat the feat.
| Premier Intermediate | 22/4/23 (Post-split 2/Section B) | |
| Armagh City | vs | Dollingstown |
| Banbridge Town | vs | PSNI |
| Portstewart | vs | Lisburn Distillery |
23-year-old McIlroy is up to six with his dagger last weekend, while defender Adam Robinson (four), skipper Ben Mulgrew (three) and line-leader Ciaran O’Hare (five) are seasoned pros who know how to chip in on the goal front too.
If Bangor are defeated – not that the thought ever enters the mind in pre-game preparations – then the title can still be sealed, albeit not in their own hands.
Should that be the scenario, it would take Ballymacash Rangers to drop points when they travel to Moyola Park, but there can be little doubt that The ‘Cash will be as fired-up as Queen’s to take full spoils. If the Seagulls are to seal the title this weekend, they would like it in their own hands given the energy with which the two teams behind them will be fighting with.
As far as the travelling Seasiders are concerned, in the business end, there is still some business to take care of.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Ireland Football League’s end-of-season award nominations, there was some warranted recognition for Bangor players on the back of their displays in the last year.
“Nice to see the hard work for the season recognised”
Ben Arthurs was pleased to be nomination for the Premier Intermediate League Player of the Season
Ben Arthurs was named as one of the three nominees for Player of the Season, alongside Moyola Park wide-man Ian Parkhill and line-leader Alex Pomeroy of Limavady United, with the winner to be unveiled in a gala dinner awards ceremony on Saturday evening.
With 18 goals for the league season, Arthurs leads the scoring charts with four matches to play – and could have another individual accolade to go with the two team trophies he will hope to have secured before he heads across to City Hall.
“Nice to see the hard work for the season recognised,” smiled the 24-year-old following the news of his nomination on Thursday evening.
The Premier Intermediate League Team of the Season, as revealed by the Northern Ireland Football League on Friday. James Taylor, Reece Neale, John Boyle, Seanna Foster and Ben Arthurs were all given places in the starting line-up. Image from NIFL Twitter.
The Peninsula star was also one of five Bangor representatives in the Team of the Season.
Joining him in the NIFL panel were shot-stopping hero James Taylor, wing-back flyers Reece Neale and Seanna Foster and defensive stalwart John Boyle – they made up four of the back five, with Ballymacash captain Jordan Morrison completing a formidable-looking rear-guard.
Arthurs joined Pomeroy as the strikers in the system, although there proved to be no room for Lewis Harrison or Adam Neale in the squad when many supporters felt they were fully worth their place among the league’s best.
In any case, to see five players acknowledged for their efforts is testament to what has gone in to make the campaign as strong as it has been.
John Boyle and James Taylor completed the five-strong Bangor contingent in the Premier Intermediate League Team of the Season for 2022/23. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The club congratulates all those nominated and recognised – which, hopefully, only fuels the fire ahead of what could be a weekend of dreams.
Elsewhere, Bangor Reserves will prepare this weekend to face Lisburn Distillery’s equivalents for the third time out of four planned meets. Having defeated the Whites at Clandeboye Park two weeks ago – a win that, ironically, preceded a victory for the seniors at The Dub – the second string have their eyes cast on repeating the feat on Saturday.
David Downes will be expecting a reaction after a home reverse to Ballymacash last time out, where – despite Daniel Larmour striking early in the second half to cut the deficit – the visitors ran out deserved 1-4 victors.
When facing Distillery last, a brace from Charley Craig blazed the trail, while a Callum Johnston penalty and a Sam Millar piledriver compounded a resounding and unanswered 4-0 triumph.
And with the sides meeting in Ballyskeagh on the final day of the season, this match-up has the potential to be a tone-setter. A handful of the Under-20s have trained alongside the first-team of late, so it can be banked on that Feeney will be keeping a close eye on proceedings.
Player to watch:
Often a bag of tricks who can influence proceedings down the wing, 18-year-old Kristian Trainor was a stand-out performer when Bangor Reserves faced their Loughgall equivalents a few weeks ago – he broke the deadlock within the first minute, delicately chipping the opposition goalkeeper after connecting to Ross Ferguson’s weighted through-ball, and will hope to dazzle in a similar light this weekend. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Kick-off at what is forecast to be a rainy Clandeboye Park, in stark contrast to the recent warm weather, is at 11am.
Moreover, Bangor FC Ladies are set to kick into gear as far as competitive action is concerned, with manager Ethan Boylan due to lead the team in a new NIWFA Championship crusade.
Kicking off against Lisburn Rangers under the Clandeboye Park floodlights next Wednesday, April 26, Boylan will orchestrate the outfit right through the season; the men’s football is off in the summer but the women’s campaign will progress right to the middle of August.
The boss would appreciate as much backing as possible going into a fresh adventure. Kick-off on Wednesday night is at 7:30pm.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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