The feelings of joy and jubilation experienced by all those of a Bangor persuasion following the final whistle on Saturday is hard to put into words, even with a couple of days having since elapsed to allow for due processing of emotions. A victory away to Queen’s University does, however, ensure they are one word with no longer a semblance of doubt: champions.
On a day that weather-wise was nothing like the week preceding, rain droplets could not possibly dampen the spirits of the players and supporters around The Dub accompanying that crowning full time whistle. Smiles on faces and a picture of happiness painted that, after a difficult seven-year absence, the Seasiders can mathematically count themselves within the top two tiers of Northern Ireland football once again from next campaign onwards.
Entering the weekend knowing that just a single point more would confirm the Yellows as kings of the Premier Intermediate League, boss Lee Feeney was keen to show off the aces in his pack.
Amid pouring wet conditions, the Clandeboye chief was called upon to rotate – particularly in the defence, where the voids of John Boyle (unavailable) and David Hume (suspended) had to be filled.
It was a bit makeshift, with the traditionally right-sided Ryley D’Sena covering the Hume-sized hole to the left of Feeney’s usual back-three, and Gareth Beattie, not a centre back by trade, flanking right alongside central stalwart Ryan Arthur.
Stat attack:
- Remarkably, this game is the first all campaign that former Newry City defensive ace John Boyle has missed since debuting for Bangor against Greenisland back in August, a streak of 38 successive appearances.
The rest of the side required no adjustment from the 3-1 success over Moyola Park seven days prior that put Saturday’s travellers in position to clinch top spot with an aversion of defeat. Adam Neale, who had opened the scoring in each of the Seagulls’ last three, again joined PIL Player of the Season nominee Ben Arthurs as that ever-formidable striker pair.
Bangor’s starting side featured two changes from the previous weekend’s victory over Moyola Park, with Ryley D’Sena and Gareth Beattie coming in alongside Ryan Arthur to form up a back-three pairing that had not been seen before. Image from myself.
Lee Feeney’s chosen substitutes bench for this game was one with attacking intent in abundance, including three recognised attacking midfielders and 43-year-old Michael Halliday, who scored in the pre-split iteration of this fixture back in December. Image from myself.
Queen’s were not going to make it processional for their visitors, of course.
Big guns like ex-Bangor trio Ben Mulgrew, Chris Middleton and Adam Calvert all appeared from the start, as did Ronan Young – scorer of both the Students’ goals against the north Down pride to date this term – and in-form Lorcan McIlroy, who found the net and won a penalty in their latest win away to Tobermore United.
Walking out to a chorus of cheer, referee Richard White led the teams out on what a stand packed with yellow and blue knew could be a date with destiny.
The hosts elected to kick play off, though, and true to form laid down their gauntlet early on.
Truthfully, Feeney’s boys were lucky not to be trailing in the first 10 minutes. With six gone, an exceptional last-ditch sliding challenge by Seanna Foster stopped Johnny Mairs in his tracks when the Queen’s man was coursed for a clean break, before the sheer quality of James Taylor and star factor of D’Sena shone through merely three minutes later.
In an off-your-seat sequence, McIlroy was in the box and guided a fierce header goalwards, but Taylor used his full extension to spectacularly tip his attempt onto the crossbar. The danger still wasn’t fully allayed, however, and D’Sena’s goalline heroics more than played a part when Middleton reacted first to the rebound; the 20-year-old Australian, loaned to Bangor from Larne this term, prevented what appeared a certain goal with his heroic acts.
The newly-crowned Irish League champions, renowned as the Seasiders are for defensive resolve, still have jokers to play.
Player spotlight:
Albeit the right side of defence is where he has tended to be more commonly spotted, Ryley D’Sena turned in arguably one of his best performances for Bangor on the left of Lee Feeney’s back-three. There are only a few games to go of the Australian’s loan stint from Larne, but he will return to the harbour town a double-winner and champion among champions having played no small part in the Seasiders’ success. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Following that turbulent spell, Bangor started to cause a few problems at the other end.
On 16 minutes, shots firstly by Lewis Harrison and then Arthur were blocked, while with 24 minutes played, a half-volleyed take from Reece Neale took a nick off defender Dan Mairs’ outstretched boot and gratefully into goalkeeper Dean Smyth’s gloves.
There was no stopping the ball bustling the net with 26 gone, though. And just as in the three beforehand, it was a fear-inducing front-man from Ballynahinch to open the scoring.
Stat attack:
- Adam Neale has developed a knack for breaking the deadlock in games, with this being the seventh time in the last 11 outings he has done it.
Dylan O’Kane’s floated corner kick from the left was on the money, with Arthur rising high to connect and finding Adam Neale with his knock-down. A deft flicked header by the penalty-box aficionado was all that was needed to deliver the first blow, the former Amateur League ace’s 25th finish in an incredible first campaign on the seaside.
Turning towards a packed home stand to celebrate, the line-leader and ensuing congregation of team-mates around him knew that there was a bit of breathing space. It wasn’t a note unto which Bangor rested on their laurels either, given both Neale and Arthurs were unfortunate only a few minutes after to not take full advantage of Smyth failing to clear an enticing cross.
The action turned back to the car park end on 32 minutes. Taylor was again the saviour, and Johnny Mairs was again left disappointed, when the 38-year-old pulled off a stunning stop from point-blank range to preserve the visitors’ lead.
And if it was Taylor to make sure the advantage stayed as it was, it was Arthurs to make good on the one-time Glenavon shot-magnet’s efforts by extending it.
Player spotlight:
There can be no question of the influence James Taylor has had between Bangor’s sticks this season, but even by his lofty standards, Saturday was a particular highlight. He tipped one shot onto the crossbar with the score at 0-0 and made three crucial point-blank saves to preserve Bangor’s lead after Adam Neale had broken the deadlock. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Provided by an on-point cross-field ball by the irrepressible Foster, who found the Kircubbin favourite to feet, it was with an opportunistic outlook that Arthurs decided to pull the trigger from long range.
That opportunism, backed by a spot of luck, was rewarded when the ball lobbed over a helpless Smyth and into the back of the net.
36 minutes gone. The lead was two, and now supporters were daring to dream that this would be their day. The dangling leg of defender Joshua Corry made it impossible for the impressive Smyth to stop as the ball sailed above him, left just to stand and watch before picking the ball out to start again; for Arthurs and Co, it felt like it was getting a step nearer.
But there was still a storm to weather, and in more than just literal terms. Marc McKenna whipped in a deep free kick that a colleague in white crashed off the left upright, before the moustached wall in nets this time used his feet to divert the rebound away.
Queen’s’ final dead-ball opportunity of the half – a Middleton effort from 30 yards that rose high and wide – was the note on which White blew to end the first 45.
They must have wondered what more they had to do.
From Feeney’s perspective, it was about preserving the lead as best they could. There was the benefit of some good fortune, with the sun smiling on Bangor even if it was not visible through the clouds, and now it was to make sure no ground was ceded.
While he was doing the team-talk in the dressing room, the substitutes were warming themselves up in the spring drizzle.
Amid all this, the goal-cam fell while the players were shooting goalwards – and attempting to come to the rescue was one Michael Halliday. Ultimately, a really rather entertaining sequence ensued.
Between reserve goalkeeper Marc Orbinson’s attempts to call this writer over for assistance falling on complete deaf ears, plus legendary east Belfast target-man Halliday’s serious-not-serious expression of “uh-oh, we seem to have a problem” and subsequent futile tries to put the GoPro back on the fence behind the goal, this really is a half time show.
“Seattle Seahawks are rubbish”
Minnesota Vikings die-hard Michael Halliday making known his opinion known on a certain other NFL team
Symbolic also of the feelgood factor within the playing camp, as well as the craic and character 43-year-old Halliday has brought in his five years with Bangor, it is as insightful a clip as it is genuinely funny.
Okay, back to the serious stuff.
Jordan Hughes set the ball back rolling as the playing cast charged their batteries back up, although defending was to be the first order.
The Students continued on their wavelength before the restart and were front-footed to start the action in the second half. On 47 minutes, Corry tried to make good on a set-piece chance, but his header rebounded off the ground and back over the bar for another that went begging.
It was one of few flashpoints in a fairly shot-shy post-restart period, with Bangor registering their first meaningful effort of that portion shortly before the hour.
Hughes – reprising the role behind the strikers that he played to scoring effect at Fortwilliam Park 11 days prior when the Seasiders saw Moyola off in the first of a double-header – went unchallenged for 40 yards as he carried the ball upfield, but found a resilient Smyth in his wake when he drilled towards the centre of goal.
After that, Young – scorer of the equalising finish in the sides’ last meeting three weeks earlier – tamely placed wide of Taylor’s bottom right corner from a free kick, before Calvert’s turn-and-shot was above the crossbar from 10 yards out.
Knowing what it is like to be part of a Bangor side going upwards, Calvert thought he had dealt his former employers a blow on 73 minutes. He connected to a well-weighted cross from the inside channel by Young and guided a header low into the bottom left corner – however to the former Ballymena League feature’s dismay, the linesman’s flag was raised, signifying an offside that looked fairly clear-cut in real time.
He bagged a 92nd-minute winner for Queen’s on their trip to Tobermore, a 2-3 victory achieved with his first of the league season, and clearly had the appetite for it given how eagerly he forayed into attacking areas.
But the next time the ball went in the net, there were no indiscretions. And it was a former ally of Calvert’s who got it.
A right-sided corner was supplied by Reece Neale and when Arthur got his head onto it this time, there was no knock-down.
The highlights reel of all three goals scored by Bangor in their victory over Queen’s University on Saturday. Video from Sarah Harkness.
The Carrickfergus centre back made himself counted, and bulleted beyond Smyth’s desperate attempt to get a hand to it when he buried into the top left.
Stat attack:
- Ryan Arthur’s five Premier Intermediate League goals is the most in a league season that the defender has achieved since first joining Bangor.
His fifth goal of the season is likely the one to live longest in his memory for this campaign of ages. Cue a breaking of the Bangor Ultras into song, “We are going up” reverberating for the whole world to know, and car horns honking in the car park outside in the knowledge that a Championship place beckons; with nine minutes left, it was all but sealed.
It was not the end of the chances, that said. On 85 minutes, sub Michael Withers blasted into the side netting for the hosts, while the visitors found Smyth low and alert following a shrewd piece of link-up by Halliday and Scott McArthur. A goal-getter extraordinaire throughout his distinguished career, Glentoran great Halliday slipped local lad McArthur through on goal, though the 23-year-old found the Queen’s stopper well-positioned to claim his low shot on 89 minutes.
In added time, Taylor still had the time for some one-handed heroics when he stopped Young in his tracks, but he was to be beaten with the game’s last kick.
In the third minute of additional, a free kick was diverted into Dan Mairs’ path and the young defender was able to ram in a consolation for the play-off battlers.
But by then, it was known that the job had been done.
White blew for full time, signifying a remarkable 21st league win in 24 third-tier fixtures.
Cue the celebrations.
Cue the champagne popped and sprayed onto the crowd by Taylor. He’s used to saving people, but no one was safe here.
Goalkeepers James Taylor and Marc Orbinson were in a jovial mood following Bangor’s sealing of the third-tier title on Saturday. Both in their first seasons with the Seasiders, they have been difference-makers between the sticks and performed dutifully all campaign long. Image from myself.
Cue Arthurs pulling on the Ultras’ Seagull mask and gesturing in front of the fans as a two-time title winner in the famous yellow shirt.
Cue bear hugs and screaming and shouting. It is a great time to be a Bangor fan.
The players have all truly pulled in the same direction. Beattie shed a light after a midweek victory over Limavady United at the end of February on the mentality within the dressing room when he enthused, “I’ve been in dressing rooms before but none like this one.”
And such top-to-bottom camaraderie was reflected in the joyous scenes here.
From the players to the management to the volunteers to the board to the supporters, everybody played their part in making this day happen.
Following on from 2019’s clinching of both the Ballymena League and McReynolds Cup trophies, Bangor’s league-and-cup double penchant was restored in 2019 having added the Premier Intermediate League title to the Steel and Sons Cup triumph back on Christmas Eve. Image from myself.
Feeney, who will have been steering the Bangor ship for three years by the time the new Championship season kicks off, was elated to finally seal the deal.
“Yeah, it’s nice to finally get it over the line and make sure of it for good,” the Kilkeel supremo admitted. “It felt like it’d been on ice for a while there but we’ve went out and made sure of ourselves now.
“I’m proud of the efforts the players have given all season to get us to this point and the supporters for coming down in the number they did today.
“It’s nice to finally get it over the line and make sure of it for good”
Bangor manager Lee Feeney on the satisfaction of sealing promotion
“The players have given everything and we’ve the reward (promotion) to show.
“It was one big collective effort, be it the players on the pitch or supporters making noise from the side. It’s all helped and kept us sharp along this road.”
The quotes section:
“I’m proud of the efforts the players have given all season to get us to this point and the supporters for coming down in the number they did today… It was one big collective effort, be it the players on the pitch or supporters making noise from the side. It’s all helped and kept us sharp along this road” – Bangor manager Lee Feeney pays tribute to the players and supporters after the Seasiders’ promotion to the Championship was confirmed. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The Roesiders are, incidentally, Bangor’s next opponent, and a couple of party atmospheres are projected at Clandeboye Park this coming week – firstly when Paul Owens’ charges visit on Tuesday night, and then on Saturday when second-placed Ballymacash Rangers travel.
A trip to Tobermore United next Tuesday will close out the men’s season, and while the objectives for this term have been fulfilled, some pride is still at stake.
| Premier Intermediate | 22/4/23 (Post-split 2/Section A) | ||
| Limavady United | 0 | 1 | Tobermore United |
| Moyola Park | 0 | 1 | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Queen’s University | 1 | 3 | Bangor |
Mairs’ last-minute finish drove a dagger into what would have been a 25th clean sheet of the campaign in all competitions – a record never before reached in the club’s long history – and the prospect of finishing the term with as many as 74 points is another tally to strive for.
There aren’t many more superlatives that could come into force for the impact and influence Bangor’s two wing-back extraordinaires have had this season. Seanna Foster‘s loan acquisition from Cliftonville has proved a masterstroke, joining Reece Neale and establishing themselves as two of the best outside-backs around which was reflected in both making the Team of the Season. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
You can count on the ‘Cash being fired up to make their increased margin to the educational bastion below count.
Such is the goal difference superiority Lee Forsythe’s soldiers have on Queen’s – a +29 margin – that, with the west Lisburn club now five points ahead after Jack Smith’s added-time winner at Moyola Park on Saturday, any bettering of the south Belfast team’s result in a full midweek batch of fixtures surely makes them a shoe-in for the promotion play-off.
| Premier Intermediate | 22/4/23 (Post-split 2/Section B) | ||
| Armagh City | 2 | 0 | Dollingstown |
| Banbridge Town | 1 | 1 | PSNI |
| Portstewart | 1 | 1 | Lisburn Distillery |
With just two games to go after, the right of having Institute or Knockbreda visit The Bluebell in the first leg is not one they will want to leave to chance. Bangor would still need to be on their guard come Saturday.
But regardless of what permeates in the final few outings, the cherry is on top of the cake. This term is one that will go down in history, and be talked about for a long time yet. The third-tier title adds to the Steel and Sons Cup for a double-winning crusade, and never has it tasted so sweet.
Finishing it on the winning wave that has defined Bangor Football Club in 2022/23 would feel as apt as anything.
Champions. Boy does that feel good to say.
And, as if securing a team honour wasn’t enough, the NIFL Awards shone on the Seasiders too.
Nominated for PIL Player of the Year on Thursday alongside Moyola Park’s Ian Parkhill and Alex Pomeroy of Limavady United, Ben Arthurs – who still, indeed, leads the league for the top goalscorer accolade on 19 – took home the award at Belfast City Hall on Saturday evening.
Now up to the 30-goal mark for the second campaign since he joined the club in 2018, as well as having notched up 100 overall since linking up as a 20-year-old, such recognition for one of the most integral and talismanic components of the club’s revival naturally delights everyone associated with Bangor. He received the award in the presence of the board, management and captain Harrison, and is a well-earned reward for his brilliant exploits.
Many congratulations Ben, and hopefully there are many more of these team and individual awards to come!
Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, Bangor Reserves edged out on top of a topsy-turvy clash with Lisburn Distillery’s equivalents at Clandeboye Park.
Sonny Redford’s four-goal haul stole the limelight and inspired David Downes’ Seasiders to a 5-3 success that was capped off by Curtis Kenny’s clincher. It was hardly plain sailing though; far from it, with the hosts twice having to surge from behind to win the battle.
Distillery required merely 10 minutes to break the deadlock, when goalkeeper Scott Mashal’s attempted push away from a dead ball deflected awkwardly off a Whites attacker and spun back into the bottom left corner.
Charley Craig saw the crossbar deny Bangor an instant response when a free kick 20 yards from goal was awarded, but Redford hauled the hosts even with 21 minutes played when he powered home a back-post header from Kristian Trainor’s sublime dead-ball delivery.
That parity only lasted for four minutes, though, with a wonderful curled attempt arrowing past Mashal into the bottom right – but Redford again produced the goods seven minutes from the interval.
Player spotlight:
Although a winger in his usual trade, Bangor Reserves boss David Downes has been opting to deploy Kristian Trainor in midfield more of late, and the 18-year-old is living up the billing with his blend of creativity and close control. Alongside Ethan Scott, he found ways to penetrate the Lisburn Distillery backline and capitalise on the open-endedness of the match by conjuring up plenty of chances. Image from Joe McEwan.
A guided long ball out from the Bangor shot-stopper caused the high Distillery line problems, and with the opposite ‘keeper well off his line, Redford hooked over him from the guts of 40 yards and had the placement to leave the ball bustling in the back of the net. The front-man then guided the Yellows into their first lead, with Craig linking him in to slip the ball coolly into the bottom right from the edge of the six-yard area.
With the match ball sealed before the half was out, it was a case of starting where he meant to go on in the second stanza. Redford notched his fourth on 53 minutes, gobbling up after Daniel Larmour was firstly denied having received from a defence-dissecting Ethan Scott through-ball before Craig saw his rebound hurried off the line. When it fell favourably for the tall attacker, he made sure to bury it in the corner.
Distillery pulled one goal back on 71 minutes to make it 4-3 and send nerves jangling, but the two-goal cushion was capably restored when substitute Kenny – introduced by Downes barely a minute earlier – laid his ice-cold veins on display when he curled into the bottom left.
And that was how it finished. It was perhaps not as routine as Downes would have liked, but it was still three points gained from a chaotic affair.
Star man Redford was pleased to make his presence felt and show up to hand Bangor the victory.
“Confidence (after the first goal),” he said, assessing how he felt within the game.
“The confidence grew as the game went on after I got one, I was able to get a second and from there it was about trying to take the lead. They were good goals and I’m glad to help the team win.
“It was an open game, so in that situation it was up to me to try and find open spaces to receive the ball, try to bring others into the game – the likes of Charley (Craig) – when taking it to feet and find positions in the box where I could get a shot at goal.
“The confidence grew as the game went on after I got one, I was able to get a second and from there it was about trying to take the lead”
Bangor Reserves striker Sonny Redford describing how he felt his game panned out in the 5-3 victory over Lisburn Distillery’s Reserves
“I had to hold the ball under pressure at times and look for where other players were running and also be in good positions to get the ball in dangerous areas.
“There was lots of creativity around me and I was able to make the most of the chances I got with the four goals.”
The quotes section:
“It was an open game, so in that situation it was up to me to try and find open spaces to receive the ball, try to bring others into the game – the likes of Charley (Craig) – when taking it to feet and find positions in the box where I could get a shot at goal. There was lots of creativity around me and I was able to make the most of the chances I got with the four goals” – Bangor Reserves striker Sonny Redford runs the rule on how he managed to get in the positions and mindset to score four goals for the side last Saturday. Image from Joe McEwan.
What does this mean for the table? As it stands, the second string remain in fourth-place, five points off second-positioned Newington with three games of their season left to go.
Perched on 42 points, last Saturday’s duel was also their last home fixture of the campaign, with a trip to Distillery on the final day coming after visits to Loughgall and Warrenpoint in the coming weeks. The objective as far as Downes is concerned will be to reap as much reward from the remaining outings as possible.
There was success to speak of for Bangor’s Under-17s, too, who overcame Downpatrick with a penalty shoot-out success in the Premier Supplementary League Cup Final.
Despite a nerve-wracking finish for the Clandeboye club, Andy Neill’s troops kept their cool and secured another piece of silverware for the cabinet. It has been a highly impressive term for the Academy trophy-wise and the club is delighted to see this vein continue as of Sunday.
And, while the men’s season may be coming to a close, the Ladies are right on the verge of getting theirs started.
Ethan Boylan’s team kick-start their NIWFA Championship adventure on Wednesday night, when they entertain Lisburn Rangers under the Clandeboye Park floodlights in the first step of a season that will run right across the summer.
With pre-season coming to a close and a panel of players built up to compete, the return to competitive action under first-time boss Boylan, who was named back in January, will surely intrigue supporters.
Given the news today that Sunday’s Women’s Premiership curtain-raiser attracted 101% more fans to stadiums than this time last year, that should also whet the appetite prior to what should be a captivating game.
Kick-off against the Stanley Park outfit, who were the Division One champions last campaign, is at 7:30pm.
Featured image from myself.
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