The last home outing of the season is nigh on Bangor. Having been yet to taste defeat in any of the preceding 13 home outings in the Premier Intermediate League, Lee Feeney’s charges will hope their luck has not run out when they prepare to tackle Ballymacash Rangers in the penultimate outing of 2022/23.
An afternoon that will be capped by a trophy lift to mark a successful crusade to the third-tier title, there is more to the home players and supporters than just enjoyment of the day. A win against any opponent prior to getting to grips with a cup is an instant mood-lifter – and, although The ‘Cash promise to be equally fired up for the occasion given a promotion play-off spot remains at stake, the Clandeboye clan will be eager to keep up the winning trends they have set all campaign long.
A midweek selection of games was always going to go a long way to determining just how meaningful this match-up might be.
Had west Lisburn visitors Ballymacash bettered Queen’s’ result, they would have traversed to north Down knowing that a straight shoot-out in the play-off was all but a certainty.
They certainly did their bit – front-man Zach Barr’s finish set them en route to a third straight 1-0 win of the post-split – but, perhaps to their dismay, so did the Students. A rout of Moyola Park in Tobermore still leaves the academical institution within reach of the second-position ‘Cash currently occupy, and they will want to allay any stress when they travel to The Dub on the final day of their first Irish League season.
Ballymacash Rangers come into this clash with Bangor on the back of a 1-0 win against Tobermore United. Video from NI Football League Social Media.
Five points clear, the red-and-white-striped outfit again know that a point does it. Their goal difference is so superior to Queen’s that, should they take a share of the spoils this weekend, their white-shirted hosts would need to win by at least a double-digit margin to usurp them – and that’s pending they defeat Limavady.
- Position – second-place
- Points – 56 (25 matches played)
- Goals scored – 61
- Goals conceded – 19
- Top scorer – Jack Smith (14 goals)
- Clean sheets – 14 (Brian Neeson 13, Ewan Smyth one)
Lee Forsythe will not prepare his troops for a draw, though. In three prior meetings, Bangor have avoided defeat to the Mid-Ulster Intermediate A champions, but they have tended to be close-knit affairs.
Adam Neale and Ben Arthurs were on target in mid-February, when the Seasiders emerged on top in an outing where Dylan Davidson – the left-winger representative on the PIL Team of the Season – was red-carded early-doors.
Despite the former Glentoran and Glenavon youngster being shown his marching orders after just 14 minutes, it took James Taylor’s penalty-saving heroics to deny Jack Smith a leveller before the interval. With Neale having handed the Yellows the initiative within five minutes of kick-off, it wasn’t until the final 10 when Arthurs sealed it.
Jack Smith was denied from the penalty spot as James Taylor guessed right and parried the shot away. Video from Darran Gilpin.
Smith, a 25-year-old recruit from Premiership Portadown who was unlucky to miss out on the Team of the Season having to date top-scored for the club on 14, was in the side when Bangor travelled to The Bluebell in September; Adam Neale’s last-ditch debut leveller prising a share of the spoils after Guillaume Keke’s opener six minutes from the end of regulation.
And in between, in November, Jamie Glover’s stunning second-half curler – the only goal of the game – booked the Yellows their spot in the Steel and Sons Cup Final at Seaview.
History lesson:
Bangor have a good record to date against Ballymacash, with two wins and a draw from the three meetings so far this season. Adam Neale’s last-ditch strike off the bench made it a debut of dreams when he earned the Seasiders a point in Lisburn back in September, before Jamie Glover curled in the winner in the Steel and Sons Cup semi-final and Neale and Ben Arthurs hit the target in a 2-0 win at Clandeboye Park in February. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
1-0 wins, as on that cold, chilly night at the north Belfast venue for Bangor, earn you the same number of points as every other time you score goals and the opponent does not.
‘Cash have learned that of late. After Barr’s winner seven minutes following the restart in their final home fixture of the season – pending, of course, the play-off – they conquered Moyola on their own patch courtesy of Smith’s 92nd-minute clincher, while Limavady fell by their sword at The Bluebell thanks to Keke’s solitary goal merely five minutes into proceedings.
Form guide (PIL last five):
- 25/4/23 – Ballymacash Rangers 1-0 Tobermore United
- 22/4/23 – Moyola Park 0-1 Ballymacash Rangers
- 15/4/23 – Ballymacash Rangers 1-0 Limavady United
- 11/4/23 – Banbridge Town 1-3 Ballymacash Rangers
- 4/4/23 – Dollingstown 1-1 Ballymacash Rangers
Having conceded 19 goals and kept 14 clean sheets, it is a tussle of the league’s best two defences at Clandeboye Park.
And, as it happens, a duel of the two best attacks. Aside from one-time Derriaghy CC star Smith’s goal-getting, be on the look-out for revered defensive rock Jordan Morrison, the top-scoring defender in the league (11) and a captain who can hold his own in the rear-guard.
A Ballymacash native, former Dundela centre back Morrison is joined alongside Smith by focal point Barr (eight), streetwise striker Michael Moore (six), January arrival Kyle Beggs and midfielder Joshua Cahoon (both four) to highlight the variety of goal sources at Forsythe’s disposal.
Player to watch:
A winter recruit who has had his shooting boots on since linking up with Ballymacash, tricky winger Kyle Beggs has a knack for making his presence felt when it counts. The 26-year-old former Ballyclare Comrade was a particular bright light when he scored two early goals in a crucial away victory over Queen’s University back at the start of March. Image from Paul Harvey/Ballymacash Rangers media.
Rolling out the red carpet, the Seasiders know they must be clinical to make that post-match trophy lift taste all the sweeter.
Last time out, Limavady United forced their hosts to twice fight from behind to claim a share of the spoils in an entertaining contest.
Well-taken strikes by Hugh Carlin and Dean Brown were respectively answered back by close-range finishes from Lewis Harrison and Adam Neale. A last-minute spot-kick even presented Bangor with a chance to win it, although Michael Halliday was to be denied following Richard Purcell’s smart save.
That 2-2 draw felt like a fair result in a game where chances flowed at both ends, although with the hunt on for a 25th clean sheet in all competitions, there is that motivation among the ‘keeper union to attain that in the last couple of matchdays.
Only one more is required – and four points from the two remaining duels would also put seal on a 70-point season.
Plus, at the top end, Ben Arthurs and the older Neale brother are neck-and-neck in the hunt to finish up as top goalscorer. The former Rathfriland man rammed home on 71 minutes to pull even with rested Peninsula front-man Arthurs, each equal on 19 league goals apiece.
Just because the title is won, does not mean the work stops.
“We’ve a big, big, big game now on Saturday, we’ll work towards that and hopefully make it a memorable day for the supporters”
Bangor manager Lee Feeney highlighted the importance of the game against Ballymacash Rangers
Speaking after Tuesday night’s homecoming, Feeney was keen to stress that this weekend’s match-up is as important as any other.
“We’ve a big, big, big game now on Saturday (against Ballymacash), we’ll work towards that and hopefully make it a memorable day for the supporters,” the Kilkeel chief pointed out.
And the players concur.
It will be hotly contested, and could have a flashpoint or two, as both sides tussle for victory.
| Premier Intermediate | 29/4/23 (Post-split 4/Section A) | |
| Bangor | vs* | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Limavady United | vs | Queen’s University |
| Moyola Park | vs | Tobermore United |
But in a fixture where pride will be at the forefront, the winner is sure to make gains and perhaps enjoy their evening a little more than the loser.
A trophy lift after a loss doesn’t quite feel right. And Feeney will want to use that as motivation.
Meanwhile, Bangor Reserves are in action in their third-from-last fixture of the 2022/23 term, when they travel to face Loughgall’s equivalents.
The first of three away days, with Warrenpoint Town and Lisburn Distillery coming up in the final couple of outings, David Downes’ charges will have their minds set on sealing as many of the remaining points up for grabs as possible.
Like their senior counterparts, pride is at stake given they are yet to get the better of the Villagers this term; something they will be doubtless eager to put right when they head down to Co Armagh this Saturday.
Last time the teams met, the Seasiders could count themselves a little unlucky not to take the maximum rewards.
A delightful chip by Kristian Trainor inside the first minute had the hosts on their way at Clandeboye Park, while Charley Craig doubled the advantage just after the quarter-hour mark. A hat-trick by Loughgall’s Ben Harvey had totally turned the tide before 60 minutes had been reached, but Adam Ambrose was on target when he took full advantage of the visitors dallying in defence.
Player spotlight:
“Two (points) dropped I think, I thought (after we went behind) we were all over them, To be fair, the Loughgall goals were all really high-quality, especially that first one that I suppose gave them a bit of confidence and belief. They kicked on from there, we were disappointed to lose the lead but we fought back and we got the equaliser and we kept the pressure up” – Bangor Reserves captain Callum Mills felt his side were worthy of victory over Loughgall in the last meeting. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Three points would not have flattered Bangor given goal-mouth action thereafter was almost entirely in the visitors’ penalty area.
But it was a case of settling for what they had in the end, following the trend of previous goal-fests in February (a 3-2 win for Loughgall in a game they twice came from behind in) and December (a 4-3 victory for the visiting Villagers where Bangor had to fight back from being three goals down inside half an hour). Now, the ambition is to go out and win, and potentially make gains on Ballymacash as they hunt down at least a podium placing.
Kick-off at Lakeview Park is scheduled for 11am.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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