There is a continual amount of goings-on at Bangor, with a busy week on both the men’s and women’s front having come and gone. Two more matches this week for Bangor FC Ladies, whose summer break has now begun and will then conclude ahead of the season run-in through August, yielded cup progression in one and a radiant league display in defeat in the other, sounding a high note.
Meanwhile, on the men’s end, the preparations ahead of the new Playr-Fit Championship campaign kept their current track with a good-spirited draw against East Belfast, with a look ahead to two more friendlies in the planned schedule that take place within 48 hours of each other. With climaxes and commencements in equal measure, there is much to enjoy as July endures.
Men’s preparations roll on with comeback East draw
Firstly, the Bangor senior men’s pre-season schedule continues to get under way, with the second of 10 planned fixtures now navigated.
East Belfast were the visitors to Clandeboye Park last Saturday, the Amateur League top-flight side aspiring to pose a stern test of their hosts’ credentials on the first day of July.
Despite falling behind by a couple of goals early doors, the Seasiders pegged the score back even at two apiece by the half-time whistle. A scoreless second period thus meant the 2-2 reading at the interval remained until the end.
Having fell to a 6-0 reversal in the first match of pre-season when Premiership champions Larne visited the seaside last Tuesday, June 27, finishes ironically from two re-signing east Belfast natives counted as the north Down pride’s unofficial opening strikes of this term.
The evergreen Michael Halliday, who has committed for yet another fresh chapter of his long and distinguished playing career, cut the inroad with a perfectly placed header shortly after the half’s mid-point. Karl Devine – extending his stay in yellow and blue into a third term – then netted from a spot-kick on the stroke of the midway pause that levelled proceedings following Glen Vance and Dean Annett conversions for The East.
Goalkeeper Marc Orbinson spoke afterwards on the value of such competitive examinations as these during the summer months.
The shot-stopper (28), snapped up a little under 12 months ago following an impressive trial stint between the sticks, kept four shut-outs in his eight appearances as understudy to James Taylor throughout 2022/23. Orbinson admits that fulfilling two full 90s in succession has him ready to make his mark in even greater style in the Championship.
“It was good to get a run-out, at this early stage of pre-season it’s about getting minutes under your belt and getting sharp for the season,” he pointed out.
“We’re getting back into it and these sorts of work-outs are good for us, it wasn’t the best of starts but we reacted well.
“That’s two 90 minutes for me, played against Larne on the Tuesday night and then obviously today, I played eight times last season (as an understudy) so I feel that it’s important for me that I’m getting good minutes.
“It was good to get a run-out, at this early stage of pre-season it’s about getting minutes under your belt”
Bangor shot-stopper Marc Orbinson points to the importance of being in receipt of match minutes before entering the competitive fray
“The good thing is that, as a collective, we know where we need to improve and where we need to work on in training. There was some good attacking play after we’d went two behind and we’d the chances for more as well.
“But it’s good to be back playing and we’re feeling good.”
The quotes section:
“That’s two 90 minutes for me, played against Larne on the Tuesday night and then obviously today, I played eight times last season (as an understudy) so I feel that it’s important for me that I’m getting good minutes. The good thing is that, as a collective, we know where we need to improve and where we need to work on in training. There was some good attacking play after we’d went two behind and we’d the chances for more as well” – goalkeeper Marc Orbinson was pleased to be at the centre of the action when Bangor faced East Belfast in last Saturday’s friendly match. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Having won over the fans’ favour with four clean sheets last term – most notable of which was an impressive display in the Co Antrim Shield last-16 versus Cliftonville where a slew of strong stops forced the Reds to penalties – the curious reinvention from Ballygowan centre-back to Bangor ‘keeper worked a treat for Orbinson.
“It’s good to be back playing and we’re feeling good”
Goalkeeper Marc Orbinson, who is entering his second season as a Bangor player, admits it is a satisfying feeling to be playing once more
He was disappointed by the nature of East Belfast’s second goal on 24 minutes, where he failed to fully deal with a right-sided corner that invited a simple header into the net for Annett, but a near-instant response by Halliday, who used his head to pick out the bottom right, ensured the home team’s resilience still shone through.
And when Academy front-man Charley Craig – the 18-year-old paired with the Glentoran icon as a double-act up top – won a penalty, former Dundela ace Devine’s composure was on-point as he buried his take firmly in the right corner.
East, who had taken the lead on the 10-minute mark through the alert Vance and struck the underside of the bar from a long-range free-kick, then tackled a totally rotated second-half panel, with Lee Feeney checking in nine more of his able charges.
Player spotlight:
A player held in high regard by Bangor Reserves boss Davy Downes, such that he was made an Under-20s mainstay at the tender age of 15, centre-back Mackenzie Gray featured on the right side of a back-three during the second half of the friendly match against East Belfast and cut an assured figure well beyond his years. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Only Orbinson and centre-back David Hume were retained in a shape that featured Aaron Harris in defence and youth products Ross Ferguson, Mackenzie Gray and Sonny Redford in the fold – the latter arguably should have hit the target when a loose touch while one-on-one proved his undoing – although it was not to result in any further goals.
Often, though, the first priority is to refresh and, as assistant boss John Douglas equally noted after, “21 players got minutes today”.
With Glentoran on the horizon this Saturday, July 8, it is a family affair given that Bangor supremo Feeney’s cousin, Warren, is back on the Irish League managerial scene having recently taken the reins at The BetMcLean Oval.
The former Linfield, Welling United and Pirin Blagoevgrad chief is in east Belfast and has already secured a couple of new arrivals. Midfielder Josh Kelly, whom both he and Lee worked with at Ards, has swapped the sky blue of Ballymena United for Glens green, while dazzling winger Dáire O’Connor is back in the Irish League after giving full-time football a taste with Scottish Championship outfit Ayr United.
- Position – third-place (qualified for Europe via European Play-Offs)
- Points – 74 (38 matches played)
- Goals scored – 77
- Goals conceded – 28
- Top scorer – Jay Donnelly (12 goals)
- Top assister – Shay McCartan (eight assists)
- Clean sheets – 19 (17 Aaron McCarey, two Oliver Webber)
The speculation is that O’Connor (26) will be looked on to fulfil the wizardries of outgoing former Cliftonville team-mate Conor McMenamin, but there is a plethora of talent off Dee Street who will have a title bid on the radar.
Player spotlight:
A gifted winger who drew acclaim following his successful stint with Cliftonville, Arklow-born forward Dáire O’Connor made a seamless adaptation to full-time football across the water with Scottish Championship club Ayr United. Now back in the Irish League, he really is one who can show defenders a clean pair of heels. Image from Glentoran website.
In what will serve as preparation for their European endeavours in Malta, where Glentoran play Gżira United in the first round of Europa Conference League qualifying, Bangor will aim to serve up a feast on the pitch for the travelling faithful. It promises to be an enthralling occasion, with kick-off at The Oval timetabled for 3pm.
And on Monday night, July 10, Premier Intermediate League outfit Moyola Park make the trip to Clandeboye Park for the fourth of the club’s scheduled batch of pre-season outings.
- Position – fifth-place
- Points – 34 (27 matches played)
- Goals scored – 37
- Goals conceded – 36
- Top scorer – Ian Parkhill (11 goals)
The fifth-placed side in last term’s PIL, which the Seasiders won to clinch automatic promotion to the Championship, will harbour ambitions of further improving their performance in an expanded 14-team third-tier.
Kick-off in north Down against Stephen Hughes’ panel is at 7:45pm.
Double-header provides positivity for Ladies before signing off for July
Twice they had to come from behind to achieve it, but a thrilling away victory for Bangor FC Ladies means there will be a tasty semi-final duel soon to enjoy.
The Seasiders were 1-0 and 2-1 down to St Oliver Plunkett Ladies during their last-eight clash in the PwC Super Cup on Monday night, but two strikes in the final quarter-hour of the contest helped turn the tide and ensure the visitors prevailed by the odd goal in five.
A winner nine minutes from time from line-leader Robyn McFadden followed goal machine Amber Dempster’s finish on 74 minutes – the Yellows’ second leveller of the evening at Sally Gardens – to deny the hosts a revered triumph and once again avert an upset reversal to a lower-league opponent.
Ethan Boylan’s squad have tended to enjoy their encounters with teams from west Belfast, with a 2-2 draw at home to St James’ Swifts and a commanding 5-1 road success against Belfast Celtic already recorded in the books this campaign, and that trend continued in Poleglass with a hard-fought victory.
With defeats of Lisburn Distillery, Rosario and Lisburn Ladies Swifts in elimination contexts, Plunkett were added to the catalogue of clubs below Bangor league-wise to taste a cup loss to the Clandeboye club this term.
But it was a scare. The NIWFA Division One leaders – the league below the Championship where Bangor reside – laid down their gauntlet early.
Plunkett’s deadlock-breaker midway through the first half was responded to within merely four minutes, with in-form midfielder Erin Hennity levelling the score back up, but Chelsey Edwards restored the Lenadoon outfit’s advantage with the second half just five minutes old. Staring down the barrel of elimination, those in yellow and blue did show their steel; top scorer Dempster notched her 20th of 2023 to peg their counterparts back before McFadden finished the job as the clock ticked down.
Player spotlight:
It is well-documented by this point that there is an air of leadership and calm about midfielder Erin Hennity, but her performances of late have been simply too good to ignore. She scored a crucial first leveller against St Oliver Plunkett and inspired a triumphant comeback success. Image from Sarah Harkness.
A sending-off for Plunkett skipper Leah McGonigle in second-half added-time was the note on which this pulsating tie and stern examination closed on, and so Boylan and his charges will wait eagerly for their last-four date.
The semi-finals of the PwC Super Cup will take place in the return to action after the three-week summer break through July.
And in the league, the Ladies signed off for the summer with an exceptional battling effort against one of the division pacesetters on Wednesday night.
Although the Seasiders fell on just the wrong side of a thrilling seven-goal affair, manager Ethan Boylan could take plenty of positives from a performance versus Ballyclare Comrades that he felt put the collective fight of his squad on full display – albeit tinged with a feeling of what might’ve been.
“I was disappointed we weren’t able to get a draw that I felt our performance would’ve deserved tonight,” said the manager.
“We fought hard, we battled, we looked to win the ball high up the pitch, ask questions and play on the front foot.
“We’d managed to come back from a couple of goals down, we looked like we had the bit between our teeth to push on and score a third but it didn’t quite fall for us that way.
“We’d managed to come back from a couple of goals down, we looked like we had the bit between our teeth to push on and score a third”
Bangor FC Ladies supremo Ethan Boylan was ecstatic regarding the response of his players to going two down
“We’ve a few key players out, we’re still missing Olivia (Brown), Sarah (McKillen) didn’t play, Fran’s (Costa) away, Toni’s (Stewart) hurt – she was outstanding the other night (Monday), that was a blow not to have her fully fit, and there’s one or two others missing that have stretched the squad.
“But that’s not an excuse – the players that are here still have to go and deliver, we’ve good players out on the pitch that I want to see go out and perform regardless of who is or isn’t available.”
The quotes section:
“I was disappointed we weren’t able to get a draw that I felt our performance would’ve deserved tonight. We fought hard, we battled, we looked to win the ball high up the pitch, ask questions and play on the front foot. We’d managed to come back from a couple of goals down, we looked like we had the bit between our teeth to push on and score a third but it didn’t quite fall for us that way” – Bangor FC Ladies manager Ethan Boylan hailed the standard of application from his players against Ballyclare. Image from Sarah Harkness.
It was a lightning burst in the 180 seconds following the interval where Bangor showed their nerves of steel.
After the hosts had drawn first blood in this pulsating clash at Valley Leisure Centre – an 18th-minute penalty broke the deadlock ahead of a rifled finish past Yellows shot-stopper Giulia McLaughlin that doubled the lead – those in changed white hit back emphatically, firstly through Dempster and then Lydia Clarke.
The second period was merely a couple of minutes old when main markswoman Dempster side-footed sublimely into the top right corner from a pinpoint Megan Gore free kick, before Clarke picked out the same spot immediately after with a sweetly curled strike to level up.
Player spotlight:
The recent form of Lydia Clarke has inspired a lot of confidence in the playing camp of late, delivering two more goals to her season tally during the match-up against Ballyclare Comrades. Image from Sarah Harkness.
It was not the end of the tale in Newtownabbey, however. The Comrades seized back the lead when a penetrating run behind the defensive line was followed up by a placed strike low into the net. A free-kick from just outside the box – conceded after Janine Jess’ foul in recovery prevented a much more probable goalscoring opportunity – was inch-perfect to make it 4-2 with 25 minutes of the contest still to go.
A grandstand finish was subsequently set up four minutes from time when Clarke notched up her second of the match. Dempster’s fizzing attempt could not be firmly clutched by the Ballyclare goalkeeper and, as the ball spun favourably for her in the air, the 24-year-old winger pierced home from a few yards out.
But, by full-time, it was to prove a game of fine margins, and the Co Antrim institution held on for the maximum spoils. Bangor will jostle for third-place – the position they currently occupy in the standings – upon the restart of action later this month.
A man who made goalscoring an art at Clandeboye Park, Boylan admitted the ability of some within the red-shirted pack to turn up the style at will was a difficult factor to contend with.
He added: “We’re playing against a quality football team and to be fair, they’ve one or two players in there who can just turn the game at the flick of a switch and they did that on a few occasions.
“To run a team like that close, I think it’s absolutely a sign of how far we’ve come”
Bangor FC Ladies boss Ethan Boylan sounded a message of progress following the match against Ballyclare
“They have the quality to make things count in important moments and that’s where it would have called on us to make the most of our chances. We did that towards the start of the second half.
“To run a team like that close, I think it’s absolutely a sign of how far we’ve come.”
When Bangor return from the summer break, the next duel in the pipeline is a home encounter with Belfast Celtic Ladies, again in the NIWFA Championship.
Kick-off at Clandeboye Park on Wednesday, July 26, is at 7:30pm.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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