Following the high of last Friday’s 1-0 derby victory over bitter rivals Ards, the theory that the fifth day of the week holds a special appeal to the players and supporters alike at Bangor rung further true when Adam Neale’s winner sent the home faithful into a state of delirium. Now, seven days on, the bid to make it two wins from two again falls into a timeframe that has yielded plenty of satisfaction.
In a start to the campaign that always held signs of testing the resolve of those in yellow and blue, the third encounter out of four this August sees Dundela come to Clandeboye Park and attempt, like the Seasiders, to seal a perfect six-point haul having also tasted victory last weekend. A match-up that promises goals, it is unlikely watching spectators will be left wanting.
The show goes on for Bangor this Friday, fresh on the back of picking up their first three points of the season.
It was the Seasiders who took the bull by the horns on derby day, when the first competitive North Down battle culminated in a form of yellow and blue elation not felt in a dozen years.
Adam Neale’s strike just after the hour proved to be the match-winning finish in front of a Clandeboye crowd of over 1,300 people.
And, after keeping a clean sheet – a first shut-out in a competitive context since a 2-0 away triumph against Moyola Park in the middle of April – that solitary close-range clincher was enough to ensure the total spoils were the Seagulls’ to enjoy.
Not for seven long years had Lee Feeney’s charges tasted victory at the senior level. But that was all change.
What a setting to do it in, too.
Now, the task is to keep the good times rolling. And the opportunity to do that at double-quick notice is nigh upon us.
Dundela will have the red carpet rolled out for them in another nighttime showdown, in what promises to be a stern test of credentials for the newly promoted side to the Playr-Fit Championship.
Return to winning ways:
Dundela recorded their first points of the Stephen Gourley reign with a triumphant 4-0 success over Ballyclare Comrades last Saturday. With command in set-piece situations and intricacy of interplay helping to bring chance-creating scenarios about, they will be out to repeat the feat against Bangor this weekend. Image from Dundela FC Social Media.
Hailing from east Belfast, the Duns – who made the step-up to the second-tier in 2018 – have their sights on another top-end placing. Under new boss Stephen Gourley, they delivered a statement of intent with a big victory in last week’s action, putting the former defender’s first points in the bank since taking charge.
The season summary: Dundela (2022-23)
- Position: fourth-place
- Ground: Wilgar Park, east Belfast
- Points: 58
- Goals for: 57
- Goals against: 58
- Top scorer: Eamon Fyfe, Rhys Annett (seven each)
- Manager: Stephen Gourley (since May 7, 2023)
Crafty wingers Andy Hall and Anto Burns each registered a goal apiece against Ballyclare Comrades, while Charlie Dornan’s added-time brace put the final seal on a thumping 4-0 success at Wilgar Park last Saturday.
It came fresh on the back of falling on the wrong side of a high-scoring affair in Portadown seven days earlier, when Annagh United seared to a 5-2 triumph at the BMG Arena; such a points return at the ground affectionately known as ‘The Hen Run’ would not have been unwelcome.
Stat attack:
Dundela are a club that have stood the test of time. Founded in 1895 and calling Wilgar Park their home since 1900, the east Belfast club’s venue is a well-hidden spectacle currently undergoing renovation work in the form of a new stand at the end in front of the school, with the nickname of ‘The Hen Run’ attributed to the narrowness of the pitch and closeness with which spectators come to the action. Their greatest honour is their one and only Irish Cup title, which they won in 1955.
There can be no denying that this green-shirted outfit – the highest-positioned of the four Belfast representatives last term, having finished in fourth-place – will be all too keen to build on their winning momentum.
But Neale insists Bangor will be up for the fight.
Revealing his interpretation of Dundela’s victory over the Comrades, who had earlier edged out their Co Down opponents 3-2 at Dixon Park on the opening matchday, the Ballynahinch striker explained: “I guess that’s just the nature of the league.
“The Championship’s infamous for being a topsy-turvy league, it’s got that reputation; it can be crazy at times, it’s a bit dog-eat-dog and any team can beat any team.
“We know this Friday night, it’s going to be tough, but we’re not reading too much into any result”
Bangor star Adam Neale insists the squad’s approach is simply to take each game as it comes
“It has that reputation and it makes it difficult. We know this Friday night, it’s going to be tough, but we’re not reading too much into any result.
“To go out and get that derby win, it lifts confidence.
The quotes section:
“It (the Championship) was an adjustment for us, both in terms of the tempo and a different style of play to maybe what we maybe would have been used to in the PIL. That’s not to say every team’s going to play the same way, but generally, the teams at this level are moving the ball faster and there are players who can change a game” – Bangor marksman Adam Neale has acknowledged the adaptation required to thrive in the Championship. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
“It (the Championship) was an adjustment for us, both in terms of the tempo and a different style of play to maybe what we maybe would have been used to in the PIL. That’s not to say every team’s going to play the same way, but generally, the teams at this level are moving the ball faster and there are players who can change a game.
“Among ourselves, a few new signings were involved and we’re coming to terms with that, too – especially in the starting 11. It was a bit like that last season as well, we had quite a lot of new players coming in – myself included – and we had to adapt quickly, it took some time to gel properly to each other and our styles of play while still being expected to win games, but it’s a good group of lads.
“We’re going into games without fear. We don’t fear anyone in this league.”
Being his 28th goal since arriving from Rathfriland, it is hard to believe Neale made his debut in the yellow and blue shirt less than 11 months ago.
The 30-year-old is a popular figure who is increasingly showcasing his ability to take a match by the scruff of the neck. While disappointed to have the offside flag deny him a tap-in when facing Ballyclare, he made sure that it only served to delay the inevitable; goalscorers find a way, and Neale certainly did last Friday.
Now that he has one for this season, his hunger will be no less insatiable to boost that tally.
That said, there were others who turned in stellar accounts last Friday.
The midfield pair of captain Lewis Harrison and Jack Henderson shows signs of gelling at early notice indeed, while any lingering doubts over Ben Arthurs’ ability to turn renowned excellence at intermediate level into resolve at the senior stage have swiftly been put to bed.
Sweet satisfaction:
There was an outpouring of emotion and joy following the deadlock-breaker last week, with 18-year-old Ben Walker taking the plaudits of Reece Neale following the opener by Reece’s brother Adam. Walker is on a season-long loan from Larne. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Teenage trio Lewis Francis, Ben Walker and Sean Brown look the part as they begin their loan stints on the seaside, while Scott McArthur’s renewal looks an inspired call, with the assist for Neale’s winner against Ards adding to a first-half brace away to the Comrades.
Combine that with the backing of a plentiful support, and prosperity will be on the horizon.
Feeney also likes to take it one game at a time, though, and last Saturday will have reiterated Dundela’s most principal threats to be wary of.
Hall was a creator-in-chief for seven years at Glenavon and started that famous Mourneview night when an Erling Haaland-led Molde fell at the sword of the Lurgan Blues back in 2018. A Bangor favourite prior to that, his multi-faceted style of play is sure to ask serious questions.
Both Burns and Dornan, meanwhile, linked up from Knockbreda after helping the yellow-shirted club avoid the drop through a Relegation Play-Off defeat of Ballymacash Rangers.
Stat attack:
Two years ago, Dundela began their Championship with just a solitary point from 24 available and appeared an early candidate for relegation to the PIL, but Niall Currie’s appointment as boss sparked a turnaround in fortunes that means the club’s beliefs and expectations lie higher up the table. A raft of talent, including current Linfield youngsters Ryan McKay and Rhys Annett as well as Eamon Fyfe, who sealed a dream move to Coleraine, have inspired their revival.
Dornan, who held the captain’s armband at Breda Park, is not one necessarily accustomed to finding the net given he found in as many occasions in two added-time minutes as he had in 10 months beforehand, but he will now hope that they start to ignite following that double.
Tricky winger Burns, meanwhile, is a player who can do a bit of everything. He was talismanic at ‘Breda, with 15 finishes in league play last term, but do not be led into believing that finishing is the sole trick in his playbook.
Player to watch:
Perhaps one of the most free-spirited players in the division, the licence Anto Burns was afforded to weave magic at Knockbreda proved inspirational, including in the Relegation Play-Off where his rising to the fore coincided with a goal blitz at The Bluebell that ultimately helped keep the club up. Now at Dundela, he has continued in that vein. Image from Dundela FC Social Media.
A searing dribbler with an emphatic change of pace, locking him down is always a task easier said than done – and he will call on Bangor’s defence to maintain peak concentration levels.
Add that to those among the Duns camp who have been there and done it. Willie Faulkner, Jaimie McGovern and David McMaster are experienced campaigners, while right-back Tony Kane, a teak-tough Ardoyne native who ended his long tenure at Ballymena United with a testimonial last summer, epitomises the captain’s spirit.
Bangor also have some among their camp with notable Dundela pasts.
Midfielder Karl Devine spent six seasons in the centre of the capital venue’s famously tight pitch prior to swapping that surface for Clandeboye’s artificial ground, while Jordan Hughes delivered some of the most formidable goalscoring numbers the club has seen in recent times prior to his transfer to north Down in January 2022.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday Three (18-19/8/23) | |
| Annagh United | vs | Ards |
| Ballinamallard United | vs | Knockbreda |
| Ballyclare Comrades | vs | Portadown |
| Bangor | vs | Dundela |
| Harland and Wolff Welders | vs | Dergview |
| Institute | vs | Newington |
Both will have to put their previous loyalties to the green shirt aside, however, as the Yellows bid to gain the upper hand and make it six points out of nine.
“I felt it was the perfect game to get ourselves back on track, being a derby match and where the stakes are a little bit higher, the perfect occasion with the Friday night and the big crowd to deliver a response,” Neale stated during his post-match reflections following the Ards win.
“I felt it was the perfect game to get ourselves back on track, being a derby match and where the stakes are a little bit higher”
Bangor’s Adam Neale felt the derby encounter against Ards was a fitting occasion to record victory in
“It’s a bonus for us if we hit the ground running, obviously we want to put points on the board early to give ourselves the best chance of doing well.”
Naturally, from a Seasider persuasion, it is hoped that trend continues.
With Gareth Beattie, Ryan Arthur and David Hume all missing through both injury and other commitments, Feeney reserved special praise in his post-match reaction to the North Down Derby triumph for the defensive line.
“I thought we were in total control and some of the performances were colossal,” the Kilkeel supremo told Neil Watson as written in this week’s County Down Spectator.
“The defence handled everything that came their way and they did really well to nullify any threat Ards could offer”
Bangor manager Lee Feeney was eager to single out the backline for their display against Ards
“The defence handled everything that came their way and they did really well to nullify any threat Ards could offer.
“Reece Neale, at 25 years of age, was by far the oldest in our back-three playing beside two teenagers (Francis and Brown) who are only making their way at this level of football, so it was pleasing to see them keep a clean sheet.”
The quotes section:
“I thought we were in total control and some of the performances were colossal. The defence handled everything that came their way and they did really well to nullify any threat Ards could offer. Reece Neale, at 25 years of age, was by far the oldest in our back-three playing beside two teenagers (Francis and Brown) who are only making their way at this level of football, so it was pleasing to see them keep a clean sheet” – Bangor boss Lee Feeney was delighted by the defensive resolve of his team against Ards. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
A club-record 24 of those were recorded between Taylor and Orbinson last term, a fulcrum behind the successful double-winning crusade last time out.
The first shut-out can be marked down for this term.
The Duns, though, are a new challenge, a new test. And it will demand no less perseverance and focus from the players to see through and take the spoils again. But what a result another win would be.
Meanwhile, the Clandeboye Bangor Supporters Club will hold their Annual General Meeting before kick-off this Friday night.
The AGM starts at 6:15pm and all members should endeavour to attend.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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