The early stages of this fresh second-tier adventure have been described as a bit of a school of learning, and lessons have been taught and understood about what to expect in this heightened exhibition. That sentiment rang true once more in the most recent outing for Bangor, with esteemed east Belfast outfit Dundela taking the total reward for a victory by the odd goal in three in this Friday feast.
The fifth day of the week has been one the club has embraced, with the Duns’ visit representing the fourth Friday evening kick-off this year that the Seasiders have undertaken. The crowd have warmed to them, too; a cumulative attendance of over 3,300 made their voices heard in the showdowns with Crusaders, Ards and Ballymacash Rangers beforehand, and this clash saw no exception to the rule. A triumph, though, would not be for the home supporters to savour here.
Bangor push Duns right to the last whistle but just miss out on points reward
While Friday night football has worked a treat on Clandeboye Road this year, last week saw unfortunate conditions that not even the bold would favour.
A wind-and-rainswept atmosphere amid the turbulence caused by Storm Betty was a backdrop that, for this latest clash in the Playr-Fit Championship, always looked set to be a defining factor behind where the points could be won and lost.
The aim for Bangor and Dundela, naturally, was not to be left under the weather despite it.
And even accounting for such adversity – summer was well and truly in swing! – the eagerness to build on picking up their respective first points of the season last time out added an extra shine.
Following the hosts’ slender success over Ards the previous weekend, boss Lee Feeney saw no reason to change a winning team.
Starting line-up:
Manager Lee Feeney doesn’t often deploy unchanged line-ups, but he decided upon one against Dundela following the victory the previous week against Ards. Lewis Harrison and Jack Henderson reprised their role as a midfield pair, ever since Henderson returned over the summer. Image from myself.
An unchanged line-up was named, with the backline still reprising regular full-backs Reece Neale and Sean Brown as the auxiliary centre-halves flanking the imposing and impressive Lewis Francis. Tom Mathieson, having surprisingly been deployed as a right wing-back during that 1-0 North Down Derby triumph, stayed in that berth for the visit of the Duns.
The substitutes’ bench certainly offered cause for curiosity.
Highly-rated forward Ben Cushnie was in line for his competitive bow in yellow and blue when he was named in the squad for the first time this term, while the swift returns of Gareth Beattie and David Hume to the fold – both had missed the derby delight but started the curtain-raiser away to Ballyclare Comrades a fortnight ago – were much-welcomed by Feeney as a reinforcement of depth.
Substitutes:
Included among Lee Feeney’s options in reserve were forward Ben Cushnie, who was in line for his competitive debut after linking up on loan from Glentoran, as well as the returning Gareth Beattie and David Hume. Jordan Hughes, Dylan O’Kane and Karl Devine have been substitutes in every game so far. Image from myself.
Though Glentoran loanee Cushnie was at the Kilkeel chief’s disposal, a strong start to the campaign for Scott McArthur meant that his place among the 11 first-choices was nevertheless good value.
The local lad, who celebrated his 24th birthday earlier this month, contributed the match-winning assist seven days prior after teeing up Adam Neale on 61 minutes, and he remained tucked in behind the Ballynahinch striker and Ben Arthurs, who was still to open his account.
Dundela were in similar high spirits after dealing a resounding 4-0 defeat upon Ballyclare, where Andy Hall, Anto Burns and Charlie Dornan broke their resolve.
Manager Stephen Gourley saw fit not to tweak the team too much; merely two switches, in fact, as Jake Corbett was introduced in place of captain Tony Kane and line-leader Lee Rea checked in for Willie Faulkner. Youth for experience.
But that’s certainly not to say they neglected the latter. With the level of pedigree and flair that each of Hall, Burns, Dornan, David McMaster and stand-in skipper Jaimie McGovern can offer, their intention to impose their quality straight from kick-off was only natural.
True to form, that was exactly what happened.
The wind was quite literally in the east Belfast outfit’s sails when, twice within the first 10 minutes, Hall tested the waters on his old stomping ground.
The 33-year-old, who was a fans’ favourite on the seaside before departing for Glenavon back in 2015, twice called his former Lurgan Blues team-mate James Taylor into action early doors; for both shots, the shot-stopper dealt with it.
But he had hit the target, and the calm was to precipitate the storm when, on 15 minutes, Dundela drew first blood.
Hall won back possession in midfield and bravely surged forward with the ball, then picking out Rea with an eye-of-the-needle pass.
As the Yellows aimed to regroup, frontman Rea – another with old Mourneview connections who arrived at Wilgar Park after a half-season stint in the Amateur League with Shankill United – took coolly in his stride behind the defensive line. Shaping up his shot, he pierced low into the bottom right corner with the composure of a saint to break the deadlock.
Taylor sprawled, but the situation always seemed to back the 21-year-old finding the net. Arguably, it was a cheap giveaway in the build-up and, when afforded time and space, Rea delivered.
Just like that, the PIL champions had a mountain to climb, and there couldn’t be much cause for argument that it was undeserved.
Things didn’t get any better on 37 minutes.
Although a swift response was threatened when Arthurs headed straight into the gloves of Dundela ‘keeper Alex Henderson, the flow of the match still suited the travellers, and it was they who seized the bull by the horns when making it two.
Michael Kerr was the architect in large part this time, as his through-ball was on-point to match Burns’ foray forward stride for stride, and he in turn fired low across the goal-face where Rea was once more in waiting.
He controlled, turned to face and, even though the recovering Ben Walker was back to block, the ball was lashed low into that same bottom right after taking a slight deflection off the teenage defender.
The Duns had doubled up and displayed a clinical edge that called for an assertive response from their newly-promoted adversaries.
Indeed, just one minute before half-time, Taylor’s sprawling reactions denied Rea a first-half hat-trick when his headed attempt was parried away; could that have been the lift required for Bangor to work an inroad back into the game?
Well, following the interval, the signs pointed to it.
It was also Cushnie time.
The Glentoran loanee replaced McArthur and slotted in just behind Arthurs and Neale – the latter enjoying the hosts’ first searching effort of the stanza when, two minutes in, he was denied his two-in-two by Henderson.
Player spotlight:
While the result was not to swing his or Bangor’s way, it was a really refreshing sight for supporters as Ben Cushnie took to the pitch for the first time in a competitive context. He announced himself in a pre-season friendly debut against Linfield by scoring twice, and a fabulous delivery for Ben Arthurs brought the Glentoran loanee an assist against Dundela, making the excitement around the 21-year-old even more palpable. Image from Gary Carson.
On 53 minutes, step forth the teenage shot-stopper to save his side once more. Suddenly, a surge of energy swept through the Seasiders.
Francis firstly caused some trouble when connecting to Reece Neale’s dead-ball delivery – all indications lead to the Dungannon Swifts loanee being a star of the present and future right now – and, after Henderson denied the centre-back from Magherafelt, Reece’s older sibling Adam was foiled by the goalkeeper again after trying an intuitive backheeled attempt.
This felt like a renewed injection of life into a display that hitherto needed it.
The hour mark saw Arthurs become the latest to be stopped in his tracks, before further attacking intent was laid out by Feeney when he replaced Henderson with Jordan Hughes.
Fondly remembered for his goal-getting exploits at ‘The Hen Run’, it was heartbreak that seasoned striker Hughes was trying to inflict now.
Stat attack:
One area where Bangor seem to have hit a groove is in the disciplinary rankings. It is over 50 games since the Seasiders last saw red, since David Hume was sent off for a deliberate handball against Dollingstown on April 19, 2023.
65 minutes in, a lifeline came.
With Cushnie taking set-piece duty, he dutifully delivered a dime from a left-sided corner. Put onto a plate for Arthurs, whose out-to-in movement put him in position to guide goalward, the Bangor centurion had the aid of the post and buried his first senior-status goal in the famous jersey.
Defining moment:
It was a sweet delivery in from the left by Ben Cushnie and a well-placed header from Ben Arthurs to cut Dundela’s lead in half, the Kircubbin striker glancing his header across the face of goal and seeing his shot head in off the frame to bring the Seasiders back within one. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The reaction was instinctive. Rush back to the centre circle, ball in hand – albeit having to be wrestled back off Henderson in this case – and follow one up with another at the quickest possible notice.
There was a stack of attacking impetus on the pitch, the potential for the fixture to go to and fro while the conditions swayed.
Henderson, a talent who has figured in the youth set-ups of both Coleraine and Glentoran, was living up to the billing as Dundela’s last line of defence.
Ready for battle:
After hauling back to within one goal of Dundela, centre-back David Hume issues a rallying cry to his team-mates and urges them to keep the pressure. His sense of urgency was highlighted as he looked to prise the ball back early and restart Bangor’s momentum. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
He stopped Neale (69’) and Arthurs (77’) as Bangor’s rate of attacks rose up a further few knots; the hosts all the while being mercifully let off the hook when a Duns corner was hurried off the line following Ian Fletcher’s set-piece delivery.
It really was all systems go, but in the end, that leveller was not to beckon before the finish.
Referee Mark Milligan called time to confirm the passage of the points back to the east side of the capital.
Much like the sensations of the opening day at Dixon Park, there was a tangible tinge of disappointment about this outcome.
Stat attack:
This defeat marked Bangor’s first at home in a league context since falling 5-0 at home to Newington in April 2022. That 16-month unbeaten streak included not a single home reversal in the third-division last season.
While the chances were there to work back into the contest, only one was taken and, as a result, the points tally remains at three points from a possible nine amid a run of fixtures that was always forecast to test the squad’s mettle. Facing the fourth, fifth and sixth-place occupiers of 2022-23, the education has been in full effect from the first whistle.
Feeney had lauded the standard of performance in the first 180 minutes at this elevated plinth, but lamented the 90 of this third matchday duel that he felt left plenty to be desired.
The quotes section:
“That’s not us… every department of the game, we were second-best. We gave ourselves a lot of work to do in the second half, going 2-0 down and giving two silly goals away. And you mentioned second balls, we just didn’t pick up second balls, and there was nothing – nothing – in that game which we were better than them at. This football club here, we don’t shy away from the battle. We show the quality, we pick up second balls and we didn’t show that tonight” – Bangor boss Lee Feeney left no stone unturned when giving his thoughts to the Spectator‘s Rory McKee after the game. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
“I’m just frustrated, disappointed,” he told Rory McKee of the County Down Spectator in a forthright post-match reflection of the encounter.
“That’s not us… every department of the game, we were second-best.
“This football club here, we don’t shy away from the battle. We show the quality, we pick up second balls and we didn’t show that tonight”
Bangor manager Lee Feeney was unimpressed with his team’s display when facing Dundela
“We gave ourselves a lot of work to do in the second half, going 2-0 down and giving two silly goals away.
“And you mentioned second balls, we just didn’t pick up second balls, and there was nothing – nothing – in that game which we were better than them at.
“I’m just frustrated, disappointed”
Bangor supremo Lee Feeney wasn’t in the mood for sugarcoating after the Seasiders were defeated at home by Dundela
“This football club here, we don’t shy away from the battle. We show the quality, we pick up second balls and we didn’t show that tonight.”
Next up for Bangor is a titanic clash this coming Friday which promises to push them to the furthest reaches of their limits.
Feeney next takes his battlers to the charged cauldron that is Shamrock Park, where a Portadown outfit bruised from defeat to Ballyclare Comrades at the weekend will be especially fired up to make amends.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday Three (18-19/8/23) | ||
| Annagh United | 0 | 0 | Ards |
| Ballinamallard United | 3 | 0 | Knockbreda |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 2 | 1 | Portadown |
| Bangor | 1 | 2 | Dundela |
| Harland and Wolff Welders | 2 | 3 | Dergview |
| Institute | 1 | 3 | Newington |
In a tussle of the respective relegated and promoted representatives of the second-flight, a clear on-paper favourite is at play – but football is no scripted sport, and there will scarcely be a shortage of desire from the visitors to take the honours.
Stat attack:
It has taken only three games for all 12 teams to lose their perfect records in the Playr-Fit Championship this season
Against Ballyclare, new arrival Ryan Mayse’s third-minute finish put the Ports in front, but Niall Currie’s men were stunned in the second period following Gary Donnelly and Calvin McCurry strikes that completed a Comrades comeback win.
As a result, their early perfect start, established courtesy of hard-fought victories over Dergview and Institute in the first couple of matchdays, has been cut.
It will take spirit and resilience, but in an encounter between two teams with wounds to nurse, a shock could well be served up.
Ladies have Super Cup semi-final to look forward to after league ends on high
Meanwhile, there is midweek action on the women’s end, as Bangor FC Ladies have a last-four showdown to look forward to at Clandeboye Park.
Ethan Boylan’s side are in the last-four of the PwC Super Cup and entertain Ballyclare Comrades with hopes of making it a night to remember. The opportunity to book a showpiece date is never one to be shirked, and the players will look to turn in the best version of themselves.
That’s exactly what the manager hopes, who looked ahead to the date with destiny with a great sense of optimism.
“Now we’ve a Super Cup semi-final, the 23rd against Ballyclare,” Boylan stressed after goals by Leah Robinson, Toni Stewart and a brace from Amber Dempster put the final seal on a third-place league finish with victory over St James’ Swifts two weeks ago.
“You can never say no to a Cup final, the chance to get to one, so you can be sure that we’ll be fighting really hard to get into that.”
“You can never say no to a Cup final, the chance to get to one, so you can be sure that we’ll be fighting really hard to get into that”
Manager Ethan Boylan insists Bangor FC Ladies should relish playing in these sorts of knock-out stakes
With the NIWFA Championship campaign done and dusted – Bangor raked in 19 points to assume that place on the podium alongside champions Lisburn Rangers and runners-up Ballyclare, the focus shall now shift to trying to earn a spot in a trophy decider; a fitting fashion for a fine crusade to end.
Kick-off at Clandeboye Park this Wednesday, August 23, is at 7:30pm.
All-Championship encounter awaits Seasiders in County Antrim Shield
Elsewhere, Ballyclare are a common theme, as the men will lock horns with their Championship rivals in the ToalsBet.com County Antrim Shield.
The Comrades, who had the better of their rivals from the east coast on the opening matchday of the season, will head to Clandeboye Park hopeful of a second win in as many tussles to head to the next round of the tournament.
But Bangor gave a good account at Dixon Park and will be confident of exacting some form of payback to make the last-eight at the east Antrim club’s expense.
| Co Antrim Shield | First Round | |
| Ards | vs | Queen’s University |
| Ballymena United | vs | Knockbreda |
| Bangor | vs | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Carrick Rangers | vs | Cliftonville |
| Crusaders | vs | Glentoran |
| Dundela | vs | Newington |
| Harland and Wolff Welders | vs | Ballymacash Rangers |
| Linfield | vs | Larne |
It seems to be a draw that favours lower-league progression, which should fuel the fire even more for a tie like this.
Featured image from Gary Carson.
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