Bangor have scored seven goals this week, with 100 per cent of the scoresheet allocation taken up by folks named Ben. If Tuesday’s rousing comeback win in the County Antrim Shield against Ballyclare Comrades was just what was needed to whet the appetite for Saturday’s long foray west, the momentum carried as the Seasiders recorded their first victory fruits in Fermanagh in 12 long years.
Ferney Park was the venue where finishes both at the start and end of the match sealed the Seagulls three more points for the Playr-Fit Championship, flocking back from Ballinamallard United with a third win – and fourth game unbeaten – and propping up to double digits for points after just six matches. A loud and proud travelling support was richly rewarded for their backing and, with seven fixtures across all competitions now contested, the stardust is still yet to wane.
Seasiders sweep Mallards aside as common positive themes come to the fore
It was like two different worlds on Saturday.
On their departure, the travelling Bangor faithful looked overhead to witness blue skies and not a pinch of rain on their way to Co Fermanagh.
The sun brimmed and a 20-degree heat was beating down; simply the optimal conditions for playing a game of football in, right?
Well, out west, they didn’t get the memo.
By the time the supporters got there, a biblical torrent ensued to greet them. As far as the Erne County is concerned, its reputation for precipitation was living up to the billing early on.
The result later in the afternoon wasn’t to dampen spirits, mind you.
The Seasiders headed to Ballinamallard on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, most recently topped up by Ben Arthurs’ four-goal haul that sealed a comeback success in the County Antrim Shield.
The 4-2 last-16 victory over Ballyclare Comrades set the players on their way to Ferney Park confident that they could repeat the winning feat. Despite the Mallards having won both of their home games ahead of kick-off, against Dergview (4-2) and Knockbreda (3-0), belief breeds from consistency – and Lee Feeney and Co were beginning to find some both in the league and cup.
On their return to a Playr-Fit Championship setting, manager Feeney – who had assistant boss John Douglas back by his side, his two-game ban served following a sending-off against Portadown two weeks prior – did, in fact, opt to make a handful of changes to a winning team.
Starting line-up:
There were three changes from the Bangor team that started the win against Ballyclare Comrades during midweek. Jack Henderson and Scott McArthur were restored in place of Dylan O’Kane and Ben Cushnie, who both dropped to the bench, while Sean Brown made an immediate return to the team after representing Northern Ireland’s Under-19s. Image from myself.
In midfield, Jack Henderson was restored to the starting line-up after trading places with fellow midfielder Dylan O’Kane against the Comrades, while a re-adjustment in defence meant that Sean Brown – the 18-year-old returning from international duty having been named as a substitute during Northern Ireland Under-19s’ friendly defeat to Italy in Prato on Thursday – returned to a right centre-back berth.
On international duty:
As one of the three Irish League representatives to feature in the first Northern Ireland Under-19s squad under Gareth McAuley, Sean Brown could count himself among a privileged few. The right-sided defender, who got a taste of international duty at that level in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Italy in Prato, was straight back into Lee Feeney’s Bangor line-up here. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Reece Neale, for the first time this campaign, reverted back to his familiar left wing-back berth with Brown’s fellow Larne loanee Ben Walker dropping to the bench. And his namesake, Ben Cushnie, joined him among the reservists, with Scott McArthur coming back into the first 11 behind Arthurs and Adam Neale.
Stat attack:
After introducing designated shirt numbers for the first time last season, this game saw names on the back of Bangor jerseys in another historic first.
Among the batch of seven who Feeney could call on to make an impact, highly-rated striker Sonny Redford (17) was included in his first senior matchday squad this term, eager to build on his two first-team appearances to date towards the end of last campaign. Karl Devine’s return was also to bolster the midfield options alongside O’Kane.
Boasting a line-up with an average age of 25.7, both sets of players were led out by referee Mark Dillon.
Substitutes:
Among the bench, there was a return to the matchday squad for Karl Devine, who had missed the last two, while Ben Walker would also appear from the panel of seven having started every game prior. 17-year-old Sonny Redford was also in with a shot of featuring. Image from myself.
As one would expect, Ballinamallard were a strong proposition in their selection.
Captain Mark Stafford wore the royal blue of Linfield at a time when players like Seasider skipper and former Blues Swift Lewis Harrison would have been looking up to such shining role models as the 36-year-old centre-back.
They were equals now.
So were the likes of Aaron Harkin, who represented Cliftonville with distinction in the Premiership, while chief goal threats such as Jamie Dunne and Alex Holder would aim to lay down their gauntlet and lead the fight.
Leader by example:
Former Linfield defender Mark Stafford carries an imposing reputation in the game and has a penchant for popping up with important goals even in the later stages of his career. The likes of Scott McArthur faced a stern challenge to get the better of him. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Battle commenced. But Bangor didn’t take long to land a killer blow.
Merely four minutes in, the number was proving prophetic for the man with 9 on his back.
Arthurs, fresh from his quadruple, drove another dagger into opposition hearts.
Ballinamallard looked to play out from the back and build towards the opposition goal, but kept finding the ball being returned to sender. The side so often seen in yellow and blue who this time were donning their black and white away strip applied pressure in the right places – and they made the strain they put on the defensive line count with haste.
Reece Neale was a picture of composure when he regained possession in midfield. The Ballynahinch man’s next move was to prove defining; a pass weighted to perfection into Arthurs’ stride down the inside-right channel.
Scoring at a rate of knots:
The goal count Ben Arthurs has been bringing to the table took another notch upwards when he delivered in the fourth minute of the contest against Ballinamallard United. That rounded off a remarkable spell of FIVE goals in 66 minutes’ worth of football played, with the striker up to six for the season. Image from Sarah Harkness.
The Kircubbin maestro rewarded the vice-captain’s supply with a shrewd touch. From there, he swivelled inside, firing towards goal in a fashion perhaps not traditionally associated with Ben Arthurs.
But after four goals in midweek, there is little that restrains the 25-year-old when his blood turns cold.
He curled delectably from 15 yards, outfoxing the Ducks defence and leaving shot-stopper Jamie Ray stranded as he picked out the top left corner with incredible aplomb.
112 goals in a Bangor shirt. That was one of his best.
And cool as he may be, the man is a raging inferno inside. Arthurs is starting to take this league like a mallard to water.
It settled the nerves, too. From going two down inside five minutes just four days prior, it was a total turning of the tide this time around as the visitors took early command. On a flock west, the Seagulls had no interest in feeding off scraps; 100 miles there and another 100 back, early signs were pointing to the full reward being headed back to north Down.
A response from Harry McConkey’s men could be anticipated – but the first period was to prove shot-shy at both ends thereafter.
Player spotlight:
Manager Lee Feeney sent a whole shower of abundant praise the way of Adam Neale following Tuesday night’s victory over Ballyclare Comrades, highlighting his work-rate and determination to make things happen for others. The 30-year-old, while no doubt keen to bolster his goal tally with a solitary strike to his name so far, is contributing in different ways. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
On 22 minutes, Seanna Foster’s free-kick arrowed marginally wide of the right-hand post – the right wing-back has been in scintillating form since sealing his return to Bangor in the latter stages of the transfer window – while the elder Neale saw a tame try fall into the hands of Ray four minutes before half-time.
It was a positive note, though, that the defence was shutting out the hosts’ attacking forays.
Holder, the Mallards’ top goalscorer, was red-carded the previous week against Ballyclare and, having served his suspension for their penalty shoot-out victory over Newbuildings United, was reinstated to the line-up.
He was not showing too many signs in the burgeoning spells of adding to his four goals, however, while experienced campaigners in the team such as Stafford and one-time Reds mainstay Harkin also struggled to make their presence felt during set-pieces in the Bangor box.
McConkey, who has overseen five and a half years of progress at the Irish League’s sole Co Fermanagh representative, was demanding more by the time the first period was over.
Dillon signalled for the interval with the visitors in a good place.
When the restart occurred, there seemed to be a renewed influx of goalscoring chances. On 51 minutes, Holder had come alive, forcing James Taylor to meet the situation head-on and clutch the ball as a man with four goals this term aspired to make it a high five.
When it rains, it pours. Just four minutes later, the Neale siblings nearly extended Bangor’s initiative. Reece supplied Adam with the licence to shoot, but a wicked deflection left the sharp-shooter agonising as it inched past the post.
Not since the Friday night derby delight against Ards last month has Adam put his name on the scoreboard. That’s a relative drought in his book, and it is not for the want of trying in his bid to set the record straight.
With 58 minutes played, you could paint the picture of relief on Taylor’s face.
Ballinamallard enjoyed their closest chance yet. It was midfielder Josh McIlwaine who led the charge, rifling goal-bound, and he came within mere inches of a leveller when his shot crashed back off the upright.
A collective gasp at one end. A collective sigh at the other. A one-goal game it was; a phase when the next goal could prove critical.
The action reverted to the opposite goalmouth again. After a double substitution saw two of Tuesday’s starters – O’Kane and Cushnie – enter the action, an Arthurs header over the bar sandwiched two tries from the vivacious McArthur.
Stat attack:
The set-up Reece Neale registered for Ben Arthurs’ early goal was his first since April, ending a drought of 10 games from when he teed up Ryan Arthur for the third goal against Queen’s University on the day Bangor secured the Premier Intermediate League title.
On 71 minutes, the attacking midfielder fashioned a goal-bound opportunity that Ray had to be on his guard to save while the 24-year-old was also afforded a free run at goal six minutes later only for Ray to clutch before he could pull the trigger.
Amid that, with 73 minutes on the clock, Arthurs used his head in his attempt to double up his personal tally – but the body part that he used to smash in three of his quadruple was not quite to work on his side this time, guiding above the goalframe from Reece Neale’s swooping cross.
Another Ben did find the target, mind. Two others were involved in the build-up when the Seasiders did kill it stone dead.
Arthurs turned provider for Walker, who had the thirst for goal when he was teed up around 15 yards out. He struck it well, too, and forced a parried denial from Ray as he searched out the bottom right corner; no matter though, given right on hand to snatch the rebound was Glentoran loanee Cushnie.
Teenage stopper Ray dived at the Hillsborough man’s feet, but a neat touch by the 21-year-old set him up to roll into a wide-open net.
He did exactly that for his first competitive finish in Bangor colours.
“I think I can come here, I’ll try chipping in with goals and assists and, yeah, we’ll see where that takes us,” the Hillsborough native explained after burying home two goals in his non-competitive debut against Linfield at July’s tail end.
Ben it like Beckham:
There were three namesakes involved in the construction of Bangor’s decisive second goal. Ben Arthurs provided the lay-off, Ben Walker saw his shot force a save out of Jamie Ray in the Ballinamallard goal before Ben Cushnie rolled home the winner. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
“Last season was good for me, it was good experience going out (on loan to Dungannon Swifts) as obviously I had the chance to play first-team football regularly and I could test myself at that level and learn new things and take them on board.
“That’s what I want to build on here again and I can’t wait to help the club push on and achieve our aims for the season.”
“I’ll try chipping in with goals and assists and, yeah, we’ll see where that takes us”
Since mentioning what he hoped to achieve out on loan, Ben Cushnie now has competitive goals and assists in Bangor colours
Now, it is coming to fruition.
One Ben hit four in 59 minutes during the week. Another was to net two in five and put the cherry on top of the cake here.
If Cushnie’s opening strike was the product of a mixture of the pure line-leader’s instinct and a fortuitous opportunism, his second was one was he served both as the architect and the inflictor of the final seal on a sublime outcome.
Decisive combination:
In what was arguably the move of the match, the combination between Dylan O’Kane and Ben Cushnie for the clinching third Bangor goal against Ballinamallard was an incisive piece of play that proves how the Seasiders can create chances and ask questions of teams. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
Expertly playing a give-and-go with O’Kane in the final third, Cushnie’s interlink brought about a delectable first touch that enabled him to simply pluck the ball out of the air and pierce a shot towards goal.
And didn’t he just.
Not many players possess the technique to fire home in that way, but he placed perfectly into the top right corner and put an emphatic seal on what was a well-earned three points. He looks a player.
And all that after dancing from one end of the pitch to the other having left Ballinamallard sweating in transition.
Supporters around here are connoisseurs for that.
In the same breath, two devastating touches meant that a 3-0 victory was signed and sealed. Ballinamallard were Irish Cup Finalists right as Bangor were lifting the Ballymena League, but the tables had turned once again – just as they had on Ards. Just as they had on Portadown.
Perhaps the gravity of what is happening hasn’t even sunk in yet.
When Dillon sounded his whistle for the final few peeps of the afternoon, three more points were banked.
A sense of déjà vu was carried as well. The last trip Bangor made to Ferney Park that ended in glorious victory was by a 3-0 scoreline in May 2011, where one player scored twice and another chipped in with one; 12 years and four months on, that exact case happened again.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday Six (9/9/23) | ||
| Ards | 2 | 2 | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Ballinamallard United | 0 | 3 | Bangor |
| Dundela | 3 | 1 | Knockbreda |
| Institute | 2 | 1 | Harland and Wolff Welders |
| Newington | 3 | 2 | Dergview |
| Portadown | 4 | 1 | Annagh United |
The good times just keep rolling on. That is 10 points from 18 available and a fourth match unbeaten across all competitions, not mentioning seven goals and the three Bens who all made their mark in this most memorable of away days.
So often they say a strong start is key in a league like this. Well, if Bangor were going by that message, they are certainly heeding it.
And the best still feels yet to come.
Larne trip awaits in difficult County Antrim Shield quarter-final assignment
Moments after full-time at the weekend, Bangor also learned their next foes in the County Antrim Shield quarter-finals.
They’ve had kinder draws, it’s fair to say.
The Seasiders will travel to Shield four-peat chasers Larne in the next round of the prestigious competition as reward for overcoming Ballyclare Comrades last week, heading to Inver Park cast as firm underdogs against a full-time opponent.
Stat attack:
The last time Bangor and Larne met in a cup setting was in January 2022, when the Invermen counted on four goals by Ronan Hale and an Andy Scott finish to despatch the Seasiders 5-0 at Clandeboye Park in the Fifth Round of the Irish Cup.
The Inver Reds, who won the first Irish League title in their history last season, firmly rank among the crème de la crème in Northern Ireland football having been elevated in status under the tutelage of home town businessman Kenny Bruce since 2017. The 135-year-old Shield – a tournament just a year older than Larne FC themselves – has served as a base from which they have been able to add senior silverware to their cabinet.
Clash of defending champions:
After delivering four goals to down Ballyclare Comrades, Ben Arthurs will return to east Antrim with fuel in the fire to make a difference against Larne at Inver Park. The Kircubbin striker is likely to face another Peninsula-refined talent in Newtownards youngster Dylan Sloan, who has established himself in Larne’s midfield of late. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Having won the ‘Bin Lid’ three times in a row, overcoming Glentoran in 2021 before dealing Final blows on Linfield in both 2022 and 2023, Tiernan Lynch’s panel are bidding to become the first team to win it a fourth time in succession since the Blues between 1981 and 1984.
Bangor know that a monumental challenge awaits in prospect to topple that endeavour when Tuesday, October 10 rolls around.
Larne’s Gibson Cup-clinching campaign in review (league stats, 2022/23):
- Position – first-place (champions)
- Points – 83 (38 matches played)
- Goals scored – 64
- Goals conceded – 22
- Top scorer – Lee Bonis (15 goals)
- Top assister – Lee Bonis, Leroy Millar (nine assists)
- Clean sheets – 22 (20 Rohan Ferguson, two Jack McIntyre)
All the same, such opportunities to test one’s mettle can fuel the fire, and the Yellows know that cup runs in senior-status trophies are worth plunging into. Lee Feeney will be eager to build momentum as October begins with consecutive Tuesday night visits to the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds in Coleraine and Larne’s Inver Park.
| County Antrim Shield | Quarter-Finals (10/10/23) | |
| Ards | vs | Glentoran |
| Ballymacash Rangers | vs | Knockbreda |
| Carrick Rangers | vs | Dundela |
| Larne | vs | Bangor |
Should the second-tier visitors remarkably upset the odds in east Antrim, a tussle with either Knockbreda or Ballymacash Rangers will await in the semi-finals, with the remaining couple of top-flight sides – Glentoran and Carrick Rangers – tied with Ards and Dundela respectively on the other side of the draw.
Super Cup Final action for Ladies, while Reserves hit double digits in hefty win
And in the weekend action, the PwC Super Cup Final took place at Blanchflower Park on Saturday evening, where Bangor FC Ladies took the field for their curtain-closer this term.
The Seasiders faced Lisburn Rangers Ladies in their first major Final – an occasion always destined to end on a high given their gallant success over Ballyclare Comrades Ladies in a famous semi-final night at Clandeboye Park – and faced up to the NIWFA Championship winners in east Belfast hopeful of one last shock.
It wasn’t quite to be, though, with Rangers running out 5-0 winners to add to their trophy haul this campaign.
The Stanley Park side were three goals up at the interval before adding another two in the second period that put the seal on that success.
For a first season in management, a third-place finish following the team’s step up from the third-tier and the opportunity to even appear in this showpiece is a more than satisfying return for first-campaign boss Ethan Boylan, who will reflect on the achievements of the past several months with a great deal of pride.
Elsewhere, Bangor Reserves ran up a double-digit total against PSNI Olympic on Friday night.
At Breda Park, the Under-20s delivered a 10-goal haul against the Police side that lifts them up to the top of the table after two matchdays.
Four-goal Jordan Hughes was the dangerman-in-chief here, with his haul further supplemented by a brace from Callum Johnston and strikes by Jay Boyd, Charley Craig, Ruairi Wright and Ethan Scott that ensures the opening-day 6-0 defeat of Ballymacash Rangers has been backed up.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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