First there was Ballinamallard. Then there’s Coleraine, Larne and Institute. For now, there’s Dergview. Quite what results Bangor will get from these away days in total, whether they will add to that victory in Fermanagh three weeks ago, will become clear in due course, but in this current run of form, there will not be a shortage in confidence for this Darragh Park escapade.
After six matches unbeaten, spirits are understandably high and confidence in the Seasiders’ system appears to be increasing by the week. That is bred out of consistently super form, and with four victories and two draws in that batch of half-dozen just gone, the aim is to close September on an unbeaten note with success away to the Dergs. That said, there are factors that add unpredictability – no less than in the hotseat, where there is a new interim in charge himself coming off the back of a resounding win.
Dergview traversal promises rain and wind, but a seventh heaven could await
For the second time in three weeks, Bangor are headed west.
Very, very west.
Following a week where a storm battered the British Isles and left a torrent in its wake, the quest now turns to navigating an on-pitch battle where the elements may well make a say.
Co Tyrone is the destination – to one of just three Irish League clubs from the county, in fact – and a trip to the very cusp of the western border with the Republic of Ireland awaits, with Dergview entertaining the Seasiders at their Darragh Park home venue.
Fresh from toppling the league leaders last time out, the latest flashpoint on this nine-month-long marathon sees the challenge take a new twist.
The Dergs, who are without a permanent manager just now, sit in 10th-place and, following their first home victory of the season last time out, are out of the relegation spots.
They will be determined to push on. Under the interim lead of one of Castlederg’s all-time greats, former Northern Ireland international Ivan Sproule, they routed Knockbreda in a five-star display that will have the players believing they have finally kickstarted their campaign.
Ahead of facing Lee Feeney’s squad, who extended their active unbeaten run to six matches after overhauling Newington at Clandeboye Park last Saturday, that shot in the arm could yet light the Constitutes’ fire when they again take to their home turf.
Not that you can sense a notion of anxiety or apprehension inside the Clandeboye camp. Recent showings have, in fact, revealed the opposite.
On the mark once again:
In seven appearances for Bangor, the dream start has been made by frontman Ben Cushnie, with three goals and one assist at a rate of one goal involvement every 109 minutes. That was bolstered last time out against Newington as he slotted home the opener, with Sean Brown embracing him in the post-strike celebrations. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The tussle with the Swans looked locked on for a draw as the dying embers approached. In the first half-hour, Ben Cushnie’s instinctive opener had been cancelled out by Eamonn Hughes’ penalty conversion, and the score remained deadlocked at one apiece for over an hour thereafter; step forth Tom Mathieson, though, to stab home an 89th-minute clincher.
Attacking midfielder Mathieson, who bagged his first goal of the season when turning one point into three, celebrated rapturously. It was clear how much the moment meant to him, and his team-mates rushed to surround him in unison.
Feeney threw his fist into the air, and as those in yellow and blue weathered seven minutes of additional time, the boss had further cause for revelry as the points tally rose to 14 points out of the 24 on offer.
It really has been a sterling start to proceedings.
But, when the going gets tough, the tough get going – and the going will get tough at the start of October, rest assured.
In the first two Tuesdays of October, Premiership opponents await. It is Coleraine first, at the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds in the BetMcLean Cup First Round, followed by a trip to Inver Park to tackle holders Larne in the County Antrim Shield; games where momentum will help.
With the Bannsiders, Finalists in each of the three most recent editions of NIFL’s showpiece decider, on the immediate horizon for Bangor – Oran Kearney’s men will demand answers from themselves in their bid to recover from a 5-0 reversal at Cliftonville’s hands this midweek – there can be little doubt that, should the 200-mile-round trip to what feels like the edge of the Earth and back end with three points safely carried back, a spring in the step can enable the players to shift through the gears just a little bit smoother.
Stat attack:
Founded in 1980, Dergview, alongside Dungannon Swifts and Coagh United, are one of the three current Irish League representatives from Co Tyrone. Playing their home games at Darragh Park, south of the River Derg, they are the sole representative of the county in the Championship and have maintained a level of stability within the division as one of the western-most clubs in Northern Ireland.
But Dergview, who mauled Breda courtesy of braces by Keith Cowan and Jamie Browne before Padraig Lynch put the seal on the result with five minutes remaining, are well-renowned campaigners at this level.
They have, however, had to adapt to a major change in the last fortnight.
Man in the hotseat:
One of the most illustrious names in the Playr-Fit Championship at present, Ivan Sproule has, in recent years, found his status rivalled by Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley as Castlederg’s greatest footballing export. But the revered former Omagh Town, Hibernian and Bristol City winger, who is in interim charge of Dergview, got off to a front-footed start after a 5-0 victory over Knockbreda. Image from The Scottish Sun.
Respected chief Tommy Canning resigned from his post following the previous week’s 4-2 defeat to Ards, becoming the first managerial casualty in the second-tier this term, with Sproule taking charge until a permanent successor is named.
Canning’s work deserves immense plaudits. He ensured that Tyrone retained its Championship status in 2022/23, when Dergview finished 10th-place, while the season before, the club achieved the right to dine among the division’s top six.
The season summary: Dergview (2022-23):
- Position: 10th-place
- Ground: Darragh Park, Castlederg, Co Tyrone
- Points: 41
- Goals for: 51
- Goals against: 68
- Top scorer: Mikhail Kennedy (17)
- Manager: Ivan Sproule (interim, since September 17, 2023)
In the off-season, however, there were challenges to contend with. Most notable would have been the departure of Mikhail Kennedy, the striker who was snapped up by Stephen Baxter’s Crusaders having top-scored with 17 Championship goals, while up-and-coming stars such as Oran Brogan (Loughgall) and Bobby Deane (Glenavon – since loaned to Institute) also made moves to Premiership suitors during the summer.
Some captivating players did come through the arrivals door too, mind, including Lynch – he linked up on loan from Dungannon Swifts, where his first senior goal came in the form of a 93rd-minute winner against Knockbreda in the Irish Cup – and Cowan, a 38-year-old fellow former Swift and Glentoran centre-back who joined from Donegal pride Finn Harps. Indeed, this is a microcosm of the dynamics of the squad.
Player spotlight:
The name of Keith Cowan in Irish League circles is hardly a foreign one; formerly of Glentoran, Dungannon Swifts, Drogheda United and Finn Harps, the 38-year-old now plies his trade for Dergview and has retained an eye for goal, with three of them in the Championship this term. Image from Glentoran FC.
Blend in Cowan with those like captain Blaine Burns and the marauding Garth Falconer who have been on the beaten track with young guns like Lynch, Niall Fielding and Dean Corrigan, and it all seems to gel.
The form book (Playr-Fit Championship):
- 26/8/23 – Dergview 0-1 Annagh United
- 2/9/23 – Dergview 0-1 Dundela
- 9/9/23 – Newington 3-2 Dergview
- 16/9/23 – Ards 4-2 Dergview
- 23/9/23 – Dergview 5-0 Knockbreda
Against Knockbreda, who Bangor face in a fortnight’s time in a rare Sunday afternoon outing, that certainly was the case.
That was a statement second victory of this term. The first success was sealed in dramatic fashion at Blanchflower Park, with Lynch’s late-show penchant at the fore again when he slotted home a 94th-minute winner against Harland and Wolff Welders to edge the contest 3-2.
And while they have tasted defeat six times, four were by just the odd goal – versus Portadown, Annagh United, Dundela and Newington.
They are tough in name and nature. And they have the potential to explode on adversaries.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday Nine (30/9/23) | |
| Annagh United | vs | Harland and Wolff Welders |
| Ards | vs | Portadown |
| Dergview | vs | Bangor |
| Institute | vs | Dundela |
| Knockbreda | vs | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Newington | vs | Ballinamallard United |
But Feeney does at least have some new aces in his pack.
Foremostly, he can once again welcome Lewis Harrison back into his line-up.
Seeing red:
Having played every minute of the season prior to his dismissal against Harland and Wolff Welders, midfielder Lewis Harrison had to sit out last weekend’s victory over Newington. The captain is, however, once more available for the trip to Dergview, and will bid to bolster Bangor’s midfield. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The Belfast-based captain served a one-game suspension last week for the red card he picked up against the Welders a fortnight ago – a second yellow card was dished in his direction for a high foot deep into the goalless draw in east Belfast – but the midfield consistency model is back at the Kilkeel chief’s disposal.
And how valuable he is. He hadn’t missed a single second hitherto before that sending-off.
That said, defensive stalwarts Gareth Beattie and Ryan Arthur remain sidelined, both continuing their rehabilitation from respective leg and ankle lay-offs.
Mathieson, who was the unlucky sacrifice made by Feeney following Harrison’s red at the Blanchflower – he was substituted off mere minutes after entering the fray himself – may have staked a robust claim for a starting berth after sealing his first second-tier finish in 18 months against The ‘Ton. So, too, has Adam Neale; he has mixed starting and replacement berths in recent weeks, but an exquisite set-up for the winner met everyone’s satisfaction.
And, with the Ballynahinch line-leader seven long weeks apart from his last goal, the 30-year-old’s determination to strike the killer blow will have his manager in contemplation.
Scenes of jubilation:
The excitement in the air was very palpable at Clandeboye Park last Saturday afternoon, with Tom Mathieson rushing away to celebrate Bangor’s winner with Karl Devine and Adam Neale close behind amid the euphoric scenes that lifted Clandeboye Park. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Feeney is spoilt for choice. Neale, Cushnie, Mathieson, Ben Arthurs and Scott McArthur have all now hit the net within nine matches of the campaign’s curtain-raiser; what more tricks do they have up their sleeves in the months ahead?
Stat attack:
Bangor’s mean run in league football took on an extra boost against Newington, as the Seasiders have lost just three of their last 38 outings between the Championship and Premier Intermediate League.
Let’s focus on the here and now, though.
Because the atmosphere is bright and the air is nice; the clear outcome of a winning culture.
And winning is the target again.
Reserves bid for glory against Ports as side aim to put Shield exit behind them
Meanwhile, Bangor Reserves return to the league front this Saturday when they encounter the challenge of Portadown Reserves at Clandeboye Park.
David Downes and his charges harbour keen aspirations of bouncing back from their Junior Shield elimination to Abbeyview last Saturday, when they fell by the odd goal in five away at Antrim Forum against their BSML Division One opponents – and what better way to do it than extending their winning league run to four from four.
The Ports visit north Down in buoyant mood, with two wins from two in league play – they overhauled Limavady United in a Monday night match-up at Shamrock Park, and defeated Warrenpoint Town at Milltown in their opening matchday – while, in the Bob Radcliffe Cup, they were only narrowly edged by highly capable Mid-Ulster League side Bourneview Mill.
Pre-match preparations:
The Bangor Reserves players took an interesting approach in their preparation for the visit of Portadown’s equivalents to Clandeboye Park on Saturday. They used inflatable balls in their set-up which, it is hoped, will help inspire them to victory when they take on their Shamrock Park opponents.
Thus, the Seasiders can anticipate a stern test of their credentials from the Co Armagh men, who remained perfect following that 2-0 success over the travelling Roesiders last time out.
Kick-off at Clandeboye Park this Saturday, September 30, is at 11am.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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