As the proverb goes, all good things must come to an end. But, all the same, an ending can spark a new beginning – and with the action coming thick and fast, Bangor will hope that is just what transpires following a first loss in six games against Dergview last time out. For the second time this term, the Seasiders left with no points despite having converted the first goal of the contest, and a long trip back from Castlederg was tinged with less-than-subtle disappointment.
Naturally, when you embark on these long hauls, you want to take the full prize back home with you. Equally, it is a school of learning, and swallowing the bitter pill of defeat once in a while can serve to refocus the mind on making it right the next time. As the Seagulls flock away, with four away days in the next five matches forthcoming, lessons can be taken on board and applied to the trials that are to come thereafter.
Unbeaten streak ends in Castlederg as hosts turn table to win over Seasiders
Bound for a second long-haul journey west in three weeks, Bangor supporters set off optimistic of witnessing the players prolong a six-match unbeaten run since the middle of August.
In a good mood as the faithful set their sat-navs for Castlederg, with Newington most recently falling under the yellow and blue sword at Clandeboye Park seven days prior, the awaiting test of Championship stalwarts Dergview was not one that – on the face – filled folk with dread.
The weather forecast, on the other hand, could have dampened the mood irrespective.
Storm Agnes battered British and Irish shores in the week, and the calm was to be but a short reprieve; a clear-sky Friday followed by a torrent of rain surging in from the south.
The border town of Castlederg in Co Tyrone was among the first victims of that grey cloud. Travelling Seasiders were swept up in it as the Darragh Park pitch was noticeably softened; what part was that to play in how proceedings unfolded?
Come 3pm on the last day of September, we would find out.
Starting line-up:
Bangor’s line-up for the trip to face Dergview saw three changes made; Lewis Harrison’s return from suspension was to be expected, while Adam Neale and Marc Orbinson were decided upon at opposite ends of the pitch, up top and in goals respectively. Image from myself.
Lee Feeney’s team selection revealed a handful of alterations – perhaps most eye-catching between the sticks, where other commitments for usual first-choice James Taylor meant that Marc Orbinson got the nod. The 28-year-old was making his second start of the season, and 10th following his arrival last summer.
Among the frontline, a second switch saw Ben Cushnie drop to the substitutes’ bench in favour of Adam Neale who, after teeing up Tom Mathieson’s winner versus the Swans the previous Saturday, returned to form a two-pronged pair with Ben Arthurs up top. And, in midfield, the returning Lewis Harrison came back from his one-game ban to immediately retake starting responsibilities; Jack Henderson was the one to make way in the centre.
Substitutes:
Of those to drop out, James Taylor’s commitments elsewhere meant it was a second straight matchday squad appearance for teenage stopper Marcus Thompson, while Jack Henderson and Ben Cushnie were both included on the bench. Image from myself.
Meanwhile, in Dergview’s line-up – the hosts still under the interim tutelage of one-time Omagh Town, Hibernian and Bristol City wing wizard Ivan Sproule – they reprised their big names, with experience in the form of Keith Cowan, Garth Falconer and skipper Blaine Burns allied to the youth of the likes of Padraig Lynch, Dean Corrigan and Niall Fielding.
The Dergs were aiming to record a second home win in succession, given they conquered Knockbreda 5-0 to shoot themselves out of the bottom two; the clash beforehand, a 4-2 reversal to Ards at Clandeboye, proved to be ex-boss Tommy Canning’s last in charge.
Referee Neil Quigley led both sets of players out, each fuelled with determination to remain on the winning trail.
And 17 minutes in, Harrison set the visitors on the right path.
Fighting against the elements, the harsh wind and the pouring rain, a cross was flighted in from the left flank towards the back stick where a plethora of Bangor bodies lay in wait.
Seanna Foster, cut inside from his standard right wing-back berth and joining Arthurs among the pack, acutely nodded into the trajectory of the onrushing skipper; Harrison, chasing his first goal of the campaign, took a single well-weighted touch to settle himself for the shot.
Stat attack:
Seanna Foster, after 41 appearances for Bangor, is into double digits for assists; his set-up for Lewis Harrison was his 10th in yellow and blue.
His second rifled the size-five sphere right where the travelling faithful were baying for it to go.
With the aid of an outstretched leg from one of the Constitutes rear-guard, the ball nestled nicely in the back of the net. The popular 24-year-old, merely three months short of four years in yellow and blue, hit home just his fifth goal in that span to send the away end into raptures; if his sending-off against Harland and Wolff Welders a fortnight earlier left a sour taste, this moment was oh so sweet.
The teak-tough Belfast man is one of the first names on Feeney’s teamsheet with good reason. There was a bright start amid the cloud cover just south of the River Derg – though there was a long way to go before the result could be set in stone.
Churning out the assists:
The anticipated return of Seanna Foster to Clandeboye Park has lived up to the hype and then some. No player can top his three assists this campaign, achieved in only 457 minutes of football since his loan return to Bangor was confirmed at the tail end of August. The 26-year-old has very much been proving his worth to Lee Feeney. Image from Sarah Harkness.
The hosts rammed that point home when they bagged their equaliser.
Only 20 minutes later, what was perceived as a harsh call by the Bangor following was taken full advantage of by Sproule’s battalion.
On the end of it to apply the finishing blow was Dungannon Swifts loanee Lynch. The highly-rated forward, who had hitherto found the net in both of Dergview’s first couple of league triumphs this term, notched up his third strike when he guided in off the underside of the crossbar.
That statistic bore ominously. Lynch, who burst onto the scene earlier this year when given his first-team bow by Dean Shiels – he netted a 93rd-minute winner at Knockbreda to shoot Dungannon into the last-eight of the Irish Cup, then converting a crucial leveller that set the Swifts up for an unlikely victory at Cliftonville in the Premiership – had only netted in Dergs successes this term.
Naturally, Bangor would not have wanted him to complete a hat-trick.
The teenager’s finish beyond Orbinson, whose clean sheet tally remains at four from 10, did, however, re-light the homesters’ fire.
And on 55 minutes, the level pegging was to teeter in the other direction.
This time, the counter-attack proved Bangor’s undoing. Again, there was some controversy detected among the away following at chief whistler Quigley’s call, but teams that compete at this level take it in their stride and apply a dagger.
And that’s just what Niall McGinley did.
The three-on-two emerged as Dergview swooped from one end of the pitch to the other, the pitch opened up, playing their cards correctly ahead of the former Annagh United man slotting in past Orbinson to put his side into pole position.
The 23-year-old, who, as it transpired, scored the very final goal of the Canning era – a penalty on the stroke of the hour during their defeat to Ards – doubled up his season tally; he played two full 90s in Annagh’s promotion play-off near-miss in May, thus it is no wonder he has come to the fore in black and white stripes.
Bangor sought to hit back – and the opportunities were there.
Seasoned Michael Halliday, who was introduced 15 minutes from time, was only a whisker wide with a targeted header, while Adam Neale was also left with his hands on his head.
And, with virtually the final kick of the match, Harrison had the chance to double up his tally and preserve a point in the dying embers; he received the ball from close range, hopeful of emulating centre-back namesake Lewis Francis’ last-gasp feat against Institute, but the ball instead sailed over the crossbar rather than bustling the net.
Six minutes of added-time had been played by that juncture. There couldn’t have been much more on the clock when Quigley signalled for time.
The unbeaten streak was cut at six.
With that, the Championship takes a notably congested appearance.
Bangor, who could even have lifted from fifth to fourth had the Welders suffered a three-goal defeat to Annagh United in Portadown, are instead crammed among the respective Holywood and Tandragee Road clubs – as well as Ballyclare Comrades – in a four-way tie on 14 points. The Seasiders remain the fifth-best side in the standings at present, with Newington, Portadown and Dundela all four points better off at the summit.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday 10 (30/9/23) | ||
| Annagh United | 2 | 1 | Harland and Wolff Welders |
| Ards | 1 | 2 | Portadown |
| Dergview | 2 | 1 | Bangor |
| Institute | 1 | 2 | Dundela |
| Knockbreda | 2 | 4 | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Newington | 1 | 3 | Ballinamallard United |
The Annagh come next on the league front, checking into Clandeboye Park this Saturday, in between testing Tuesday traversals to Premiership opponents in the cups – Coleraine this week, Larne the next.
Nevertheless, defeat on Saturday has fuelled Lewis Harrison’s fire to bite back strong in the BetMcLean Cup on Tuesday.
“The first 20 minutes, we started on the front foot, we were playing well, we got the goal and we were in a good position,” the midfielder reflected.
“But after that, we let our guard down, we let them (Dergview) get on top of us and impose the game on us, and they made it tough.
The quotes section:
“The first 20 minutes, we started on the front foot, we were playing well, we got the goal and we were in a good position. But after that, we let our guard down, we let them (Dergview) get on top of us and impose the game on us, and they made it tough” – Bangor captain Lewis Harrison admitted there was a drop-off after the Seasiders had opened the scoring at Darragh Park. Image from Gary Carson.
“The two goals… they were poor goals, cheap goals for us to give away. The first one came from a set-play and the second, it was just a break, they worked their way up the pitch and got through us too easily, and they punished us.
“The pitch was alright, it was well looked after, and we were able to create chances”
A slick playing surface helped Bangor to get the ball closer to the Dergview goal, believes Lewis Harrison
“The pitch was alright, it was well looked after, and we were able to create chances.
“I probably should have had another one, last kick of the game. The ball fell for me, I got my foot on it but I just wasn’t able to hit the target, and we had a few other chances late on to get something from the game too.
“(Michael) Halliday, he’d a header, he probably will feel he should be scoring that. In saying that, my shot is probably the kind of one you’d want Halliday on the end of, they’re the kind he would be able to put away, but it wasn’t quite to be.
“Performance-wise, we weren’t at our best, but good thing is we have a chance to make it up quickly on Tuesday night”
Bangor captain Lewis Harrison believes the Seasiders are well teed up to deliver a rousing display against Coleraine
“In the end, performance-wise, we weren’t at our best, but good thing is we have a chance to make it up quickly on Tuesday night.”
Stat attack:
Of Lewis Harrison’s five goals for Bangor, three have come at home and two have been on the road; this was his first road finish since January 2022, when he hit the net during a 1-0 victory away to Limavady United.
Ahead of the Seagulls’ trip to the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds, Harrison – ever wary of the Bannsiders’ qualities – will embody a collective determination to shock Oran Kearney’s panel, who have made the last three Finals of NIFL’s showpiece knock-out competition.
“We know we’re facing a wounded animal on Tuesday night,” explained Harrison, bearing in mind that Coleraine lost 5-0 to Cliftonville and 4-0 to Crusaders in their last two outings. “But we’re going out there looking for a reaction, no doubt about that.
“For me, the more cups you’re in, the better. It means more legs in us, the chance to use up the whole squad, and there may be three or four changes for the game from Saturday which will keep us all on our toes.
The quotes section:
“For me, the more cups you’re in, the better. It means more legs in us, the chance to use up the whole squad, and there may be three or four changes for the game from Saturday which will keep us all on our toes. With the astroturf pitch up there now, it’s probably back to a little more like we are used to as well, which could help us put in a performance. The pressure’s off us, we’re not going in as favourites and, for me, that’s sometimes where we play our best football” – Lewis Harrison is eager for Bangor to show the best version of themselves when the Seasiders tackle Coleraine. Image from Gary Carson.
“With the astroturf pitch up there now, it’s probably back to a little more like we are used to as well, which could help us put in a performance. The pressure’s off us, we’re not going in as favourites and, for me, that’s sometimes where we play our best football.
“So, we’re going with a plan to win, it’s another long trip and hopefully we’ll make it count”
Bangor captain Lewis Harrison is eager for Bangor to enter the match-up against Coleraine with a winning mentality
“So, we’re going with a plan to win, it’s another long trip and hopefully we’ll make it count.”
Reserves preserve unbeaten start with well-earned home draw versus Ports
Bangor Reserves’ winning start to the Championship/PIL Development League was halted on Saturday, but a 1-1 draw with Portadown Reserves means they remain unbeaten and on top of the pile.
The visitors drew first blood six minutes before half-time, when a mix-up in defence was punished fully by a Ports attacker, who slotted low into the bottom left for the opening goal of the game.
But, with Bangor banging on the door, having struck the woodwork no fewer than three times either side of the interval, it was Charley Craig who showed a striker’s instinct to level with 78 minutes on the clock. His cool finish means he keeps up his record of scoring in every match so far this season – a perfect five from five for the teenage marksman.
Craig, who hit the post after Jay Boyd twice cracked the upright in the first half, netted his sixth finish of the campaign, and that proved enough to secure a well-earned point for David Downes’ Seasiders, who stay top of the pile with 10 points from their four league fixtures so far this term.
Player spotlight:
Unlucky not to mark his display with a goal against Portadown, especially given he struck the woodwork twice throughout the 90 minutes, Jay Boyd has made a flying start to life since linking up from Ards. The young striker’s turn of pace and anticipation make him box-office viewing, and he caught the eye against the Ports with a number of shrewd runs. Image from Joe McEwan.
Reserves manager Downes felt his charges would have been good value for a victory in the side’s most recent league outing.
“It was one of those games that I think we deserved to win on balance of play,” Downes commented.
“We created so many opportunities but just couldn’t find the elusive goal we needed to win the game”
David Downes felt Bangor Reserves’ chance creation was excellent during the clash with Portadown Reserves
“At one point, we had four strikers on the pitch trying to get the winner. I couldn’t really criticise the boys after the game; we created so many opportunities but just couldn’t find the elusive goal we needed to win the game.
The quotes section:
“There was a good energy and work rate from the team all-round. Encouraging with our own application, particularly in the transitions. Plenty to work on over the next week or two, but I honestly don’t think we have reached the levels we are capable of just yet – but I can’t wait to see what we are like when we do”– Bangor Reserves boss David Downes spoke in glowing terms about how his team can grow going into the future months. Image from Joe McEwan.
“There was a good energy and work rate from the team all-round. Encouraging with our own application, particularly in the transitions.
“It was one of those games that I think we deserved to win on balance of play”
Bangor Reserves manager David Downes felt, had the Seasiders got more than just a point, they would have been deserved winners
“Plenty to work on over the next week or two, but I honestly don’t think we have reached the levels we are capable of just yet – but I can’t wait to see what we are like when we do.”
Featured image from Gary Carson.
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