Like the last home outing, this is a match-up that was a third-tier occurrence in the not-too-distant past. Annagh United, who achieved promotion from the Premier Intermediate League in 2020 after Covid-19 caused football to come to a standstill, have since marked themselves out as one of the Championship’s top-performing sides over the two seasons they have contested; twice featuring in the promotion play-off is testament to that.
Bangor, this season’s new boys to the division, have teed this contest up that it should be close on paper. With these two outfits both dead even on 14 points – albeit Annagh have a game in hand – and the Seasiders marginally ahead on goal difference, both outfits will bid to keep pace with the current top three and steal a march while this term remains in bloom.
Annagh hope to leave three-point calling card and spoil the Clandeboye party
First things first… has the stardust settled?
It was an emotional roller-coaster at the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds on Tuesday night, when Bangor were valiant in defeat to Coleraine; taking their illustrious top-flight foes to extra-time, shivers were sent down the spine when Ben Arthurs’ last-gasp penalty forced half an hour more to settle proceedings.
It wasn’t quite to be for the boys in yellow and blue, as Lee Lynch rifled home from range to net a 2-1 victory for the Bannsiders, but the performance and sense of occasion was one to savour in the north west.
Attentions turn swiftly, though, and the Seasiders are back on their home patch when they encounter Annagh United in the Playr-Fit Championship.
Tackling last season’s second-tier representative in the promotion play-off, it is not so long ago that these two met in the Premier Intermediate League – just before Covid, in fact, as Annagh’s defaulted title triumph was decreed following the 2019/20 term’s curtailment.
The Portadown club, who have suffered successive play-off defeats to their noisy neighbours from Shamrock Park in 2022 and then to Dungannon Swifts earlier this year, have quickly hit the high notes in this division – and, needless to say, will ask serious questions on Saturday.
Bangor supporters, however, will hope their team builds on the positivity of the performance against Oran Kearney’s men – they showed thrilling determination to respond after Matthew Shevlin headed home a deadlock-breaker mere minutes from the end of regulation – and show The Annagh a piece of their mind.
Equally, with the Championship’s mid-section being impossible to separate, such that these are two of four teams perched dead even on 14 points ahead of kick-off, the desire to add three to that tally is tangible on both counts.
Annagh, entering their third campaign at this rung since topping the third-tier with 33 points in just 14 matches, have come leaps and bounds lately.
Man in the hotseat:
Annagh United’s rise up the NIFL ladder has been masterminded by manager Ciaran McGurgan, who guided the Portadown club to the promotion play-off for the second successive occasion last campaign. Image from NI Football League website.
Manager Ciaran McGurgan has the maroon-coloured outfit playing scintillating football; with an orchestrated press and a desire to play at tempo from defence, they transition from the back to the front speedily, a general handful to contain and oozing composure and class when at full pelt.
Stat attack:
Founded in 1963 and playing at their home pitch on the Tandragee Road for 40 years, Annagh United may have spent much of their history contending with the Premiership success of their near-neighbours Portadown, but now, they have commended respect for a well-orchestrated rise up the Irish League ranks. The Portadown club have enjoyed a stable Irish League history, spending time in both the second and third-tiers, and most recently reaching two promotion play-offs.
Last season, they found themselves in the unforeseen scenario of competing in the play-off for the second time in a row.
Ensuring a third-place finish, they set about preparing for another Championship season when, in a bolt from the blue, Warrenpoint Town were refused a licence by the Irish FA.
The season summary: Annagh United (2022-23):
- Position: third-place
- Ground: BMG Arena, Portadown, Co Armagh
- Points: 59
- Goals for: 58
- Goals against: 43
- Top scorer: Stephen Murray (18)
- Manager: Ciaran McGurgan (since July 1, 2018)
The Milltown team’s subsequent relegation from the second-tier into the PIL handed Annagh a lifeline – a shot at fulfilling an unlikely dream when they took The ‘Point’s place.
They very nearly delivered on it. They led following the first leg, welcoming Dean Shiels’ Swifts to the BMG Arena but seizing the initiative firstly through Craig Taylor and via Michael Ruddy’s own goal, but the tables were turned when the action turned back to the Premiership establishment’s Stangmore Park home.
Ethan McGee curled home a gorgeous opener before striker Michael O’Connor’s delicate chip in the second period preserved the Tyrone team’s top-flight berth, albeit not after handling that scare of going behind.
That was a perceivedly under-strength Annagh, too – McGurgan admitted at the time that they had just 13 senior players available – but if that team was under-strength, then it is a show of the quality that exists in their ranks.
History lesson:
Bangor’s record against Annagh United following their return to the Irish League doesn’t make for the best reading for Seasider fans; last season’s 4-0 reversal in the BetMcLean Cup was the heaviest defeat of their entire campaign, while in 2019, a comeback win for the hosts at the BMG Arena makes it two from two in those stakes. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Indeed, while Bangor’s BetMcLean Cup effort went down early this year, the contest with Coleraine was much closer than 13 months ago.
Annagh’s 4-0 thumping at Clandeboye Park was the Seasiders’ heaviest defeat all season.
Captain Lewis Harrison illustrated the state of play.
“Again, they’re going to come and make life difficult for us,” he anticipated following the 2-1 defeat by Dergview last Saturday.
“It’s so tight in the league. You’ve now three teams level on points at the top, and we’re right in the mix below them”
The tightness in the league at present has fuelled Lewis Harrison’s belief that opportunities can be reaped by winning games
“They got a good win there (a 2-1 success over H&W Welders) and they’ll be coming here looking to get one over us and keep up their momentum.
“It’s so tight in the league. You’ve now three teams level on points at the top, and we’re right in the mix below them. If we’d beaten Dergview, if we won the game, we would’ve only been a point off top, so a lot of it is down to fine margins and you need to be on it every week.”
The quotes section:
“Again, they’re (Annagh) going to come and make life difficult for us. They got a good win there (a 2-1 success over H&W Welders) and they’ll be coming here looking to get one over us and keep up their momentum. It’s so tight in the league. You’ve now three teams level on points at the top, and we’re right in the mix below them. If we’d beaten Dergview, if we won the game, we would’ve only been a point off top, so a lot of it is down to fine margins and you need to be on it every week” – Bangor captain Lewis Harrison believes there is no room for complacency in order to achieve positive results in the Championship. Image from Gary Carson.
After scoring his first goal of the season in the defeat to Dergview, he added: “A few of the boys tried to say it was an own goal, they were on the wind-up! Yeah, I’m claiming it – I got a few goals and assists last season, but basically all of them came after Christmas; I don’t get started until the new year! But, it’s good to contribute from midfield.
“And that’s important, too. Grabbing goals from all over the pitch and creating chances from across the pitch, that’ll all help us.”
“Grabbing goals from all over the pitch and creating chances from across the pitch, that’ll all help us”
Lewis Harrison is keen to see an increased amount of goals coming from different areas of the pitch going forward
Annagh’s well-fought victory against the Welders, sealed courtesy of Ruairi McDonald’s delightful double, was perhaps a result that had meant more than just three points.
In addition to not having won in four matches across all competitions hitherto, as well as the devastating and sad double blow of Ryan Swan and Ryan Moffatt suffering serious injuries, a positive run may be just what is needed to lift spirits.
Coveted striker Swan, snapped up from Warrenpoint in the summer, will spend an extended period on the sidelines after a double leg break, while 37-year-old vice-captain Moffatt, who sustained a ruptured patella tendon and dislocated knee during a match-up with Institute that was abandoned as a result, is also a loss on the pitch for the Co Armagh institution.
However, having fallen to three-goal defeats to Newington (3-0) and Portadown (4-1), as well as being eliminated from the Mid Ulster Cup by Warrenpoint (2-1), the signs point to Annagh having rediscovered their collective groove.
The form book (Playr-Fit Championship):
- 2/9/23 – Annagh United 0-3 Newington
- 9/9/23 – Portadown 4-1 Annagh United
- 16/9/23 – Ballyclare Comrades 0-0 Annagh United
- 23/9/23 – Annagh United A-A Institute
- 30/9/23 – Annagh United 2-1 Harland and Wolff Welders
A creditable scoreless draw at Dixon Park against Ballyclare Comrades was followed up by top scorer McDonald’s third and fourth strikes of the season last weekend. In midweek, as they took to the BetMcLean Cup stage, they fought bravely from a goal down to conquer Portstewart in extra-time; Brandon Doyle, Conall Young and Darren Doherty’s brace sealing their last-16 spot by a 4-1 scoreline. They face Loughgall in the next round.
Player to watch:
A dedicated servant to Annagh United since joining from Loughgall in January 2022, industrious midfielder Scott McCullough – the older brother of Glentoran defender and Northern Ireland Euro 2016 squad member Luke McCullough – was on the scoresheet when he faced Bangor 13 months ago, and the multi-faceted 31-year-old will hope for more of the same this time around. His backstory also reflects a strong-willed character, having overcome leukaemia and osteonecrosis earlier in his career to excel in Irish League football. Image from Sarah Harkness.
As far as The Annagh are concerned, Bangor – who they inflicted the knock-out blow upon 13 months ago through Conor Mullen, Craig Taylor, Stephen Murray and Scott McCullough finishes – are next in the firing line.
Lee Feeney will be well aware of that.
“I thought we went toe to toe with them until the end, you know,” he reflected on Tuesday night’s goings-on. “We never stopped fighting; we never dropped our heads. It was just that bit of quality that saw them over the line in the end.
“We threw everything at it.”
The challenge that pertinently stands out is the emotional recovery.
“I thought we went toe to toe with them until the end, you know… We never stopped fighting; we never dropped our heads”
Bangor boss Lee Feeney saluted the effort that his players put in when they faced Coleraine on Tuesday night
It is one thing pushing so hard for a result against an established force of football in a one-off cup match. It is another coming within a hair’s breadth of taking their number, barely falling short and then building yourself back up for another duel four days later.
Feeney is not the type to make excuses, though. He knows, and he has seen, what his panel are capable of, what they can do.
Three of his top performers in the rear-guard were at opposite ends of the age spectrum. James Taylor pulled out his full array of goalkeeping talents; cat-like reflexes to deny Jack O’Mahony, fleet-footedness to stop Conor McKendry and bold fists to swat away crosses from the flanks as Matthew Shevlin lurked large like the cold-blooded predator that he is.
In front of him, Lewis Francis (19) and Sean Brown (18) withstood the assignment of a true top-end Premiership frontline, causing the odd problem at the other end of the pitch, too.
The midfield trio of Harrison, Jack Henderson and Karl Devine, a combination that was featuring for the first-ever time, also held their nerve in a three-on-three battle in midfield – Devine, who had not started since facing Ballymacash Rangers in mid-February, was a particularly well-oiled machine after much rehab to return to this point.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday 10 (7/10/23) | |
| Ballinamallard United | vs | Ards |
| Ballyclare Comrades | vs | Newington |
| Bangor | vs | Annagh United |
| Harland and Wolff Welders | vs | Knockbreda |
| Institute | vs | Dergview |
| Portadown | vs | Dundela |
The season may only be a quarter of the way done but already, it feels like points are of the essence. Ballinamallard United, on nine points and in the relegation play-off position, are as close to Knockbreda at the Championship basement as they are to Newington at the peak.
The season so far:
- 5/8/23 – Ballyclare Comrades 3-2 Bangor (McGrandles OG, McArthur)
- 11/8/23 – Bangor 1-0 Ards (A. Neale)
- 18/8/23 – Bangor 1-2 Dundela (Arthurs)
- 25/8/23 – Portadown 0-1 Bangor (McArthur)
- 2/9/23 – Bangor 1-1 Institute (Francis)
- 5/9/23 – Bangor 4-2 Ballyclare Comrades (Arthurs x4)
- 9/9/23 – Ballinamallard United 0-3 Bangor (Arthurs, Cushnie x2)
- 16/9/23 – Harland and Wolff Welders 0-0 Bangor
- 23/9/23 – Bangor 2-1 Newington (Cushnie, Mathieson)
- 30/9/23 – Dergview 2-1 Bangor (Harrison)
- 3/10/23 – (AET) Coleraine 2-1 Bangor (Arthurs – penalty)
It provides great entertainment, this league. It also provides opportunities to those who grasp them.
And it punishes those who don’t.
This is one such. Bangor have belief in themselves that they can get the job done and will, once more, bid to execute in turn.
Cup action for Reserves in bid to leave long-travelling Limavady disappointed
Bangor Reserves are also in action on Saturday, when attention turns to the Junior Cup.
After receiving a straight bye following the withdrawal of Glebe Rangers Reserves three weeks ago, the second string will host Limavady Rugby FC at Bangor Sportsplex.
After sharing the spoils with Portadown Reserves last week, when Charley Craig’s equaliser earned David Downes’ troops a draw after thrice striking the upright, attentions are briefly diverted from the Championship/PIL Development League when the north west club visit.
The visitors, who have seven wins and a draw from their eight matches in the NWJL Division One this term, will hope to show some of their steel and nerve against the current leaders of the youth league – the Seasiders have scored 20 while conceding just three times in the first four encounters in that setting – in a close battle for the right to advance to the next round.
Also aiming to impress in yellow and blue will be the in-form Jay Boyd, who has made a flying start since linking up from Ards Reserves over the summer, and Sonny Redford – a focal point whose increased first-team exposure is boding well for him at present. Boss Downes will naturally want all his players firing on all cylinders.
Kick-off at Bangor Sportsplex is at 1:30pm this Saturday, October 7.
Featured image from Sarah Harkness.
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