North Down Ladies - Bangor Ladies
Name change imminent
for North Down
Negotiations with Bangor Football Club are progressing at a high rate - North Down ladies are now poised to change their identity to Bangor Ladies F.C. - the official ladies section of the Irish League side - based at Clandeboye Park.
Trevor Best, chairman of Bangor F.C. and Bangor Manager George Dunlop have had very positive talks with the ladies committee in relation to developing a permanent link between the two clubs.
Clandeboye Park has already been used as the ladies venue for league games and this is set to continue later in the season - the pitch currently closed for important ground repair work - and although these regularly meetings are continuing - the future looks very positive.
The Irish League side have already suited out the ladies section with a new kit and a number of others developments will following - including the formation of a junior section - which will be supervised and organised through a late summer scheme in August at Clandeboye Park involving local schools and youth groups - more details will follow soon.
With so much going on off the pitch at the moment - on the pitch the side are starting to get into their stride in what is proving - a very tough and difficult Intermediate division - with another defeat away to Larne Ladies on Wednesday night - their third defeat in four games.
Although disappointed with the result - the level of consistency in the performances are giving the club the backbone of a very strong structure and once again this was evident on Wednesday evening.
Although, Larne Ladies are a good side - North Down Ladies were at times a match for them and particularly in the first half - it was felt that the game was there for the taking - the home side, in front of a large partisan support, not starting particularly well.
Squad: Angi Young, Jacki Price, Trish Webb, Kim Dockery, Joanna Williamson; Christina McNamara, Lisa Mahood, Cathy Duncan, Carolyn Scott, Petra Armstrong, Deirdre Savage. Subs Alanna Sloan, Susan Cull, Julie Graham.
Only beaten once so far this season, Larn Ladies are a well equipped outfit, who have a solid and experienced defence - Jill Small, a formidable and uncompromising player, who at Ballymena All Stars, played at the very top level, week in and week out - albeit stepping down a few divisions, is a fantastic talent - and she was arguably the difference between the two sides - with a good performance at the back and a late second half strike.
Some crunching tackles flying about early on though - didn’t deter the front line of Savage and Armstrong - but set the pattern of the match, as Larne sat back and relied on Small to tidy up at the back - the mistake the visitors made was trying to play down the middle - and not taking advantage of the width of the local Amtiville Playing Field pitches.
With no real substance to the game early on - only a couple of half chances in the early exchanges - Larne hadn’t really got behind the visitors and neither keeper had been really tested.
North Down Ladies although gave a good account of themselves and matched up against the home side as the half progressed - Williamson, Webb, Dockery and Price at the back, in particularly all started well.
The only talking point of a fairly uneventful half was the inexplicable booking of Angi Young, who was falsely adjudged to have handled the ball - although no free kick was given at the time! Half time 0-0.
The team talk was all about continuing with the work ethic and about enjoying the experience of taking on a good side at their own patch, the negativity which had been creeping into the side a few weeks ago had been firmly stamped out and the team went out in the second half to prove just that - and again did very well - a trend which is starting to develop.
With 55 minutes of the game played, a quick shuffle saw the introduction for the first time this season of Bangor youngster Alanna Sloan - who has been plagued with injury since the turn of the year - and coming on in this one, just back from a broken shoulder - shows the commitment and courage of this talented teenager.
The home side although a good side, were very lively and relying on the tactic of getting behind the ball when defending - and attacking in numbers paid off as from a nothing ball slipped through and an alert striker pounced and slipped the ball into the net - 1-0.
With this decisive strike - it has been the nature of the side in the past to feel that once again the game was starting to slip away - but the efforts of the team didn't falter, although North Down enjoyed a good spell, were once again to reap no reward - but to their credit - despite some heavy treatment the front line - kept going at the Larne back four.
Bangor Ladies - Clandeboye Park awaits
With just 12 minutes on the clock - and still the game nicely poised - Larne struck again - snatching a second goal which was probably the most disappointing of the season to concede - with despite a few half chances to clear - the defence were hesitant and paid the price - the ball ending up in the back of the net - Young offered no protection 2-0.
The third and final goal was a give away - having conceded the game was over and less than 4 minutes on the clock - Jill Small burst through unchallenged and slotted the ball home - to wrap up the points and a home win.
A mix bag of performances - Savage up front continues to impress, playing most of the season without a strike partner - she has maintained a high level of performances and determination.
While it is unfair to criticise the defence - sometimes its simple basics which lead to their downfall - although Jacki Price did well, coming back from injury, playing only her second game of the season.
With the pace of McNamara and Scott, isolated with the failure to use width - Duncan and Mahood in midfield were eventually overan as both has worked particularly hard in the first half putting in alot of work - and at times gave North Down the edge in a scrappy game.
One disappointment here was the performance of the referee - who it should be stated, although not particularly favouring the home side - never really stamped his authority on the game in general - at times giving confusing and unconvincing decisions - which left both teams bewildered.
However, that should not deter from the result - Larne stuck in and grabbed the three points and maintain the status in the divisional league table with a home win.
Good news was the return of Alanna Sloan - one of the most exciting young players at the club - who if she can stay focused will be one of the next generation of potential international players; while Petra Armstrong looked sharp in her first game of the season - and with a few more games - North Down will be expecting her to be back to her best very shortly.
Overall though there’s no complaints - the players who have been available keep going out there and giving it 100% - and although it is frustrating - particularly for some our more experienced players - who are trying to fit in alongside a number of youngsters trying to get into their stride in a tough division - Joanna Williamson in this one stood out, and while she has still a long way - with every game she seems to put a little more into her game.
Another plus is striker Deirdre Savage - who is again really just learning the game and getting to grips with the physical aspects - she didn’t flinch and gave as good as, despite up against arguable one of the best defenders in the country.
All attention though will turn to our “derby” game against Ards Raiders, on Tuesday night at Bloomfield - where we again go into the game with a very positive attitude - things are starting to turn and our introduction to senior football although it has been tough and at times disappointing - the club are slowly learning to take it all in their stride - there’s a lot of football at the club and this season is proving the perfect way to launch the serious development of the club - over the next few years - the relationship with Bangor Football Club the most important aspect of the season.
The Seasiders - a sign of the times
Divisional League Cup Draw: week commencing Monday 26th - Larne Ladies v.
North Down Ladies (28th) - Wellington Rec v's Knockbreda - PSNI v's Raiders - Carrick v's Belfast Banks.
Last Edited Guest on 3-Jun-2006 12:34 PM
