AndyC Guest 0 post 2-Aug-2006 2:08 AM

A battling Deirdre Savage bagged a hat-trick to set up 7-0 win over Knockbreda BANGOR LADIES RUN RIOT Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, ran riot on Tuesday evening (1st), in their rescheduled league game against Knockbreda Ladies, hammering the visitors 7-0 at the Valentines - Deirdre Savage bagging a hat-trick for the Seasiders. The club are now firing on all cylinders having put together a very impressive unbeaten run of results stretching back to May, and are now moving up the Intermediate B Division league with some momentum - currently joining the chasing pack hot on the heels of leaders Larne Ladies with five games to go. Knockbreda were the club’s first ever league opposition when the divisional championship got underway back in April and despite cruising to the 2-0 lead with goals from Kim Dockery and Christina McNamara in that game, the Ballygowan side responded and turned it around to win 4-2 in a tough and exciting opening encounter. With Bangor Ladies probably just one or two players short of their strongest eleven - it was an important game - with the prize being an opportunity to leapfrog over the visitors in the league table, Knockbreda starting the evening sitting just above the Seasiders by two points. Squad: Peggy Bradley; Paula Dougherty, Alanna Kerr, Kim Dockery, Julie Graham; Carolyn Scott, Cathy Duncan (C), Trish Webb, Petra Armstrong; Dierdre Savage, Susan Cull. Subs: Lisa Mahood, Valerie McKibbon and Christina McNamara. Paula Dougherty - inspirational at the back for Bangor Ladies With Senior’s Bangor at home to Lurgan Celtic at Clandeboye Park, this game was switched to the Valentine Playing Fields and drew a sizeable crowd in the evening sunshine - and despite the early threat of a heavy downpour the weather was thankfully favourably for the duration of the game. The match got underway with Bangor attacking the Whitehill end and it was a good start for the home side - the first opening fell to Deirdre Savage, her shot was just wide. Playing into the strong wind - Bangor were putting together the best of the football and the midfield of Duncan and Webb were proving too much for the visiting side - Duncan also tested the goalkeeper early on. With Knockbreda under pressure from the onset, and the defence of Dockery, Graham, Kerr and in particular Dougherty making important decisive clearances and launching the attacks from deep in their own half - it was all Bangor. Susan Cull playing just behind Savage, was distributing the ball out to the wings using the pace of Scott and Armstrong to get behind Knockbreda’s stretched back line. Cathy Duncan - rattled the crossbar late on with a thunderbolt Just about 25 minutes gone and chances falling for both Cull and Scott, Savage opened the scoring after some good football on the right wing, breaking through one tackle her shot flew across the goalkeeper and into the far corner. Almost straight from the kick off the advantage was doubled, with Susan Cull sending through a clever ball which saw Petra Armstrong burst clean through and despite the keeper making a fine stop Armstrong was quickly onto the rebound and this time buried the chance 2-0. It was all Bangor at this point as the visitors shoulders dropped and for a spell it was all one way traffic, inevitably the Seasiders added a third just before the break - again Armstrong breaking down the left side and placed the ball neatly into the left corner. The change round saw the introduction of McNamara in midfield and Mahood up front and with the advantage of having the wind at their backs in the second half - it was more of the same - any thoughts that Knockbreda would repeat what they had done to Bangor earlier in the season were quickly stifled with Carolyn Scott, after some good work from Trish Webb, finished what was arguably one of the best moves of the night with a fierce low drive making it 4-0 with her second strike of the season. Patricia Webb - had a storming game and set up Scott’s strike in the second half There was no let up for the visitors with Christina McNamara joining the busy Duncan in the middle of the park and this combination were finding the ball between defence and setting up a number of chances to the strike partnership of Mahood and Savage. Knockbreda had no response and Savage added a quick double to make it a hat-trick of goals on the night for her and five in her last two games - as the team were starting to find an extra gear in the second half of their games. Deep into the game and the Seasiders were over running the Knockbreda defence at this stage - Mahood striking a post and Duncan blasting a thunderous drive against the crossbar as the North Down side dominated. To add to the misery of the visitors Lisa Mahood added the seventh goal of the evening again with good work in midfield from McNamara and rounded off an excellent night’s work. Some solid all round performances - Dougherty inspired at the back, Duncan and McNamara in the middle of the park adventurous and the source of good supply for the pace of Armstrong and Scott on the flanks with Savage and Mahood putting the game away in the second half. Petra Armstrong - nicked the second goal when put through by Cull Also a pleasing aspect of the night was the club’s first ever clean sheet in the NIWFA - and credit to the defence of Dockery, Graham, Kerr and Dougherty for a resolute and determined effort in front of Matthews; and a mention also for Valerie McKibbin in her debut for the side. So another three league points in the bag and the Seasiders continuing on a very encouraging run of results - taking 10 points out of the last possible 12 - so it was back to the Clandeboye Road Social Club to unwind and reflect on a very encouraging nights work for the ladies section of the Club. Bangor Ladies F.C. Rain Jackets are now available for all players - everyone should contact Cathy Duncan. All outstanding Club Subscriptions should be addressed now, before the start of the final month of the 2006 campaign - again refer to Cathy Duncan. Also a notice board is being posted at Bangor Football Club - which will give details of the remaining fixtures, up and coming tournaments and details of the Clubs 2006 Awards Night. The clubs next league game is away, next Wednesday August 9th, against P.S.N.I., who the Seasiders’ defeated in May 4-1, so with the current form of the team, the club will hope to keep progressing up the table. The more information on the only premier ladies club in the Borough of North Down contact Paula Dougherty on 07789 965547 or e-mail us at BANGOR FOOTBALL CLUB. Kim Dockery - Bangor Ladies Last Edited Guest on 5-Aug-2006 5:36 PM