Bangor Ladies Football Club notched up their first three points in the NIWFA Intermediate B, with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Crumlin Ladies, last night Tuesday (13th), at Saint Columbanus College schools pitch.
“It was a game of two halves” may be one of the oldest cliches in the modern game but it was certainly a statement which was significantly true in this fixture.
Bangor seemingly cruising into a 4-0 lead in the first half, were slowly pegged back as the visitors responded with 3 strikes in the second forty five to produce what might be considered a thriller.
In truth the game was certainly over by half time and the second half reversal was down to some inexperience, although it should prove a useful learning curve to take away for Bangor’s young teenagers, who watched the drama unfold from the sidelines.
The Seasiders started brightly in the early evening sunshine with Sam Brittain in goals, the defensive setup of Jackie Price, Kim Dockery, Christine Morrison and Peggy Matthews; midfield quartet of Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan, Julie Graham and Suzanne Rea - and the preferred strike partnership of Deirdre Savage and Tina Sharpe up top. Sidelined was Carolyn Scott with a nagging hamstring injury.
It was only the second time the Seasiders had used the Saint Columbanus pitch - which is a sizeable arena with a not surprisingly rock hard surface - the distinct lack of any rain during the last fortnight - we got underway slightly behind scheduled at 7.45
Up front, Savage singled her intent early on, breaking through the visitors, launching a fierce drive which thundered against the bottom of the upright, while Sharpe also had a half chance to put the Seasiders ahead - her effort unfortunately straight at the keeper, after good work from Rea.
Dee Savage rattled a quick fire double to set Bangor on their way
Bangor who were looking the better of the two sides, got off to a flyer with a quick fire double from top scorer Dee Savage - the first a well taken drive from out on the right after McNamara broke through, to give the home side a deserved lead.
Savage then doubled the Seasiders advantage, a few minutes later, with a more trademark like goal - showing great strength to break through, go one on one with the advancing keeper and nicely slot the chance away.
As Crumlin caved in under the early pressure Tina Sharpe then made it 3-0 after just 20 minutes, timing her run across the defender, arriving at the front post to rattle the ball high into the roof of the net and make it two goals in two games for the young striker.
At the back there were few opportunities for the visitors, who were happy to launch it route one and get after it in numbers - though in truth Brittain was rarely troubled with Matthews and Price tidying up on the flanks.
Morrison at the heart of the defence was having one of her best games for the club particularly in the first half, the defender seemed to be in just the right place every time to clean up and launch the offensive forays.
Dockery playing as a sweeper was happy to sit deep and handled the odd ball which with the hard pitch, looped behind the back line - while Bangor enjoyed the best of the exchanges in a compact midfield.
The first setback was the loss of Sharpe after 25 minutes, in what turned out to be quite significant, seemingly drawing the teeth of the early tenacious Bangor attack - McKibbin came on, switching to left side of midfield with Rea going up front.
With 10 minutes left to the break, Duncan swept a clever ball won by Morrison at the back, out wide right from midfield, where McNamara broke one tackle and let fly with an absolute stunning right foot strike across the goalkeeper and into the top corner 4-0 - a fitting finale to the best move of the night.
Half time Bangor 4, Crumlin 0.
As the game resumed, it was anticipated to be more of the same by the home side - but in stark contrast, it was not the way things were to turn out - as Crumlin edged their way back into a game which in truth seemed all but over.
With the defence disrupted following the withdrawal of Matthews and Price, a Crumlin striker picking up a loose ball in the centre circle cleverly evaded two tackles and swept the ball in past Brittain for what was surely only a consolation goal.
Cathy Duncan - held the midfield together in the second half
This strike seemed to stun the home side and sure enough Crumlin sensing there may be a way back into the game flooded forward in numbers and forced the Bangor side on to the back foot.
Then in an almost equally good strike as McNamara’s in the first half, Bangor were rocked by another goal against the run of play - Crumlin finishing a good move to close the gap further.
With the game at 4-2 Bangor were still comfortable and it was felt that if they could strike back quickly - this would stifle any thoughts of a comeback and to be fair they had a few half chances - McNamara continued to be a threat on the right and hammered a low drive across the face of the Crumlin 6 yard box which only needed a touch from the supporting Rea.
At the other end with the home side’s young full backs charging upfield the Seasiders were caught, though luckily Dockery was on hand to make some decisive stops and Morrison remained on top of her game.
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With all the momentum, and decisions going to Crumlin, there followed a succession of corners which were being delivered menacingly into the penalty area and the Seasiders showed great concentration to keep clearing the ball away under this threat.
Another corner - another good clearance only this time it was just skied back high into the penalty area - and painfully sailed right over Brittain in goal to make it an astonishing 4-3 - 15 minutes on the clock.
At this stage the character of the team was being tested with some tenacious battles all over the park - Duncan and McKibbin led by example getting back to cover the exposed full backs while McNamara was happy to bring the ball out from the back and try play it to feet.
Bangor seemed to grab the initiative back in the later stages - whether Crumlin ran out of steam or the Seasiders managed to lift it a gear, the final stages of the game were more like the first - with the Seasiders finishing the stronger.
It was a thrilling conclusion to what at half time had looked a formality - but credit to the home side - who responded when put under the cosh in the last ten - and although they were a few scares - in truth Bangor could easily have added to the scoreline - with Rea and Savage having clean cut opportunities right at the death.
Some gritty performances - McKibbin, McNamara and Duncan all happy to put a foot in when the chips were down - at the back when needed Kim Dockery partnered by Christine Morrison kept their composure as the Seasiders held on to all three points.
So Bangor notched up their first league win of 2008, and second win on the bounce and will have taken a lot of positives from this one - there was no doubt they were worthy of the win and to see it through - was the most pleasing aspect in this fixture.
Next up its an away fixture against arguably one of the favourites for the divisional prize - PSNI at New Forge, off the Malone Road - this game, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday 21st has been moved to Tuesday 20th - confirmed and approved by the League Fixtures Secretary.
Bangor's Ash Hutton and Sarah McFadden sign for Fylkir
