Bangor Ladies Football Club were on their travels again this week, visiting the PSNI in another thrilling fixture on Tuesday (20th ) evening - this time Seasider Kim Dockery hitting a late, late equaliser to snatch a massive point at New Forge Playing Fields, on Belfast’s Upper Malone Road.
While the PNSI must have left this one shell shocked at the final whistle - the visitors were delighted to get something out of a game in which they never really settled in, although, would have been disappointed to have left with nothing from.
More changes for manager Craig, although of the backbone of the side remained intact - the strike partnership of Tina Sharpe and Dee Savage again starting, complemented by Christina McNamara, Cathy Duncan, Suzanne Rea and Carolyn Scott in midfield, while at the back, another untested combination with Valerie McKibben, Peggy Matthews, Christine Morrison and Jackie Price in front of Julie Graham in goals.
Bangor kicked off in the early evening sunshine, though the temperature didn’t match the sunshine setting - a biting chill in the air making it a little cold on the sidelines but comfortable in the fray.
The Intermediate B Division visitors went into this one on the back of two wins on the bounce and started brightly enough - but soon found themselves being tested.
The PSNI as a fairly good side and one which the Seasiders had had a few problems with in the past.
Christina McNamara went close in the second half to equalising
Bangor showed glimpses of what they are capable of with some neat early exchanges but were again guilty of getting sucked into the tactic of playing it route one - down the middle - therefore not taking full advantage of the pace of Scott and McNamara outwide.
Though to be fair it was an entertaining first half, with the home side PSNI, very capable and technically a useful side - going for the long ball over the top to try and penetrate the Bangor back four, thus setting the tone of the game.
The opening score came from some loose play in the middle of the park and with the defence holding a high line - Bangor were caught out and the went one down on 25 minutes - goalkeeper Graham faultless and unable to stop a well taken strike.
Bangor were however edging into the game - up front Sharpe and Savage in the early stages seeing enough of the ball, were now pressing - however the equaliser came via a unlikely route.
Morrison lashed clear from half way, the ball dropping on the edge of the 18 yard box, the PSNI defence facing their own goal, the goalkeeper making the decision to come and collect. With Sharpe and Rea applying the pressure - the full back got an awkward touch which had enough on it to wrong foot the committed keeper and the ball thankfully carried into the empty net to make it 1-1.
Tina Sharpe starting up front in the Seasiders last two games
Late in the half - a nasty clash of heads brought the game to a halt - but thankfully, both players were able to continue, though Matthews seem to come off the worse - the Bangor centre half bravely carried on.
The second half started with the PSNI enjoying their best spell in the game, putting the visitors under pressure and again forcing the pace of the game with the high ball lofted out of defence.
Bangor responded immediately with the introduction of Dockery in midfield, but again couldn’t find their passing rhythm and were being frustrated by the numbers in the middle of the park, and resolute PSNI back four who were defending strongly.
With regular No. 1 Brittain unavailable Julie Graham stepped in between and made some useful stops to keep the visitors in the game. Morrison got one off the line with some good covering.
The home sides best chance came mid way through the second half when the PNSI broke through and the shot rattled the post before rebounding to safety.
With the Seasiders on the back foot, PNSI took full advantage from a corner out on the left side. The influential ex Ards Raider Ash McCartney wasn’t picked up by the Bangor defence and, unmarked, swept the ball into the corner giving Graham no chance and put PSNI into a lead with just under 20 minutes to go.
With the clock ticking McNamara was put through after some great work from Duncan but her slow drive from the right side of the box brushed the wrong side the upright and away to safety.
Bangor's Cathy Duncan led the side in the late stages
The Seasiders pressed, another change on the right with Dockery being pushed up to make it a front three but despite a number of half chances the ball just wouldn’t drop for the visitors.
At the other end PSNI were going for the goal which would kill off the game and had a couple of good chances - Graham made two useful stops to keep Bangor in the game in the last 10 minutes.
Into the final minutes and although the Seasiders had been frustrated all evening, eventually the side put together a nice move, playing the ball to feet and bursting through - Savage clear, but pulled back for offside.
Final seconds and again some clever and decisive play down the right hand side drew the home team across, a clever exchange from Duncan found McNamara wide of the right, who crossed deep over the top.
The ball fell to the waiting Dockery, left unmarked on the edge of the box. The Seasiders’ Player of the Year for last season, killed by pace of the ball with a good first touch and then unleashed an unstoppable half volley which ripped in past the helpless PSNI No.1 for the last gasp equaliser.
They was only time for the resulting restart to find its way back to Graham, the final whistle piercing the air as the stand-in goalkeeper cleared up field with the sides equal 2-2 and one point apiece.
Goalkeeper Brittain unavailable - Julie Graham standing in
Although PSNI would have been devastated having lost the late goal - the goal itself was a great strike and worthy alone of the reward of the point - but the Seasiders owe this one to the dogged defensive unit - who kept the side in the game right until the death.
Price, McKibben and in particular Christine Morrison put in another flawless shift in the centre of a solid defence, showing the important composure needed at times, just doing the simple thing - but doing it well and without a hesitancy.
Matthews - who did carry that head injury was also excellent on the night and her contribution was also influential in securing the point which moved the North Down side into third place in the league table.
Although satisfied with the point, the feeling is that there is better to come from the Seasiders. The club are slowly edging towards some sort of form, with back to back wins and now a draw in the last three - it has been a good couple of weeks - with the promotion to the premiership of Bangor Football Club.
With the side now set to be further strengthened with the return from England of Young Player of the Year Jenny Boyd along with the addition of Armstrong, Dougherty and new signings McDowell, Robb, Davison and Smyth all to be registered in the next week the club are almost back to full strength,
Lite training continues this Sunday for just over an hour, meeting at the Valentines for 2.15 until 3.30 pm with the Coca Cola 2nd round Cup game scheduled for Monday 26th and them a rearranged league encounter at home against Knockbreda on Thursday 29th.
