Two games in and already Bangor's league campaign is beginning to look a little barren. For the second week in a row they lost by three goals - this time 4-1 to Instonians - but the shoots of recovery are starting to sprout.

They frustrated the Belfast side for long periods of the game, worked tirelessly to the final whistle and, most importantly, they finally have a new coach who knows exactly what he wants from his players.

Former Mossley and Ballymoney ladies coach Harry McNeill has taken over at Bangor and despite a poor series of results there are already signs of progress. Instonians were deserved winners but they knew they were in a game and Bangor played well even though they were missing several senior players out of an admittedly shallow squad.

This week they host Annadale and if they can maintain the effort from Saturday and find a little sharpness at training this week the visitors, who are in a period of transition, could be surprised.

But back to Saturday and the second visit to Shaw's Bridge in a fortnight. This time skipper Adam Reading, Andrew Gowdy and Dave McClune were available. But Simon Scales and Mark Lappin were not. Both are carrying minor knocks and should be fit for this week. Gareth Morton was also still sunning himself on honeymoon.

Bangor got off to a solid if unambitious start against Instonians. Content to keep men behind the ball, deny them possession and territory and keen to stay in the game as long as possible, But the Old Boys increasingly found ways to break through as the half progressed and John Tormey in goal's work grew as half time approached. He saved well from Instonians' first penalty corner and again from open play before Chris Kirk broke the deadlock midway through the half. Instonians overloaded the right wing and the ball squirmed out to him at the back post were he couldn't miss.

First half chances were rare for Bangor with the two that could barely be granted that status falling to Michael Manogue. Both times he was dispossed just as he was shaping to shoot.

The game opened up in the second period and as the spaces increased so did the number of chances. Bangor started to force their own penalty corners through the forceful running of Chris Campbell and Simon Hunter but the home defence was sound and well organised. And Instonians doubled their lead from their own penalty corner 12 minutes into the second half. William Robinson scoring with a rare straight flick past Tormey.

As Instonians were able to introduce players from the bench the smaller Bangor squad struggled to hold on to any chance of getting something from the game. Dawie Holley departed after forty-five minutes of hard work that proved he can still more than cut it at Premier League level and Instonians got their third goal almost immediately with veteran Neil Cooke getting the final touch following a goalmouth scramble.

And the fourth followed soon after when Mark Irwin was on hand to tap in after Robinson had beaten Tormey and saw his shot hit the inside of the post.

There was still time for Bangor to grab a late consolation. Good pressure on the Instonians back four led to a stray pass and when it was miscontrolled Conor Savage pounced. He took one touch and lashed the ball high into the roof of the net. It was a classy finish from the schoolboy and he should take confidence from it and try to push on for a more permanent place in the Bangor squad.

This week Bangor are back on the freshly laid Ballykillaire and they would dearly love to get their first win of the league campaign. But Annadale may have something to say about that. Push-back is at half two.

 

 

Written by Simon Hunter