Local Women Sport Super Cup
Bangor FC Ladies 2
Greenisland Women 2 (AET)
Greenisland win 4-5 on penalties
Lewis Bennett at Clandeboye Park
BANGOR FC Ladies suffered penalty shoot-out heartache at the hands of Greenisland Women in the Local Women Sport Super Cup semi-finals on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors booked their slot in the decider and denied the Seasiders a second successive appearance in the showpiece following a 2-2 draw after extra-time at Clandeboye Park.
Going the full distance after Amber Dempster had twice hauled Bangor back on level terms – including a last-gasp equaliser in normal time – the hosts’ effort and endeavour wasn’t to result in their progression to the final and the chance to close the 2024 season with a piece of silverware to bring back to north Down.
That trophy opportunity is instead Greenisland’s to seize, and they now know it will be a clash of promoted sides from Division One after Ballymoney United Ladies also took a NIWFA Championship scalp by beating Belfast Celtic 2-1 on Monday.
The Co Antrim side led through Nicole Wheeldon 33 minutes in – she was later sent off just before the hour mark – and again when Aoife Burgess converted in extra-time. And despite Dempster grabbing her second just two minutes later to restore parity, the third-tier champions held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties.
Dempster reflected afterwards on a difficult day at the office for Bangor, who faced St James’ Swifts at home in their third-from-last NIWFA Championship game of the season.
“It was a very tough game and we are obviously all disappointed with the result,” she said.
“Greenisland are a great side and it was a well-fought game, probably a great watch for a neutral.
“The girls showed great character and determination to battle and come back from behind twice in the game late on. We battled right to the very end but, unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
“Penalties are always pot luck and it’s the worst way to go out of a competition.”
Despite the agonising reversal, Northern Ireland Women’s Futsal international Dempster, who has notched up over 50 goals since joining her home town club last year, insists the squad can look back at their achievements with pride.
She continued: “Despite not being able to finish the season with a final, we can proudly say we made an Irish Cup quarter-final, Super Cup semi-final and will have a top-half table finish in the Championship.
“It is only our second year in the Championship and we are excited to continue growing and achieving new heights.”
Greenisland took the lead just after the half-hour to make what always looked a banana-skin tie live up to that billing, and despite goalscorer Wheeldon going from hero to villain on 57 minutes with a straight red card, the 10 women looked like they would settle affairs in 90.
Not on Dempster’s watch. The striker delivered a beauty with mere seconds of regulation time remaining and she replied again with an unstoppable free-kick to level two minutes after Burgess hit the target to restore the visitors’ advantage.
With the score still even, penalties was the deciding metric, but it wasn’t to be for Chris Dougan’s side in the shoot-out as the Glenkeen Avenue outfit kept cool to secure their place in the showpiece.
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