By Lewis Bennett
Bangor Ladies 4
Craigavon City Ladies 1
OLIVIA Marshall has insisted Bangor Ladies’ only focus is on ensuring the good times keep rolling after a 4-1 victory over Craigavon City Ladies made it three wins from three in the NIWFA Championship last week.
The in-form forward scored one and was the architect of two more as the Seasiders swept aside a newly promoted Craigavon side, which entered the game at Clandeboye Park as early league leaders.
It has been a dream start to life in the dugout for new manager Rory Hamill, who has watched his team score nine and concede just once in wins over Strabane Athletic, Ballymena United and Craigavon.
However, livewire 23 year-old Marshall maintained that the players are refusing to rest on their laurels and feels there are plenty more forward strides to be taken in the months ahead.
“Coming out, I think it was just about getting the job done and knowing exactly what we needed to do, to come together as a team again,” she said.
“It’s been a strong start to the season, three wins out of three now, so we mean to go on from here. We don’t want to drop – we want to keep building on this and building as a squad.
“Rory, Ashley (Hutton) and the management have been brilliant coming in, so we don’t want to drop any points going forward – we just want to keep building on this as a team.”
Bangor enjoyed the perfect start last week, scoring two goals inside the opening four minutes, with former Linfield and Glentoran winger Marshall teeing up both.
It was her delivery that forced an own goal from Craigavon defender Ellie McParland, to put the hosts in front, and that lead was doubled moments later when Marshall’s incisive through ball picked out Emi Wynne for 2-0.
Marshall effectively made the outcome safe on 26 minutes, with her third goal of the season – a composed finish low into the bottom right corner.
Although Craigavon winger Niamh Murray expertly curled beyond Bangor stopper Amy Wignall, to reduce the arrears five minutes after half-time, Amber Dempster restored the three-goal cushion with a superb, long-range free-kick just before the hour mark.
That sealed the points for the Yellows, and Marshall, who joined Bangor from Civil Service Ladies mid-way through last campaign, felt it was those two early finishes that set the tone.
“From the get-go, we knew if we got those two early goals, it would’ve made us just play a wee bit better in the game. So, it was good to get the two early goals, and we could just settle down as a team and play,” she added.
“Craigavon came out at the start of the second half and got the first goal, which you never really want, so we had to come back and match that and reach our level again.
“We just had to settle a wee bit coming out; I think maybe coming out at half-time, we were a bit complacent at 3-0, so we needed to make sure that we kept going the whole game and didn’t allow them to get any more goals back.
“It was about managing to see out the game and the girls that came on did fantastic, so it was a good match for us.”
First-team coach Marty Hunter, meanwhile, felt the players took their chance to “make a statement” in a game that also offered the coaching staff the chance to experiment with different systems and formations.
“It was positive – all in all, a good result; we’d have liked to have kept a clean sheet as well, but we’re happy with the performance,” reflected the former Glentoran and Ards midfielder.
“The game-plan tonight was to get off to a good start. We went with two up top to start off with and then sort of tinkered with things a bit as the game went on.
“But getting the two goals early was important and we wanted to make a wee bit of a statement and get the girls playing in different formations, which we did.
“As a management, we’re still getting to know the players, getting to know the formations ourselves too, but overall we’re pleased with tonight and the two games before that, so things are going good.”
