JANINE Jess took pride in how Bangor Ladies held their nerve to prevent a Greenisland Women fight-back and secure a fourth consecutive win in the NIWFA Championship.
The Seasiders continued their perfect start to the 2026 season with a 4-1 victory at Glenkeen Avenue – though the score line does not tell the full tale of this game.
Bangor looked set to cruise to the three points, given they were 3-0 up inside the first 35 minutes in east Antrim, with early top scorer Olivia Marshall’s brace supporting veteran midfielder Amanda Morton’s opener.
However, the momentum shifted after Rachel Patterson pulled one back for Greenisland, shortly before half-time, with the hosts applying pressure throughout much of the second period.
It was not until centre-back Jess found the net, with a spectacular free-kick in stoppage-time, that the outcome could truly be considered safe, but the 20-year-old ever-present insisted Bangor’s ability to weather the storm showed another side to their game under new boss Rory Hamill.
“I think the first-half performance was really good, we were playing at a higher standard, and Greenisland came out in the second half and really stepped their game up,” Jess reflected.
“Their goal just before the half knocked us a wee bit, but I think we still picked it up and managed to keep the standard in the second half and get the three points.
She added: “I think Olivia was unlucky not to get a hat-trick, Amanda scored a great goal as well and with my free-kick, it was a good strike – I just tried to place it and hit the target, I knew the wind would have carried it.
“It was breezy, it was hard to get under the ball tonight – especially with long balls over the top, it was just hanging in the air.
“I think that’s where Greenisland got a lot of joy as well. They put us under pressure in the second half especially, and that’s something that we, as a defence, just have to deal with.”
Bangor showed their intent just 10 minutes in, when Morton latched onto Naomi Donnan’s astute pass through the middle, before picking her spot to break the deadlock.
That was followed, six minutes later, by a confident finish from the in-form Marshall, who rifled into the bottom left corner after Toni Stewart’s through-ball sent her in behind the Greenisland backline.
The forward grabbed her second goal of the night – and fifth of the season – on 34 minutes, to further extend the lead, slamming low into the net after the ball broke loose in the box.
Greenisland offered a response on the stroke of the interval, when Patterson struck past Bangor ‘keeper Angela Buckley from range.
Although the hosts built on that and further tested Buckley after the break, it was Jess who applied the coup de grace two minutes into second half stoppage-time, with a stunning 40-yard free-kick that picked out the top left corner.
First-team coach Josh Eynon agreed that Bangor had to show their steel to prevent Greenisland from making further inroads into the scoreline, but he also believes it is hugely positive that the Yellows are continuing to win games while not yet being at top gear.
“It was a great first half – we started off quick out of the blocks again with two good goals, two quick goals,” he said.
“The second half was scrappy, but it was good to get the three points again and continue the momentum.
“There’s still a lot to build on, so it’s good that we’ve got four wins in a row, but it still feels as if we’re in second gear and we’re sharpening up to try and get into third, and that’s only positive.”
