Bangor Ladies 7
Donaghadee 0
BANGOR came away with the bragging rights after a comprehensive derby victory over Donaghadee on Friday evening.
A hat-trick from Brooke Stranaghan helped her team to victory and vital promotion play-off place as the season comes to a close.
Despite Donaghadee enjoying early spells of possession, it was Bangor who struck first. A penalty corner led to the opener, with Nessie Monaghan’s effort taking a cruel but lucky deflection off the Donaghadee goalkeeper and finding the net.
Bangor goalkeeper Amy Nesbitt was then called into action at the other end, making an important save from a Donaghadee corner before her defence cleared the danger.
The home side quickly doubled their lead. A swift counter-attack ended with Stranaghan firing home from a penalty corner to make it 2–0. Stranaghan continued to threaten, going close early in the second quarter, while good link-up play involving Monaghan and Louise McKibben kept the ’Dee defence on their toes.
Bangor’s pressure soon told. Anna Jackson made it 3–0 after a well-worked move down the left, and she nearly added another moments later, narrowly missing the target.
Ellie Dines then produced one of the goals of the game, striking a powerful reverse from the top of the circle to extend the lead. The attacking momentum and pressure from Zara McKee, continued as Zoe Stewart finished a slick move down the right to make it 5–0.
Donaghadee battled hard and created chances, being particularly clinical in the Bangor 25, but Olivia Gibson, Molly Brett, Louise McKibben and Hannah Jackson in the Bangor defence remained solid, with Nesbitt making key saves to deny them a breakthrough.
Just before half-time, sustained pressure from Bangor resulted in a penalty stroke won by Anna Gowdy, which Stranaghan confidently converted to give her side a 6–0 lead.
The second half saw Bangor maintain control. Excellent interplay between Hannah Jackson and Hannah Grant kept the Donaghadee defence under constant pressure. Grant’s vision and composure set up Stranaghan for her third goal, as she calmly rounded the goalkeeper to make it 7–0.
Donaghadee continued to push in the final quarter, earning several penalty corners, but Bangor’s defence stood firm, with Nesbitt and her backline ensuring a well-deserved clean sheet.
