By Lewis Bennett
JANINE Jess paid tribute to Bangor FC Ladies’ clinical edge in front of goal after the Seasiders powered to a statement 9-1 rout of Camlough Rovers Ladies at Clandeboye Park last week.
The gifted midfielder’s first goal of the season accompanied a remarkable eight-goal haul for Amber Dempster as Bangor simply seared to back-to-back NIWFA Championship wins last Wednesday night, following on from the previous week’s 3-1 triumph over then league leaders Ballyclare Comrades Ladies.
Having failed to win any of their first three games of the season, it’s a much-needed upturn in form and a theme of that has been the greater efficiency in turning chances to goals.
That was ruthlessly on show last week as Jess bagged Bangor’s third goal to make it 3-1 just 12 minutes into the contest, only a minute after Leanne Domican’s strike for the visitors came in response to Dempster’s early brace.
Starting the day on six goals in four matches for the season, hometown favourite Dempster boosted her tally to eight within the first six minutes of last Wednesday’s contest and it only got better from there.
After Jess produced a long-range spectacular to restore Bangor’s two-goal lead, Dempster scored two more before half-time and then added four in the space of 16 second-half minutes that all but wrapped up the points for the Yellows.
In contrast to two tight encounters with Camlough in the 2024 season – a 2-1 success in the Co Armagh village last May was followed by a 2-2 draw at Clandeboye in August – this was a sizeable margin of victory that suggests Bangor can stake a real claim in an open title race.
Teenager Jess insists that if Bangor continue to make their opportunities count, there is no reason why the Seasiders can’t build up a head of steam in the weeks and months ahead.
“After the win last week against Ballyclare, we were heading into the game confident,” she said.
“The games against Camlough last year were close enough, they sat deep at times and were well-organised and we found them hard to break down, so we were focused going into the game and we knew we’d have to dig deep again.
“When Amber scored early on, I think it just settled us even more. We were very clinical in front of goal and took our chances throughout the game. It’s definitely an improvement from the first few games when we weren’t as clinical as we can be.
“We kept the pressure on from there, and it was really important we responded quickly after they scored as well. It kept our momentum going and we just built from there and we got a convincing win in the end.”
The former Glentoran Academy player, who is now in her third campaign in yellow and blue, is looking to push on in the goal stakes having opened her account in style against Camlough.
Jess struck 11 times in 2024 and has shown her versatility, playing both as a midfield anchor and a dependable centre-back within manager Chris Dougan’s line-up, and she hopes there’s more to come after that eye-catching finish last week.
She also praised the ever-dangerous Dempster’s eight-goal feat and says it gives the whole team a lift when the 32-year-old is on song.
“I was buzzing to get on the scoresheet,” added Jess. “I saw the ’keeper of her line and I just went for it, I had a good goalscoring season last year and I’m glad to get off the mark.
“Amber scoring eight goals as well is brilliant. I’m not sure I’ve seen that before, but she’s been in good form as you expect and that’s great for us as a team when she’s scoring, so long may that continue.”
