Short Stories - Episode 1: Knocking The Blues Off Their Perch, a 10 season challenge.

2025-26 Season: Building Up for Ballyclare's Visit - Volume 3, Chapter 14

Safe to say, the mood in that Ballinmallard United away dressing room was jubilant.

Never mind the Steel and Sons Cup in the first season, and the Intermediate League Championship last, we have reached a new high with that dramatic 5-4 win at Ferney Park. Especially in the way we did it, with three goals in the last four minutes plus time added-on. It's actually the stuff of wildest dreams to be honest, and probably the highest point in the short managerial career so far.

Skipper Johnny Wilson summed it up: “What the hell…just happened!”

I can just picture how Stephen (Small) is feeling now, absolutely devastated. But football has a habit of delivering surprise after surprise and today this dog had it's day. It was, in the words of Ian “Ollie” Holloway: “Woof Day, and this dog is gonna bark.” There was a sense of a party as we boarded the bus, being serenaded individually by the hardy three away supporters in the car park.

The early leaders of the division though are Bangor City who saw off our next opponents Ballyclare Comrades 3-1 at Clandeboye Park. There were also wins for Warrenpoint Town (3-2 at Newington), Annagh United (2-1 at HW Welders), and Ballymena United (2-1 at home to Ards) whilst Dergview and Dundela drew 2-2 at Darragh Park, Castlederg. We sit second on goals scored, and had four players in the Team of the Week; Ryan Dalzell, Johnny Wilson, Alexandre Machado and Jonathan Doyle: the most of any side. Not even Bangor could match that. 

“Scrooge” continued the feel good factor by announcing a 20 per cent increase in season ticket sales, we now have 36 season ticket holders for 2025-26 compared to 30 last season. Hopefully the success factor will see more “on the day” fans turn up as the standard is higher than what they have seen before and we're on the “journey” to build something special. 

The Reserves opener at The Dub ended in a defeat however. Despite taking the lead twice through a Michael Thompson penalty and Aidan Barrett, they lost 3-2 with Eamonn McIlhagga scoring Dundela Reserves winner in the third minute of time added-on. It could have been worse if it wasn't for young Jake Simpson in goals who denied the visitors time and time again with a series of sensational saves. 

There might be changes for the home opener, after all we play seven league matches in 28 days in this opening month. Plus a League Cup Second Round tie. Rotation might be used more than ever before.

2025-26 Season: Two from two, not too shabby - Volume 3, Chapter 15

The games come thick and fast in this opening month, it feels like we are playing Saturday then midweek then Saturday again. That calls for a squad with depth which was something that we didn't have when I first arrived. We didn't have a youth policy nor a reserve team either. We were handicapped by a wage budget which meant we couldn't offer paid contracts out. But last season changed all that…

What a difference two seasons makes…

Not many folk outside our own gave us any chance to win on Saturday, but one thing that we have developed here now is something called: resilience. That is, we do not never give in. I think the Ducks know that now, if they don't then they can watch the match video and learn from it. So the perfect start from our opinion, three points on the board after the first matchday. One thing that we want to continue this season is having a solid home record, we didn't lose a home match at all in 2024-25 and we firmly believe that if you have something like this then it will underpin how the season will pan out overall. Our home opener under the lights here at The Dub sees Ballyclare Comrades in opposition. Last season saw them finish ninth out of twelve, a stark comparison to 2023-24 where they finished third. As half expected, the more experienced Comrades are the bookies favourites to take the three points offer this evening with a best price of 11-10 available. If you believe we can make it two from two then we can be found at 2-1 whilst a draw is available at 5-2.

Tonight's team sheet is as follows:

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 19 (72 away)

We toyed with the decision of making changes tonight bearing in mind that this our second game in 72 hours. The call was to make a couple of changes at differing ends of the pitch: veteran Andrew Ferguson came in at the heart of the defence in place of Ben Mitchell whilst Joshua McIlwane, who can also play as a winger, partnered Jonathan Doyle up front. Both Mitchell and Taylor took their replacements vacated berths on the substitutes bench to complete the matchday squad. After losing 3-1 at Bangor in their opening match, Comrades manager Adrian McLaughlin rang the changes with a total of four players into the starting eleven and four out. Out, and out of the matchday squad as well, were Caoiman McGuiness, Lee McClure, Brian Healy and Greg Moorhouse with Jordan McMullan, Aaron Arkinson, Cillin Gilmour and Jay Murray taking their places. Central defender Jamie Robinson serves the last of his four match ban which has been carried over from a red card in the closing stages of the 2024-25 campaign. Tonight's referee is Diarmuid Harrigan of Derry.

There was almost a goal in the first 14 seconds, and it almost had the visitors ahead when Murray spotted Ryan Dalzell slightly off his line. From what looked like 40 yards out, the striker tried an audacious chip that had the keeper backpedalling but relieved as the ball cleared the crossbar yet it was only just though. It would have been quite an incredible goal from the diminutive front man who was making his debut for the away side. We thought we were going to celebrate the opener on the half hour when Callum McVeigh and Sam Morrow opened the Comrades defence to allow McIlwane to take aim and fire; only for McMullan to put his body on the line and bravely block the shout for a corner kick. It hadn't been a great first 45 but we were creating which was a positive.

It stayed goalless as we made a double change from the bench in the 61st minute, “Interceptor” coming on for skipper Johnny Wilson who appeared to be struggling with an unspecified injury and Taylor replacing the ineffective Morrow which meant McIlwane went right wing and Taylor back up front with Doyle. Within two minutes of the double substitution, it paid dividends. McVeigh rolled a free kick short to Doyle who was lurking with some serious intent outside the Comrades penalty area whilst the visitors were expecting it to be swung into the mixer. Last season's top scorer weighed it up, and then unleashed an exocet that left Declan Breen clutching thin Belfast air. Fourteen minutes from time, we doubled the lead when a well flighted corner from Lewis Loughlin was met by a header from O'Kane that found the net via the underside off the bar. 

Little had been seen of the visitors but they opened us up with four minutes to go when Ferguson misjudged a ball forward from Lee Lynch but the debutant Murray shot wide. It wouldn't have counted anyway as the referee's assistant had flagged him offside as he took aim. We should have bagged a third in the final minute when O'Kane weighted a pass to Taylor but the striker weakly shot at Breen. But the game was won by then, and it's two from two. We're feeling good.

Again there were a number of candidates for taking the Man of the Match beers home with them. In the end, the award went to “Interceptor” who now has two goals in his first two appearances since signing in the summer on a free transfer. His reaction? “I like it!”

Otherwise known as….

A comprehensive win in all facets for us with another XG in advance of 2.0 which is very pleasing. To limit them to zero shots on target is another positive for us as we get more and more used to life in the Championship. 

2025-26 Season: An injury blow as we look ahead to the next challenge - Volume 3, Chapter 16

We were the only match to be played in midweek, and that win saw us ascend to the top spot in the Championship ahead of Bangot.

That said….

Our next match is ironically against Bangor, at The Dub on Saturday afternoon so we have a top of the table clash to contend with. Imagine the buzz around the dressing room at the moment. However, Tuesday night's win over Ballyclare came at a cost:

The skipper looked in discomfort when we substituted him, and so it has been proven. One can only surmise that this injury could have been 100 per cent worse if we hadn't taken him off when we did. It makes him a serious doubt for the Bangor fixture. If he does miss out then at least I have options available, one of which is giving a start (after two incredible substitute showings) to “Interceptor” O'Kane.

We have to be conscious of the fact that we are relatively still a small fish in a much bigger pond. I mean you look at the standard we were playing at last season and compare that to what we are facing now; it's like night and day. Yet we continue to defy the odds every week and surprise me in the first instance to be fair. Players who are Tier 4 standard really are playing well above their expected level, examples of that being striker Jonathan Doyle who has bagged three goals in his first two Championship games and veteran defender Andrew “Fergie” Ferguson who is performing like a very fine wine: that is getting better with age. 

One thing is for sure, we fear nobody! Bangor, we're a coming fae you next!

2025-26 Season: Comeback falls short as Bangor win top two clash - Volume 3, Chapter 17

After going to the top of the Championship standings courtesy of a 2-0 win at The Dub against Ballyclare Comrades on Tuesday, we are back in action on the Saturday with a top of the table clash. It's already our third game in the league this season and we're only in the second week of August. We're scheduled to play 22 matches this season in the Championship in total, and almost a third of those come in this opening month.

Just goes to show that you need to be ready to reshuffle your pack in the early stages.

Every game to us is like Game Seven in the Stanley Cup Finals, For those who aren't into hockey, it's basically the decider: winner takes all so to speak. Treat every game that it might be your last one because you can't be perfect in every match you compete. There will be times when we win together but there will be times when we lose together. It's the nature of the beast. Last season we were unbeaten at home, not a single loss on the home league record but that was then; this is the now. We've stepped up a level, we cannot expect it go our own way all the time: every time. Rumour has it that Bangor are going to be backed by almost 300 fans on Saturday, so The Dub might have more away than home fans in it. I think the record under my tutelage has been just under 400 so who knows what the actual figure is going to be here.

The bookies have Bangor as favourites to leave with the points, you can get a best price of 11-10 for that. If you think though that we can make it three out of three then we're 9-4 to do just that with a draw being the outside bet at 13-5. Who's your money on?

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 400 (276 away)

We left it to the last minute to decide whether to play skipper Johnny (Wilson) today following his twisted knee sustained in the Ballyclare match on Tuesday evening. Every chance was given. The final decision was made not to risk him here and possibly sustain further damage, and instead hopefully have him ready for the midweek game when we host The Welders. Of all the options available, we decided to go with “Interceptor” simply because he deserves it after scoring twice in the opening two matches. Sean's place on the bench is filled by Owen Madine. Bangor make a couple of changes from the side that won their opening match, on-loan duo Aodhan Doherty (Linfield) and Padraig Lynch (Dungannon Swifts) come in for their Bangor debuts and replace Orrin McLaughlin and summer PSNI target Curtis Murphy who drop to the substitutes bench. This afternoon's referee is Niall Gallagher of Coleraine, no relation to Liam and Noel.

Bangor made the better of the starts and deservedly took the lead after 11 minutes, and in simple fashion. Doherty played a ball into Ben Arthurs and the former Ards youth teamer coolly sidestepped Andrew Ferguson to create himself some space before applying the finish beyond Ryan Dalzell. Nine minutes later, things got worse for us as Bangor scored a second and it was a calamity of errors as far as we were concerned. Doherty's low cross was attempted to be cleared by Harry Wylie but it instead struck Ferguson, and landed at the feet of Lynch who had the simplest finish for 0-2. We knew we were in trouble and unless we got our heads on it then we could be on the receiving end of a proper beating. Alexandre Machado twice went close but failed to hit the target as we tried to haul ourselves back into the game. 

Six minutes from the interval, Bangor and their large away following were celebrating a third. Lewis Loughlin was harshly penalised for a trip on Lynch by the referee and Arthurs bagged his second of the afternoon with a perfectly executed spot kick. Our best chance came a couple of minutes afterwards but Joshua McIlwane's goalbound effort was tipped around the post by Tom Murphy. With things not changing much, we made a double change in the 53rd minute with Loughlin and McIlwane being replaced by Sebastian Wylie and David Taylor. In the 56th minute, we had a way back into the match when a long ball forward from Craig Briers found a good run from Jonathan Doyle and he turned it into the path of the incoming Callum McVeigh who smashed in his first of the season at the near post. Taylor should have scored in the 63rd minute when Machado found him six yards out but failed to cleanly connect  and the ball dribbled wide.

We got within one in the 69th minute when another long ball forward from Briers again found Doyle who this time cushioned the ball down before striking an effort across Murphy and into the far corner. It was the striker's fourth goal of the season. He's clearly taking to this new playing standard like a proverbial duck to water and if he carries on at this rate, plus staying injury-free, he'll crush his club record of 18 goals in a season (all competitions). However, try as we might we couldn't score a third and equalising goal so fell to our first loss of the season and our unbeaten home record ends after 14 matches.

For his brace, and generally being a bit of a pain in the backside all afternoon, Bangor's Ben Arthurs took the Man of the Match beers back with him. A number of our players were below par, but of the ones that did shine: Jonathan Doyle was the pick of the bunch.

The game statistics show what an entertaining match both sides put on. Whilst we were the leaders in the number of shots taken; we were second best elsewhere which means Bangor were deserved winners in the grand scheme of things. But we ran another big club close, and that's a positive right?

2025-26 Season: Weekend round-up and a look ahead to midweek - Volume 3, Chapter 18

It stung like a bee sting, and what makes it worse is that we could have gotten something out of that game I'm sure.

But that opening 45 minutes, it crashed down like the Berlin Wall did in the years 1989 to 1994. We just left ourselves with a insurmountable task to overcome and to be fair, although we gave it a decent fist, it was just a bridge too far. Defeat at this level was bound to happen to someone, we just didn't know which opponent would inflict it upon us. As it was, it was Bangor on home turf in front of our second highest attendance: 400 (the largest being 410 against Lisburn Distillery in the 2023 Steel and Sons Cup semi-final).

The loss pushed us down to fourth. But we will bounce back…and we might have our skipper available soon!

Whilst we were losing to Bangor, the new leaders are Annagh United who destroyed Ballymena United 4-1 at the BMG Arena. Eoin Teggart bagged a brace for the Portadown-based side who raced into a 4-0 lead after 67 minutes, Dylan McManus with the sole consolation goal for the Sky Blues. Second on goal difference, and maintaining their unbeaten record are Warrenpoint Town who defeated Dergview 4-2 at Milltown. Jamal Dupree and Simon McGlynn both scored twice for the Point, all four efforts being netted in the first half, whilst their opponents scored twice in the final ten minutes to make it look more respectable from their aspect.

Remaining bottom without a point are Ballinamallard United after a 3-1 loss at Ballyclare Comrades. Goals from Lee Lynch (with a penalty), Caomhan McGuiness and Cillin Gilmour gave the home side their first win of the season with Alex Holder scoring the sole effort for the Ducks.  That puts the home side sixth, just behind Tuesday night's visitors to The Dub: HW Welders. The Welders edged a seven-goal thriller at Dundela with five of those goals coming in the first 45 minutes. Dundela led 3-2 at that stage but both Odhran Smyth and David Parkhouse completed doubles in the second half to give the visitors the points. The final game saw Ards and Newington shake hands on a 1-1 draw at Clandeboye Park; Odhran McCart's equaliser deep in second half added-on time cancelling out Patrick Cafolla's effort for the home side.

We're the only game on Tuesday, and know that a point will take us back to the summit. The other five matches this midweek are being played 24 hours later.

In other news, both the Under 18s and Reserves played this weekend, with the second string taking a Premiership second string side from Coleraine. An Under 18s side, bolstered by the availability of Jordan Jenkins, Cathal Farren and Connor Maxwell lost 3-1 at The Dub to Dergview Reserves. Farren scored our only goal, but with it was just a consolation with only five minutes left as Dergview were already three goals to the good. 24 hours later, The Dub hosted a second game as Coleraine's second string were in town and they went back north with a 4-2 triumph. Kian McConkey put us in front in the 33rd minute but the away side responded with four unanswered goals to put the match beyond us. Aidan Barrett scored a second home goal in second half iadded-on time but it was just too little, too late in the final analysis.

We also discovered our Second Round opponents in the League Cup:

So for the second time in three seasons, and in this same competition: we've drawn the Crues. The difference this time is that the game is at The Dub as the previous one was at Shore Road, where a Crues second string won 2-0. Will they field a second string this time out? One can only wait and see…

It would be nice to make the Third Round for once.

2025-2026 Season: Josh shines as honours are shared with the Welders = Volume 3, Chapter 19

This has been a brutal first month or so at the moment with very little rest between matches, and it's been a case of trying to get through them without being badly affected by fatigue and serious injuries. However, we continue to surprise a lot and I still maintain if we finish in 10th position this season that this going to be my target completed.

After all, who wants to be known as a one season team wonder? Certainly not us in my book.

As mentioned beforehand, we are aware that we can temporally go back to the top of the table should we take a point minimum from Tuesday night's home match against the Welders. Naturally, we will like all three but a point will be good enough to see us play leapfrog over Annagh United, Warrenpoint and Bangor and then see how Wednesday's matches unfold. The Welders represent another huge test, as they finished runners-up to eventual Champions Loughgall by just three points: I think they will bemoan drawing 12 games compared to Loughgall's 9 which could have seen them in the Premiership for the first time in their storied history. As regards tonight's game, the visitors have been installed as 10-11 favourites to leave The Dub with all three points. As a consequence, the best price you can have for us to record a home win is 11-4 with the draw on offer at 13-5.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 252 (130 away)

We made two changes to the side that in the end, narrowly lost to Bangor 72 hours previously. Harry Wylie and “Interceptor" came out of the starting line up to be replaced by Caolan Loughran, his first start for the Club, and the so-called “Forgotten Man” himself: Owen Madine. Depending on how well he's playing, we are planning to give Andrew Ferguson the first 45 and then re-introduce Wylie whilst Sean “Interceptor” O'Kane looked a bit overwhelmed against Bangor and with Madine chomping at the bit for a go then we just felt we needed his graft and creative spark against the Welders. That side though, “Interceptor” could be our answer to David Fairclough aka the Liverpool super sub from the 70s and early 80s. Johnny Wilson, we hope will be ready for Saturday's trip to Ballymena. The Welders are unchanged from their last game and have a prolific striker in David Parkhouse up front. That said, I saw him play on loan for Hartlepool United and he was quite simply: dog poo. Tonight's referee is Ryan Hanna from Newry.

We made a very bright start as if we were determined to right the defeat against Bangor; and were given a golden chance to open the scoring after just 11 minutes play. Callum McVeigh intercepted a pass from Parkhouse midway in our half and sped forward with purpose and intent. He laid the ball off to the supporting Sam Morrow who was tripped by Dean Jarvis as the winger shaped to cross. Penalty. Ferguson, our reliable man from the spot, stepped up and saw his kick pouched by Jack Le Moignan diving low to his left hand post. Fergie looked deflated as. Yet we broke through 60 seconds later. Alexandre Machado did superbly to whip in a left wing cross despite the attention of two Welders defenders and Joshua McIlwane produced a controlled half volley into the corner: his first goal since signing in the summer. It could have been 2-0 seven minutes later when a patient team move saw Jonathan Doyle glance a header just inches wide of the far post. Would have been some goal that.

Midway through the half, Welders drew level with their first effort in the game. Scott McLean found Parkhouse and the striker dug the ball from under his feet to slot it past Ryan Dalzell. Totally against run of play that was. However, we didn't let this bother us and almost regained the lead on the stroke of half time when a superbly struck effort from just outside the area by McVeigh clipped the bar and over with Le Moignan stranded in no man's land. Half time and we made the switch, Fergie off and Harry Wylie on as per the plan. Welders sensed we could be there for the taking and took the lead in the 57th minute when a nice combination play from Jarvis and Kevin Hanratty (who had only been on the pitch five minutes) saw the latter steer a composed finish across Dalzell and into the far corner, Our response was to make another change, replacing an off colour Doyle with David Taylor.

Within a couple of minutes of that second substitution, we were back on terms and it was a real good team goal at that. The ball was worked across the pitch to Morrow who played it into the path of McVeigh who managed to squeeze it with perfect weight into the path of McIlwane who provided the poacher's finish for his and our second of the evening. Our heads were on it now and we took the game to the Welders, bringing on Aaron Porter (for Morrow) and “Interceptor” (for Madine) as we hunted a winner which we deserved. The moment came a minute from the end when McVeigh found himself one on one with Le Moignan but the midfielder dragged his effort wide of the far post when he should have hit the target. It was a huge miss. Shortly afterwards, the final whistle went and we shook hands on a 2-2 draw when we knew we should have been celebrating our third win of the season.

For a brilliant individual performance, it came as no surprise to anyone that Joshua McIlwane was awarded the Man of the Match beers to take home. Could the experienced striker be the one to take us forward and take the pressure off Doyle as main goalscorer?

A very dominant home performance by the boys against last season's Championship runners-up. We feel a bit hard done by that we didn't take the win as the majority of the match statistics suggest it would have been warranted to be fair. Possession means naff all.

2025-26 Season: Build-Up to Ballymena - Volume 3, Chapter 20

I swear I must be losing my marbles….

I honestly thought that the rest of the league were playing on the Wednesday night in the latest stage of the season. Turns out it was just us and the Welders. Looks like they're going to have some matches in hand on us and we're going to bank as many points as we can in advance ahead of that. It's a funny old world this fixture lark for sure.

Anyway our Head Physio Martin McCarthy delivered some good news in midweek. The good news is that skipper Johnny Wilson has been given the all clear to play against Ballymena United on Saturday after missing the last couple of matches with a knee injury sustained in the 2-0 win against Ballyclare Comrades. As much as Owen Madine did alright against the Welders, it's a lift to everyone concerned. He should slot in pretty much like a glove.

Then there's the issue with “Fergie” (Andrew Ferguson). He's 36, 37 in February next year, and I honestly don't think he's going to play every game at this level. He missed a penalty in the last game, and it had a negative effect on him. He went into a shell and his performance was extremely below par even by his own standards. Therefore it was a no brainer to “hook” him at half time. I might just leave him out completely on Saturday and play Harry Wylie or Ben Mitchell alongside Caolan Loughran. Horses for proverbial courses as they say.

Midweek did actually see the Reserves play their second match in the Championship Development League. They had tasted defeat, 2-3, in their first match against Dundela's second string so could they bounce back? Overall in all respects, it was a smash and grab raid as the home side were on top in all aspects but they dug in to take the win. We took the lead in the 19th minute when Aaron Porter's right wing cross was lashed across the keeper and into the net by former Glentoran striker Jordan Jenkins. Bangor equalised two minutes from half time when Daire Conway picked out John Maloney who smartly finished into the far top corner. We were being kept in the game by Aaron McFarlane making a series of exceptional saves and stunned the home side with a 86th minute winner when Porter was tripped by Daniel Devlin as the winger bore down on goal, Highly rated young midfielder John-Paul Harmon belied his tender 15 years to slot home the perfect penalty.

That win puts them third in the Development League table.

So it's off to the town of the Seven Towers on Saturday. They haven't exactly set the heather alight following their relegation last season. Wouldn't be nice to prolong that misery? It certainly would be a statement victory if it comes off. Just saying…

2025-26 Season: Johnny's back but we have to settle for a draw - Volume 3, Chapter 21

We're about to play our fifth league game out of 22 this weekend and it's been a right old grind to deal with as a newly promoted side. Thankfully after Saturday's match at Ballymena, we have a week off before it's back on the horse again with another stint of three games in seven days to finish off this opening month of the 2025-26 campaign.

When you are challenging to be the best you can be, well this is how the dice sometimes rolls.

Today's game also marks our biggest test of the season so far in my humble opinion. We're playing a team that played in the Premiership last season, and has five Irish FA Cup's in their trophy cabinet. Whilst they haven't won the league title, they have produced as a team - a series of Northern Ireland internationals such as goalkeeper Jim Platt (Middlesbrough), defender Nigel Worthington (Sheffield Wednesday) to name just a couple. They had a terrible 2024-25, finishing 12th out of 12 and a staggering 28 points adrift of Portadown who finished 11th. As a consequence, they are everyone's favourites to bounce back with an instant return. But it's not worked out as planned so far as they are mid-table in the Championship. Yet the bookies believe they are going to recover from a 4-1 defeat by Annagh United in their last match, the Sky Blues are 8-13 favourites to win. We are the outsiders to take the points with a best price of 4-1 available, it's 11-4 for the draw.

Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena

Attendance: 1290 (5 away)

So we decided to go ahead with a couple of changes for the trip to the town of the Seven Towers. Change number one came in central defence as former Queens University man Harry Wylie was given the nod ahead of Ben Mitchell to partner Caolan Loughran in the middle with Andrew Ferguson taken out of the firing line. The other change came in the midfield engine room as we welcomed back skipper Johnny Wilson to resume his partnership with Callum McVeigh. Young defensive prospect Cormac Murphy was given his first call up to the substitutes bench to provide cover at either right-back or centre half whilst we were denied the services of David Taylor as the striker cover since he is not allowed to play against his parent club, former Glentoran man Jordan Jenkins was tasked with filling that gap. Ballymena, managed by Dean Shiels, were unchanged but featured Jonah Mitchell who scored 20 times for Rathfriland Rangers last season and caused us many an issue. This afternoon's referee is Glenn Buchanan of Ballycastle.

The game had an explosive start with the hosts reduced to ten men after just eight minutes, midfielder John Bennett being shown a straight red card by referee Buchanan for a late challenge on McVeigh. Even though the home side and their supporters didn't agree with it, it was red all day long and I would have no complaints about the decision if I was Dean Shiels to be fair. Two minutes later, the Sky Blues led when Lewis Loughlin was penalised for a foul on Alex Gawne in the area: Mikey Place stepped up and sent Ryan Dalzell the wrong way from twelve yards. Gawne then cracked an effort against the bar as we struggled to make the numerical advantage count, and in the 21st minute thought he'd made it 2-0 when he hooked home from a deep Pat Webber cross from the left. However, we were thankful for a flag for offside to scrub that from the scoresheet.

Five minutes after that let-off, we were on level terms. A ball over the top from McVeigh was brought down superbly by Joshua McIlwaine who played it back to the onrushing Wilson to mark his return with a thunderous finish into the roof of the net. Welcome back skip! It was then our turn to test the woodwork out, Sam Morrow's free kick being headed against the bar by Wylie. We were in front in the 34th minute when a workhorse run from Jonathan Doyle saw him feed in field to McVeigh who laid it off to Wilson and his first time effort from 25 yards arrowed low into the bottom corner. A third should have come in the second minute of time added on at the end of the first half, Purvis' loose clearance was seized upon by Alexandre Machado and the winger's low cross to McIlwaine saw the striker again unselfishly set up his skipper but his shot thudded against the bar when we were already getting ready to celebrate goal number 3 for us and Johnny.

The home side thought they were back on level terms in the 54th minute. Donal Rocks with the goalbound strike which Gawne got a touch to divert it into the net but once more a flag for offside denied the front man his goal, Despite the disadvantage in numbers, Ballymena continued to pour forward and were unlucky again in the 68th minute this time when a looping header from centre half Dylan McManus just didn't dip enough under the bar and beat Dalzell. They were finally rewarded ten minutes from time when Place split us open with an superb pass into the path of Gawne, played onside by Craig Briers, and the striker strode on to thunder a finish beyond the exposed Dalzell. There was still time for more drama three minutes from time when Dalzell went down awkwardly when coming for a cross and couldn't continue; Jake Simpson coming on for his debut.

What a return to first team action for the captain. His double, which should have really been a hat-trick, and all round performance in the midfield saw him take the Man of the Match beers back home with him. How we've missed his presence…

Ballymena will be quite pleased with the point and the way the match went for them, As for us, we didn't actually make the extra player count for us so maybe it's a case of two points frittered away rather a good away point gained.

2025-26 Season: Contrasting emotions - Volume 3, Chapter 22

There was a sense of disappointment as we boarded the team bus after the game in Ballymena. Normally we would feel delighted taking a point from a former Premiership side but considering they played 82 minutes a man short then we felt very unhappy that we hadn't capitalised when it had been presented to us on a proverbial plate. The bus home was also without first choice goalkeeper Ryan Dalzell who had been taken by Head Physio Martin McCarthy to Braid Valley Hospital to ascertain what damage if any after falling uncomfortably when trying to collect a cross in the closing stages of the match.

We had passed the Odyssey, when Martin called and advised the prognosis. It wasn't what we wanted to hear.

Hammer blow. It means we have to think what to do. Do we get emergency cover in, or risk playing either of the unproven duo of Jake Simpson or Aaron McFarlane and for a considerable period. As it stands, we are going to be without Ryan now until December and it's something we know we will have to put our big boy pants on and deal with accordingly. We have our usual weekly staff meeting on Monday morning, and make a decision between us from there. Finances for wages won't be a problem, just need to find the right solution.

In the league, we have slipped to third behind Warrenpoint Town and Annagh United: both who have 100 per cent records. Warrenpoint lead on goals scored after a 3-1 home win over Ards at Miltown where they scored three times in the final 19 minutes through Caiolan Brennan, Jamie Browne and Jamal Dupree with Harry Wilson netting a seventh minute opener for the visitors. Annagh trail them by a single goal scored following a 3-2 away win at Newington (our next opponent) with Ryan Swan scoring a brace and Nathan Kerr notching a penalty; Darren Stuart with a penalty of his own and Charlie McShane scoring for the Larne-based side. Brian Healy's double and one from Greg Moorhouse helped Ballyclare Comrades to a 3-0 home win over Dundela whilst Ballinamallard United remain marooned at the bottom following a 4-1 home thrashing by the Welders for whom Lee Newell opened the scoring after just 30 seconds.

Sunday would see the Under 18 squad take centre stage at The Dub as they entertained Ballyclare's second string, and record a creditable 2-2 draw with them. Twice the young ‘uns lead through Dutch midfielder Rene Jansen and Swedish teen Billy Olofsson; the latter who has been on the fringes of the first team; only for Barry Law to score in the second minute and give the visitors a share of the spoils. That said, there were plenty of good performances for us with the goalscorers, Jansen’s midfield partner Gary Smyth and 15 year old goalkeeper Kyle Kenny shining really bright indeed. Yet Monday was a busy old day as well with the staff team meeting being the most important thing on the agenda. Of course the one thing I was concerned was what was the consensus about reacting to Ryan Dalzell's lengthy absence. Thankfully, my idea of getting some experienced (as in no unproven youngsters) was agreed with and as a result Chief Scout Sammy Kerr was quickly tasked to start finding a suitable candidate.

Whilst the meeting was ongoing, the First Round draw for the County Antrim Shield was taking place. Half of the teams in the draw were from our division, six from the Premiership and a couple from the Intermediate League. We were the penultimate tie drawn:

So it's a trip to Taylors Avenue for us to face the Amber Army. Whilst they're no Linfield, Purple Bricks FC or a big name that's representing Northern Ireland in the European Club competitions season in and season out: we have to respect them massively. That respect is outlined more by the fact they made the Final of this very same competition last season, losing 0-3 to Cliftonville and it was on their own pitch to make that bitter pill even harder to swallow. 

This completes September's fixture schedule as it stands, which gives us a much manageable four game span:

Midweek saw the Reserves play their third League fixture of their maiden season. They hosted Newington (whom the First team play on Saturday) at The Dub and despite being outplayed, recorded a 2-1 win with young midfielder Smyth scoring the winner 17 minutes from time after the visiting keeper had flapped at a Tim Millar-Wilson cross. It was a win, when combined with results elsewhere, sent the second string top of their section at such early stage of their campaign. I'm so proud of them, they're proving me and everyone wrong with the same “Never Give Up” mentality that the First Team have seemingly have also adopted: especially last season.

After a few rejections, Thursday saw us bring in our emergency goalkeeper signing. Welcome to The Dub, Oisin Gibson:

Our new goalkeeper started off his career at Derry City but failed to make a league appearance in three seasons for the Candystripes. His big break came in 2023-24 with Belfast Celtic which attracted the attentions of Coagh United last season but he found himself playing second fiddle to the veteran William Hassan and was released at the end of the season. He's in line to make an immediate debut on Saturday as I'm deliberating whether to go with him or young Jake Simpson.

2025-26 Season: Back on top as Newington are brushed aside in late goal rush - Volume 3, Chapter 23

It had been quite the week with lots of things going on here, there and everywhere.

Losing our first choice goalkeeper Ryan Dalzell has hurt us, and for three months minimum too. That's why I was so happy to get the deal for Oisin Gibson over the line. The main requirement for the emergency signing was that the player was unattached and thereby could ideally come in immediately because if we had tried to bring in a loan signing then we might have not concluded the deal before the window closed. You know agents might be ready to stick their cancerous oars in here and there. Anyone would think I'm no fan of the football agent.

We have had a week's gap before our next game, which has given us to get some well earned R and R: rest and recuperation. A lot of the players have played every match so far in this gruelling opening schedule, but surprisingly we haven't picked many injuries out with Dalzell and Johnny Wilson being the only ones in Martin McCarthy's treatment room. Saturday sees us back on home turf as we entertain fellow promoted side, Larne-based Newington FC. 

The sides have faced each other three times at the moment with both sides having recorded a win, and a draw in the middle, The last outcome saw us crush the Ton 4-1 here at The Dub on our relentless charge to the Intermediate League title, but the bookies don't see us as favourites again. Newington are 13-8 to go back to Larne with the points whilst our best price is 6-4 to rack up another home win. It's 5-2 if you reckon we will shake hands on a draw.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 351 (230 away)

We have decided on a couple of changes for the Ton's visit today, one of them enforced. That enforced change see Oisin Gibson make his debut for us after only signing just 48 hours ago. I chose Oisin ahead of Jake Simpson based on one thing, experience. Hopefully this will be justified. The other change is at left back where Sebastian Wylie makes his full debut in place of Lewis Loughlin who drops to the bench. 17 year old Cormac Murphy retains his place on the bench, and will become the second youngest player for us if he comes on as a substitute. We also decided to swap the wingers around, Alexandre Machado on the right and Sam Morrow on the left. Newington make just a single change from their last match, they bring in Robbie Morrow in central midfield in place of Francis Rice who is demoted to being one of the seven substitutes. This afternoon's match referee is Evan Boyce of Ballygowan.

The first real chance came in the 13th minute when a super crossfield pass from Machado on one wing to Morrow on the other saw the former Crusaders youth team prospect play the ball to Joshua McIlwaine whose goalbound effort was denied by a superbly timed block by Charlie McShane. Two minutes later, we went close again: Morrow with the well flighted cross to the far post where fellow winger Machado was lurking but the Portuguese wide man headed against the post with Matthew Williamson beaten. Just before the half hour we had probably our best opportunity to take the lead when we were awarded a penalty following Matt Gibbons' handball from a Craig Briers cross. With Andrew Ferguson not featuring, Jonathan Doyle took the spot kick but saw his effort beat Willamson yet not the crossbar as it cannoned off it. We had dominated the half but as the whistle sounded, the scoreline showed goalless: Newington had been on the ropes but we hadn't put them away.

We continued to control the match in the second half as the visitors were forced to defend, defend and defend more so they could escape with a point. Early in that second 45 Morrow created a chance this time for skipper Johnny Wilson but the latter's rising effort just didn't dip enough to find the top corner. The switch to left wing from right was proving fruitful for Morrow as Newington were on the receiving end of him at his brilliant best. The winger shot inches over following a patient team build up, Surely one of the many chances would hit the net sooner rather than not at all? The dam eventually broke with just 13 minutes to go when Caolan Loughran's long ball was misjudged by McShane allowing McIlwaine a free run into the penalty area where he arrowed his effort under Williamson who had been a formidable barrier before the goal.

With six minutes left, we added our second. Substitute Aaron Porter started the move with a stunning pass from wide right to the imperious Morrow wide left, the winger burned away Ben McCaul before setting up Wilson whose low shot dribbled into the corner. With the game won, we brought on youngster Murphy for his first team bow at right back for Briers: a landmark moment for the locally produced defender in front of his family and friends. Newington thought they had pulled one back on the break but Peter McKiernan's effort was narrowly wide of Gibson's left hand post. As they continued to push forth, we netted a third home goal in the fourth of six minutes added on. Gibbons cross was hammered clear by Callum McVeigh into the path of another substitute in the shape of Jordan Jenkins and the former Glens striker lofted a ball into the path of Morrow who brushed McCaul aside before tucking it between the legs of the advancing Williamson from close range; completing a well deserved win.

In a performance which showed him at his unplayable best, Sam Morrow was awarded the Man of the Match beers today. Perhaps playing wide left is his preferred position rather than wide right? We shall see in future games…

As the match statistics show, we controlled this game from the first whistle to the last. 3-0 was a decent final score to end with but we could have added a few more to really improve that goal difference: not that it is in the negative anyway. Job done though.

2025-26 Season: Ready for more midweek action - Volume 3, Chapter 24

That win against Newington was great because we are once more back leading the division, albeit probably temporarily since the sides below us all have one or two games in hand on us, but they have to win them right? When results go your way like they did on the penultimate Saturday in August, well to be fair they're real Carlsberg moments and you have to enjoy every minute of them.

The leaders going into these latest fixtures were Warrenpoint Town, ironically our first opponents in September. However, the Point crashed to their first league loss of the season: 3-0 at the Blanchflower Stadium to the Welders. Goals from Odhran Smyth and a David Parkhouse penalty (yes him again) had the home side two ahead after just 24 minutes with Kirk McLaughlin adding the gloss as he scored the home side's third in the 67th minute. That win sent the Welders second, a point behind us. That said too Annagh United could taken advantage of the Point's slip up but they too suffered their first league loss of the season, Liam Hassin's winner four minutes from the end giving Ballyclare Comrades the points in Portadown. 

Having won their first two league matches, Bangor have lost two on the spin: the latest being a 3-1 home loss to Ards at Clandeboye Park. Linfield loanee Aodhan Doherty put Gary Smyth's into an eighth minute but Conor Scannell levelled in first half injury time for the visitors. Second half strikes from Jack Coyle and Ross Hunter gave Ards the points, their first win of the new season and leaves Bangor mid-table: four points off the pace at the moment. Last season's bottom-placed Premiership side Ballymena United continue to make heavy weather of life in the second tier as they drew 1-1 at Dundela. Home midfielder John McGuigan scored an own goal to give the Sky Blues a 27th minute lead but that lead lasted just three minutes as Alan McMurtry equalised.

At their four attempt, the Ducks finally have a point as they drew 2-2 at Dergview. It was a comeback draw as the home side had raced into a 2-0 advantage after just nine minutes with Kane Patterson and Ciaran O'Hara both netting. However, the Ducks pulled one back in the 17th minute through Scott McArthur and a minute before half time, had parity thanks to a Dan Rooney effort. That draw has them just behind Newington on goal difference: the Ton on minus five, Ducks on minus six.

So we now turn our attentions to Tuesday and a different competition. It's time for the League Cup second round and Premiership side Crusaders are in town. Who knows what would have happened if they, the Crues, had appointed me as manager last season when they interviewed me around Christmas time. Instead they went in-house and promoted David Rainey from assistant to first team manager. They currently lie seventh in the table, but only three points and goal difference separates them from where they are to early season leaders Linfield. They have a large pool of players to select from so it will be interesting to see who features for Rainey's side. We will be resting a few first teamers ourselves, so it makes for an interesting clash with me hoping I can make the Third Round for the first time in the three seasons I have been in charge here.

Would be nice to change that record, eh?

Should we see off the Crues, the Third Round draw is the day after. With a big crowd expected, Ken reckons we could have four figures through the gates in our ickle ground, it's time to deliver our potential on a bigger stage than we have beforehand. Now let's get intae 'em!

2025-26 Season: Cup curse strikes again - Volume 3, Chapter 25

This is indeed a weird opening month of the season to be fair. We are punching way above our weight and with one match left to play in August, are leading the standings. The establishment won't like what we are doing for sure, it's very much frowned upon especially when you are doing this on such limited resources. 

We aren't either Linfield or Purple Bricks FC for sure; and neither do we want to be. We want to be us.

Tuesday night brings a welcome distraction from the league campaign, as we enter the League Cup at the Second Round. Unfortunately when the draw was made; fate decided to take the day off. Instead of giving us a winnable tie, she gave us a tough assignment in hosting Premiership side Crusaders at The Dub. Granted we will probably get our biggest home crowd in years, I feel that we are going to be up against it. My only wish is that my opposite number at Seaview, decides to field a team comprised of reserves and youths and rests his big guns. That said, their reserves and youths are probably good enough to play at our level which makes me more apprehensive. 

Naturally the bookies have Crusaders favourites to progress, they're as short as 4-6 to do so. We're the outsiders at 7-2 whilst a draw (90 minutes play only) is 11-4. Can we get this League Cup monkey off our back?

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 1453* (1346 away)

We made a string of changes for this midweek Cup match, a total of six actually as the main thing is to keep most of the first teamers fresh as a proverbial daisy. Caolan Loughran's replacement alongside Harry Wylie is Jack Graham with the biggest number of changes coming in midfield, three of them. Exciting winger Aaron Porter starts wide right in place whilst Callum McVeigh and skipper Johnny Wilson are rested (Wilson is on the bench). Replacing them in the engine room are Owen Madine and “Interceptor” (Sean O'Kane). The other two changes involve the strikers; Joshua McIlwaine and Jonathan Doyle drop to the bench for a wee breather and this allows David Taylor and Jordan Jenkins to form the spearhead. There's also a place on the substitutes bench for promising Dutch youngster Rene Jansen who has impressed in Reserve and under 18s action since joining us, Crusaders themselves make five changes with only Ben Hall and skipper Kyle McDowell retaining their first team spots, youth team keeper Tyler Neill makes his debut. Tonight's referee is Andrew Davey of Bangor,

After a steady enough start, optimism was deflated in the 19th minute when the Premiership opened the scoring and it was a goal that we will want back. We allowed McDowell to advance forward from his left back position to the middle of our half with very little in terms of a challenge. The defender then weighted a pass into the path of Miguel Lopes who took a touch before sending it past Oisin Gibson. The large away following went bonkers. That said we almost replied immediately when a strong run from Porter saw the teenager arrow an effort towards the top corner but Neill somehow made contact with it and pushed over for a corner which subsequently proved fruitless. We almost conceded on half time when Porter's loose pass was intercepted by Kris Lowe who played in Stewart Nixon but the striker's effort was superbly turned around the post by Gibson.

 We made a bright start to the second half when a well flighted cross from the impressive Porter was headed just over by Jenkins in the 52nd minute. It was a message to Crusaders that we were not just there for a beating tonight. Just before the hour, skipper Wilson took to the field replace Madine and it was a substitution that paid dividends inside five minutes. Taylor played the ball out wide right to Porter and his measured cross was met by a bullet header from Wilson for the equaliser. With confidence now high, we went close to going ahead after 72 minutes when a venomous free kick from “Interceptor”  was parried by Neill but nobody was on hand from our perspective to net the rebound. 

Then came the double whammy as Crusaders scored twice in a minute to give themselves some breathing space. In the 76th minute Jay Boyd played in Nixon (played onside by Craig Briers) and the striker steadied himself before driving it past Gibson. Then as we were trying to recover from that, they scored again: this time an audacious 30 yard chip from substitute Ross Clark that caught Gibson inches off his line. We refused to lie down and almost had a second in time added-on, another well struck free kick from “Interceptor” O'Kane that required Neill again to save well from.

Even though he was on the losing side, Aaron Porter shone like a beacon and was given the Man of the Match beers to take home, Actually, he asked for a case of Coke Zero instead of the beers which Ken was only too willing to comply with. It was cheaper and we know how “Scrooge” likes to save pennies at every opportunity don't we?

The actual match statistics show what a close game it was. We had nearly twice as many shots as the Crues (27-17 in our favour), almost identical xG and the same amount of possession as our loftier opponents. Our heads can firmly be held high in defeat tonight.

*New record attendance at The Dub

2025-26 Season: No use crying over spilt milk, it's just one game - Volume 3, Chapter 26

At the moment, it seems that the League Cup is like the albatross' revenge on the Ancient Mariner in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem. For those who don't know what happened, the Ancient Mariner shot the Bird of Good Omens (the Albatross) with his harpoon and then hung the dead bird by his neck on one of the ship's masts.

Its revenge was inflict bad luck on its murderer and cause the death of the ship's crew:

"Four times fifty living men,
(And I heard nor sigh nor groan)
With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,
They dropped down one by one."

Eventually the Mariner sees the error of his ways and the curse is lifted. Hopefully, the curse of not getting past the Second Round is going to lift like that of the Ancient Mariner's and we will manage to reach Round Three one season, soon. Maybe next season?

Of the other ties which were played on the same night as our exit at home to the Crues, there was just one real upset where a lower ranked side beat one from a higher division came at Dungannon Swifts where the home side were beaten on penalties by Championship side Bangor after the sides had drawn 1-1 after extra time.

Meanwhile at the weekly staff meeting, Kyle (McDowell) highlighted a point that Alexandre Machado made to him after training that we could do with a little more depth at centre half. He's obviously seen that Andrew Ferguson looks a bit out of his depth at this higher level and I'm tempted to agree. So on Thursday, with the window still open, we announced a new signing in that position. Welcome to The Dub, Daniel Gordon:

Portadown-born Daniel started his career at his hometown club in 2017 but only made one appearance for the Ports in two seasons before being released at the end of the 2018-19 campaign. He subsequently joined Annagh United but was released two seasons later without making an appearance for them. He has spent the last four seasons at Dollingstown, making 99 appearances in all and scoring 17 goals. He was released by the Dollybirds following their relegation last season so his experience will be a very useful asset as centre half cover.

Onto Ards Saturday, can we finish the opening month with yet another win? Would be nice…

2025-26 Season: Fourmidable as Ards are blown away in first half blitz- Volume 3, Chapter 27

We have had the time to reflect, watched the match video from the last game against Crusaders and compared what happened in that match against the last league match against Newington. Obviously, losing any game is bound to sting but I felt that we missed a trick to see off the Crues despite the number of changes that we made. We certainly had enough quality in that side on Tuesday to win the game.

I am always conscious that players might need a rest from time to time. That's why I made so many changes for Tuesday. This opening month I repeat has been a brutal schedule for a newly promoted side but we're almost at the end of it and we're doing well out of it at the moment.

So Saturday sees us to play another famous old name in Northern Irish football, Ards. Although their name suggests that they come from Newtownards, they actually play their matches in Bangor on the 4G synthetic surface at Clandeboye Park. I'm not a huge fan of these type of pitches, in fact I admit I used to dread it all the time as a youngster whenever my team was down to play on one. The Red and Blue Army's sole top division title goes way back to 1958, and they have 4 Irish FA Cup wins to their name as well with the last one of those in 1974. They also have won the Championship 3 times in the 21st century (last one in 2016) so have to be respected. They will provide us with another massive test of our Championship abilities for sure.

Naturally the bookies think we're on course for another loss. They have made the home side 5-6 favourites to take the points on home turf and improve on their current position of 9th in the standings. We're best priced at 3-1 to come home with the win and maintain this excellent but surprising start to a new campaign. It's 13-5 if you reckon that the sides will be shaking hands at the end on a share of the spoils.

Clandeboye Park, Bangor

Attendance: 334 (45 away)

After making those wholesale changes in midweek, we brought back the big guns for the trip to Clandeboye Park. That meant the first choice central midfield pairing resumed their partnership as did the current first choice strike force, Of those changes from midweek, only teenage winger Aaron Porter kept his place in the starting eleven. Aaron is now in his second full season with the Club, having originally joined us as a 17 year old unattached winger in December 2023, and is hoping for a contracted deal but he needs to show more performances like the one on Tuesday for that to happen. Contracts aren't given out willy nilly, they have to be earned as such. The home side make three changes themselves with Corey McLaughlin, Hugh Adams and David Clarke coming into the starting eleven. They replace Kevin Healy, Michael McLellan and Patrick Cafolla who aren't even included on the substitutes bench. This afternoon's referee is Mark Dillon.

We made a bright start on the 4G pitch at Clandeboye, even if skipper Johnny Wilson had been sharing my sentiments about the surface, with numerous half chances being created without seriously troubling Alex Moore in the home goal. Ards then had a similar spell of their own but like Moore earlier, Oisin Gibson remained positively unperturbed and unconcerned. Then the game was blown wide open with four away goals in the small matter of just 13 first half minutes as the home side were just blown away. It all started in the 26th minute when a deep cross from out on the left wing by full back Sebastian Wylie was met by a sweet header from Porter, climbing well above his marker, into the roof of the net. Three minutes later, the same pair combined for our second: Wylie with the cross again and this time Porter scoring his second of the afternoon with a well judged downward header that Moore couldn't keep out.

Ards had only just restarted when Wilson pinched the ball inside the centre circle from Adams before swiftly sending Sam Morrow. The former Crusaders youngster teased Tiarnan McAuley before threading the ball into the six yard box where Jonathan Doyle nodded home unchallenged for our third. Limbs everywhere as we slowly realised what was unfolding here. Six minutes before half time, we scored our fourth when Morrow's corner was half cleared by the home side to Doyle. The front man then showed fabulous skill to drop a cross back to Morrow on the back post, who chested it down and easily picked out Joshua McIlwaine on the goal line for a tap-in, Ards were given a glimmer of hope in first half added-on time when they were awarded a debatable penalty given for an apparent foul on Ross Hunter by Caolan Loughran, although it appeared the striker had gone to ground theatrically. Ebuka Kwelele, who once got Ben Mitchell sent off when playing against us for Banbridge Town, sent Gibson the wrong way from twelve yards.

The second half was literally a non-event with the team playing well within themselves without looking in any serious danger whatsoever. It was that comfortable that we were able to give 16 year old Dutch central midfielder René Jansen his first team début. He got the last 17 minutes of the match replacing Wilson, and generally acquitted himself well. He also became the Club's youngest ever first team player at 16 years and 158 days; beating Porter's previous record by a clear 330 days. Maybe a star for the future from our own academy? That would be something…

There were a number of serious candidates for the Man of the Match beers this afternoon in Bangor. Sebastian Wylie had a couple of assists, Porter bagged a brace but the final decision saw Sam Morrow took the award with him for the second time this season.

An fantastic performance from the boys in all aspects, as the statistics show. We belong here!

This story of course will be continuing soon…

However, one of the stars of it so far has sadly been taken from us in real life on Christmas Eve at the relatively young age of just 23:

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-football-clubs-pay-tribute-33122942

Rest easy champ.

2025-26 Season: End of the opening month, analysis - Volume 3, Chapter 28

That win at Clandeboye Park in Bangor wasn't just a win, it was a statement win to say that what you have seen so far from this newly promoted isn't a fluke but a team showing that they are in the Championship on merit. We are determined to show that last season was far from a one off season as we have ambitions to surpass what we have achieved so far,

Well there's nothing like dreaming a little dream.

A point behind us are still the Welders who picked up maximum points from their visit to Ballyclare Comrades. Goals from Kirk McLaughlin and Scott McCann put them 2-0 ahead after 47 minutes, and although Dauda Shotayo halved the deficit within four minutes of that McCann goal: the visitors held on. In third place, a point further adrift, are Warrenpoint Town who came from behind to beat the underachieving Ballymena United 3-1 at Milltown. Michael Place's 49th minute penalty gave the visiting Sky Blues the lead but Jamal Dupree equalised two minutes later. The Point took all three points however with two very late goals, Michael Ruddy netting a penalty a minute from time and then Jamie Browne sealing the win with their third in time added-on at the end.

Another team that had to come from behind to get something were Annagh United as they required a brace of late goals to draw 2-2 with Dundela. The away side were 2-0 ahead in 29 minutes with Thomas Burns and Steven McCullough scoring within six minutes of each other, James McClay got the home side within one with a 77th minute effort and then completed the comeback with his second in the last minute. Bangor won the remaining game 4-1 at struggling Ballinmallard United with Padraig Lynch leading the way with a double. Lynch gave his side a sixth minute lead and although Scott McArthur equalised for the Ducks, the away side ran away with the win thanks to Lynch's second and further efforts supplied by Reece Neale and Aodhan Doherty.

As we enter September, these are the current league standings:

We have also the results of the initial Manager of the Month awards. Unfortunately I didn't win it but considering the actual winner and runner-up had less matches than me then it seems a bit unfair to me. What do you think?

By the way, The Point's manager is not the former Aston Villa, Arsenal and England midfielder with the high forehead. This particular gadgie comes from Coleraine as opposed to Chadderton.

His next game, as he looks to avoid the “curse”, is against us. Our actual schedule for month two of season three is as follows:

2025-26 Season: Point blunted in superb five star performance - Volume 3, Chapter 29

A new month but no change in the incessant run of fixtures for us. Once more, we're back in action just 72 hours after playing a hard away game. The latest game will be our eighth league game of the season out of a maximum of 22 which means there are going to be some gaps in our fixture list as the season progresses and everyone else will be playing catch up. It's down to us to accumulate as many points as possible so when the others do play their matches in hand then it's hard for them to overtake us.

After all as Bruce Forsyth once said on Play Your Cards Right: “What do points make, PRIZES!” and the prize at the end goal is the unthinkable of playing in the Premiership next season. Can you realistically imagine the panic on the face of dear old “Scrooge” should we do it? He'll be literally having kittens as it will see an increased reputation for the Club and possibly a further loosening of his tight purse strings. Oh the pain…

So we start September with a home match against former Premiership side Warrenpoint Town, a side with pedigree and one of the favourites to either go up automatically or via the play-off. We have played them a couple of times in the Intermediate League during my tenure, each side winning at the other side's stadium and ironically by the same score too: 1-2. So that means we are due to have a draw this time out, yeah? Well if you're going to ask the bookies who's going to win tonight then they're going to tell you it's a match that's too hard to predict a winner. The Point have been made marginal favourites to leave The Dub with all three points as you can get them at 11-10 to do so. If you think that we can make it three league wins in row then we're best priced at 9-4 for that whilst it's 5-2 if you reckon the sides are going to shake hands on a draw.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance; 154 (37 away)

It would have an easy choice to make to keep faith with the same starting line up that defeated Ards 4-1 in Bangor on their 4G pitch, but having seen certain players really step it up in training then it only seemed logical to bring them back in. Hence this is why we have made a single change tonight. That change comes in the centre of defence where Ben Mitchell (and I reiterate that it's not Phil's lad from Walford) comes in for Caolan Loughran. Ben will be the right hand side centre half with Harry Wylie switching over to the left hand side of the two. Loughran drops down take a spot on the substitutes bench so it's definitely a case of like for like. The Point make a couple of changes from the side that saw off Ballymena United 3-1 at Milltown on Saturday. In come Michael Ruddy and Simon McGlynn at the expense of Jamie Browne and former Glentoran defender Steven Gordon; Browne is on the bench but Gordon isn't in the eighteen. Tonight's referee is Glenn Buchanan of Ballycastle, he was recently the man in the middle for our 2-2 draw at Ballymena where he sent off a home player. Will we see a card tonight?

We made the ideal start with the opening goal of the game after just eight minutes. A Sam Morrow corner from the left was headed back to the winger by visiting left back Bradley Rogers and the resultant low cross was connected with by Joshua McIlwaine for the former Ballinmallard United striker's fifth of the season in just nine games since signing in the summer. Ten minutes before half time, we doubled our advantage when a nice reverse pass from skipper Johnny Wilson found top scorer Jonathan Doyle and he positively hammered it into the roof of the net; giving Lewis Hunter no chance at all. Seconds later we nearly had a third when a flighted free kick from Callum McVeigh was met by a header by Mitchell but it drifted just wide. Warrenpoint's evening got worse in the 42nd minute when Ryan Jordan picked up a straight red from Mr Buchanan for a late challenge on McVeigh which incensed us.

With a man advantage, the question was: could we really make it count? The answer came just seven minutes into the second half as we netted a third on the night on the counter attack. After winning the ball in the centre circle, Wilson played the pass to McIlwaine who then swept out first touch to Aaron Porter who like all good wingers, took on his full back and sent it in a low and hard cross that Hunter could only push out to the onrushing skipper to slam into the net. Two goals in seven minutes midway through the half really added the gloss as we completed the nap hand. In the 65th minute Wilson picked out Porter who had Rogers on toast and delivered another cross that was turned into his own net by Dalton Reid under pressure from McIlwaine. Then after producing a deep cross that was headed away by Simon Sinclair to Morrow, Alexandre Machado picked up his fellow winger's pass to convert for number five just two minutes after entering the field of play. Some impact!

There were so many fanatastic performances on the night with none of the starting eleven dipping under 7 in their individual match ratings. As it was, one man had to take home the Man of the Match beers and it went to skipper Johnny Wilson. Captain Fantastic indeed!

The match statistics show how comprehensive the win was. Outplayed them! A real statement victory that sends us four points clear at the summit. Over to the rest, we are not going away!

2025-26 Season: Catch us if you can - Volume 3, Chapter 30

I was still in a state of absolute disbelief a good hour after Glenn Buchanan's final whistle had shrilled. I felt like I was locked in a dream. We had faced a former Premiership side in The Point and taken them apart with ruthlessness. Granted they had to play the match with just ten men for 48 minutes because of Jordan's straight red card, we made the numerical advantage work in our favour this time.

Perhaps we are learning from previous lessons now?

That win took us four points clear of the Welders and five clear of third. We now don't play again in the league until a week on Saturday when we make a journey to Dundela. This Saturday sees the remaining ten sides play their round of fixtures and if results go our way then things could be very rosy in the proverbial garden indeed. The big game will be at the Blanchflower Stadium where the Welders host fifth placed Bangor, Bangor being the only side to inflict a leagie defeat upon us this season.

24 hours after that stupendous win, the Reserves played their fifth game of the season in the Championship Development League at Dixon Park where Ballyclare Comrades' second string were hosting them. 16 year old right winger Lee Duffy provided a tantalising cross in the 19th minute for Cathal Farren to head us in front from close range, but Michael Morgan equalised a minute later. We did come away with the points though when Jack Boyd-Munce sent strike partner Farren through on goal in the 62nd minute and he literally thumped it home. That result puts us second in the table, a point behind leaders Bangor. New signing Daniel Gordon completed a full 90 minutes as he looks to get some valuable match practice in.

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Ahead of going to the Blanchflower Stadium, I decided I would take in the Under 18s match against Albert Foundry at the Paisley Park Sportsplex in the West of the City. The Under 18s side were boosted by the experience of Owen Madine, who has turned down a switch to Armagh City, but that had little effect as the Foundry side recorded a 5-2 win. Our goals came from John-Paul Harmon and substitute Michael Thompson but to be fair, they were just mere consolations as the homesters recorded a deserved victory. To cap it all, goalscorer Harmon and right-back Charlton Jefferies picked up injuries which could see them on the sidelines for a while: Jefferies only completing 18 minutes before being forced to leave the field of play.

In that game at the Blanchflower, Bangor recovered from going behind to an 11th minute effort from Scott McLean to score three times in 13 minutes and lead 3-1 before the half hour mark against the Welders. Former Welders striker Ben Arthurs scored the equaliser with Padraig Lynch and Kai McCormick adding others. Arthurs added his second and Bangor's fourth just three minutes after half time, and despite David Parkhouse netting his 10th of the season: Welders slipped to a defeat that sends them down to third and Bangor up a place to fourth. Moving into second are Annagh United after a 3-0 away win at Ards where Ryan Swan and a Craig Taylor brace were on target for the Portadown-based side.

Ballyclare Comrades are into fifth after a 4-2 road win over Dergview, who had taken a second minute lead thanks to Michael Smith. Glen Moorhouse levelled but Ciaran O'Hara had the hosts again ten minutes before half time, That lead lasted just two minutes before Lewis Barr's own goal made it 2-2 and then within a couple of minutes Moorhouse's second of the afternoon put the Comrades 3-2 ahead. Lee McCune, with his first ever Comrades goal, made 4-2 to the away side and there was no way back for the hosts. Ballymena United recorded a 3-0 home win over Newington with Adam McAleenan and a Calum McCurry double on target whilst the bottom of the table clash saw the Ducks of Ballinamallard win 3-1 at Dundela who had taken the lead through Thomas Burns. Goals from Dan Rooney, Reece Byrne and James Cummings propelled the winners up two places and sent the hosts to bottom place.

Now let's see how we match up against Carrick in the County Antrim Shield, a new competition for us to get our collective teeth stuck into…

2025-26 Season: Goals, goals, goals as Carrick take the Shield spoils - Volume 3, Chapter 31

We needed that break, we really did. After a punishing opening month, a week's break was welcomed by all. And with the league scores from Saturday going pretty decent then there were smiles as we assembled for a midweek assignment in the County Antrim Shield. Our destination was Taylors Avenue in Carrickfergus where the town's Premiership side hosted us. They might not be a side that regularly is in the mix for trophies but what they do have is a resilience about that can give you a game if they are on it and you aren't.

They made the Final of this competition last season so that's got to be respected right?

Obviously the Shield is a new competition for us but it's one that is exclusively for teams in County Antrim which includes six sides from the Premiership and more than half of the Championship. Therefore drawing a side from the top flight will give us a good indicator of where we are and where we want to be ahead of the planned second promotion when that arrives. Naturally we are going to be classed as underdogs but that's a tag I don't mind having as the pressure will be on Carrick to dispose of us and in some quarters, by an emphatic scoreline. The bookies, of course, have the home side as odds-on favourites to go into the quarter finals with the best price you can get being 4-6 for that. We're the outsiders at 4-1, with a 90 minutes draw (extra time does not count) being available at 11-4 if you fancy that as your preferred result selection.

Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena, Carrickfergus

Attendance: 419 (53 away)

With an important league match looming on Saturday against Dundela, I opted to make four changes to the side that demolished Warrenpoint Town seven days previous. Lewis Loughlin came in at left back for Sebastian Wylie whilst Alexandre Machado, Owen Madine and David Taylor came in as well to replace Aaron Porter, Callum McVeigh and Jonathan Doyle. It was still a very strong side to take on the Ambers. The Ambers also made four changes to their side with Club Captain Dale Gorman and former Linfield goalkeeper Ross Glendinning sitting this one out as was Andrew Mitchell who had four seasons at Ibrox in the early part of his career. Supporting the sole striker was Jack Evans who featured against us for Knockbreda in the Intermediate League last season before transferring to the Premiership side a few days before the closure of the summer transfer window. Tonight's referee is FIFA recognised official Keith Kennedy from Lisburn.

The home side made a positive beginning and were rewarded with the opening goal after ten minutes on the match clock. A lofted cross to the back post from Junior was met by a header from Evans which arrowed across Oisin Gibson and into the opposite bottom corner. Just after the midway point of the first half, Carrick went 2-0 ahead with a second goal from Evans. This came about when an Adhamh Towe shot was blocked by Johnny Wilson and rebounded to Danny Gibson who fed the former Knockbreda man to hammer an effort into the top corner. A third arrived eight minutes later when Gibson collected a low cross from Evans and teed up Odhran Casey who was left with a simple sidefoot of a finish.

Less than a minute into the second half, Carrick went 4-0 ahead when Evans angled a ball forward to Gibson who had all the time in the world to bring it down and tee up (his third assist in succession) Junior to thump right into the top corner. Pride was now needed and we got on the scoreboard  in the 61st minute when Joshua McIlwaine was baulked by Kurtis Forsythe as they challenged for a Machado cross. Penalty all day long. Up stepped Madine to coolly slot home from twelve yards. Sensing that we could make things uncomfortable for the hosts, we made it 4-2 in the 74th minute when McIlwaine's deep cross found strike partner for the night Taylor who had peeled away unmarked to head past Ben McCauley. However any hope got extinguished five minutes later when Casey picked up a Lee Newell and angled a fierce effort across Oisin Gibson and into the far corner. A third for us arrived as consolation three minutes from time when Loughlin and Sam Morrow linked up to set up Taylor for his second of the night with a poachers finish.

For his three assists on the night, lone striker Danny Gibson took home the Man of the Match beers. We had very few standout performers in the loss with David Taylor being head and shoulders above everyone.

The overall match statistics show that we were not completely outplayed by our hosts despite conceding five goals to them. In fact, if we had taken some more of our chances then we could have quite easily pulled off the upset.

2025-26 Season: Dundela get dun four - Volume 3, Chapter 32

The County Antrim Shield game midweek was a nice distraction to have, and nothing more than that: a nice distraction. However though, nothing can beat the actual bread and butter of a season and that's a league match which is what is next. But this next league game, our ninth already from a possible 22, brings us a banana skin.

And banana skins are best avoided, right?

This banana skin comes in the shape of Dundela, a team that has not won all season in League and Cup. If the game was decided by league position then we win it comfortably by a handful of goals. But football has a habit of kicking up results when you least expect them to happen, remember what Jimmy Greaves used to say: “It's a funny old game” and he wasn't half right. We know for sure that they will be up for it, they want to give their long suffering supporters something to cheer about and what would please them more than defeating the current league leaders, eh? Despite being the basement dwellers, the bookies have made the home side slight favourites to take the win at 5-4, with us best priced at 2-1. If you reckon that we will come out of this with a draw then you can get 5-2 for that outcome to happen.

Wilgar Park, Belfast

Attendance: 233 (147 away)

We brought back a number of first teamers that did not feature against Carrick on Tuesday night. Returning were Sebastian Wylie, Aaron Porter, Callum McVeigh and Jonathan Doyle. Ballymena United loanee striker David Taylor, who scored his first goals of the new season, keeps his place in the front line to resume a prolific partnership that was the source of many goals in 2024-25. Bottom of the table Dundela, searching for their first win in all competitions, make a couple of changes. In come Johnny Glenholmes in central defence and the exotically named Diego McGann who qualifies for Costa Rica through his maternal side. They replace Jamie Kidd and former Glentoran midfielder John McGuigan who are on the substitutes bench which has four teenagers on it. This afternoon's referee is Mark Milligan.

Despite their low league standing, Dundela created the first chance of the game when an angled drive from Noah Stewart (on loan from Carrick Rangers) was beaten away by Oisin Gibson and when Steven McCullough looked to force the rebound home; Harry Wylie was on hand to hook the ball away from danger. We were ahead in the 26th minute when a smart interception from Wilson saw the ball switched out wide to Porter who cut inside and fed McVeigh to advance forward and hammer an unstoppable effort past Niall Brady. Stunned by this Dundela fought back, Stewart drawing another smart save out of Gibson and then being denied an equaliser by an offside flag against him when he picked up a Jake Corbett through ball to slot home whilst Gibson was sat prone following a slip. Then we hit them with another sucker punch, a second goal: Morrow's cross had been initially headed out by Glenholmes but only as far as McVeigh who flicked it goalbound for Doyle to head home unmarked.

McVeigh almost added a third shortly afterwards, skipping around the edge of the box to create an opportunity for himself which went just wide of Brady's right hand post. The Duns would have the last chance of the first half when a Foster corner was played out to McMurtry at the edge of the area and his shot  was pushed onto the post by Gibson and subsequently hooked clear. A third came in the 51st minute thanks to a well executed counter attack that saw Taylor loft the ball over the home backline for Doyle, who had timed his run forward to perfection, to run on and finish with a low finish into the bottom corner of Brady's net. Five minutes later, the Duns were finally on the scoreboard when a corner wasn't properly cleared by us and Stewart poked it home. A fourth almost arrived in the 66th minute when a patient team move saw Taylor strike an effort against the foot of the post. It did come seconds later though, substitute Alexandre Machado intercepting a loose Glenholmes pass to feed Wilson whose unstoppable shot from the edge of the area crashed into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Back to his imperious best, scoring twice and generally being an absolute handful up front: striker Jonathan Doyle took home the Man of the Match beers back with him. He now has eight goals in ten appearances this season and we're only in mid-September.

The match statistics say that Dundela should have won this game, but they didn't. 80% of the shots on target resulted in a goal which is a very pleasing conversion ratio indeed. We are in a real good place at the moment, long may this remain.

2025-26 Season: A rest for some, but others keep working - Volume 3, Chapter 33

For some of us, when you get a ten-day break from work then it's a case of recharging the body batteries ahead of going again. But for a football manager, this scenario is completely different. Football managers work different to everyone else, being one of these is 24/7 as you could be working with a player anywhere in the world or their cancerous agent.

So we keep ourselves active and during this extended lack of first team action, the Reserves and Under 18 teams took centre stage. 

The Reserves played three games in that period, two friendlies and one in the Championship Development League against Bangor's second string sandwiched in between. Friendly number one was against NI Amateur League side Abbey Villa at Adams Park, Millisle. After a goalless first half, two goals in four second half minutes from Cathal Farren (49) and Jordan Jenkins (53). Although the wonderfully named Ashton Larmour-McQuaide pulled one back with 11 minutes left, it ended 2-1 to us with new signing Daniel Gordon a rock in central defence and deservedly Man of the Match. 

Game number two for the second string was a Development League top of the table clash against Bangor Reserves at The Dub, and despite being outplayed by their visitors: they came off the field with a point from a goalless draw which was firmly indebted to a Man of the Match performance from Jordan O'Brien. That result keeps them second in the Development League table. The final match for them was away to Islandmagee at Wilbourne Park, and that also ended in a win. 6-3 was the final score to our Lads with Farren stealing the match plaudits with a four goal haul, Dan Reynolds and Kian McConkey whilst “Fergie” (Andrew Ferguson) had a penalty comfortably saved by Pat Crowe in the Magee goal.

In the same period, the Under 18s took on Glebe Rangers and Drumaness Mills. Glebe Rangers took the win at Riada Stadium thanks to a 2-0 score with goals in each half from Lee McGreevy and Keegan Rice. Drumaness Mills provided the opposition in the other encounter at Meadowvale, and that ended in a 3-3 draw with the home side scoring twice in the final eight minutes to get a share of the spoils. Our efforts came from Dutch teen René Jansen, Sammy Upton and Kevin Garner.

There was also some good news in terms of tying down a player who has been very important to us and what we have achieved so far:

Top scorer for the last couple of seasons, and on course for doing the same for a third: Jonathan Doyle has become the latest member of the team to be a paid contracted player. He has penned it until the end of the season, and has cited me as the main reason for why he has made the decision. Just need to get the skipper tied down as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, since we played Dundela there has been five league fixtures played as the teams around use up their matches in hand. The first of those saw Bangor comfortably win 3-0 at Newington in Larne, goals coming from Padraig Lynch, Jeff Cooper and Kai McCormick. The following day saw four other matches played. The Welders went back into second with a 3-1 away triumph at Ards, although they only clinched the points with a couple of goals in the final two minutes. Dajon Golding gave the away side the lead on the stroke of half time but Ross Hunter equalised eleven minutes from the end. However, the points went to the Blanchflower Stadium-based visitors when David Parkhouse (yes him, again) and Odhran Smyth netted those late strikes.

Annagh United had a 80th minute Craig Taylor effort to be thankful for as they were held 2-2 by an improving Ballinamallard United. Ross Gunn gave the Portadown-based side the lead but the Ducks recovered to lead 2-1 thanks to goals from Scott McArthur and a Leon Boyd penalty before Taylor's late intervention. Warrenpoint inflicted another 4-1 loss on Dundela to further the Duns' relegation fears and get back into the winning circle; Simon McGlynn scored a hat-trick inside 29 first half minutes with Jamal Dupree scoring a fourth in the 33rd. Noah Stewart pulled one back for the Duns in the 50th but that was just a consolation as the Duns remain rooted at the basement. Ballymena and our next opponents, Dergview, shared the spoils with a 2-2 draw: Caolan McBride and Jonah Mitchell scoring for the home side with Michael Smith and Ciaran O'Hara for the away one.

Those games see the Welders a point behind us with Bangor and Annagh on 18 and 17 points respectively. Both have one game in hand apiece, so we have to keep winning if the back-to-back dream is to become reality. And that starts with this home match against Dergview…

2025-26 Season: Five wins on the bounce as we re-open the gap - Volume 3, Chapter 34

So after a ten day absence, we are back in action with yet another midweek date. We have just one more game to play before we have reached the completion of the first round of league fixtures, we play everyone three times before the penultimate weekend in March which then sees the league split in two. At the split, the top six form the top group and naturally the bottom six form the bottom group. We have to remain consistent and pick up as many points as we can since it will help us get a better idea of the finishing position once the split is confirmed.

With every point as valuable as the next, we can put some daylight between ourselves and the chasing pack by taking points off them. This is a marathon not a sprint.

So the visitors on this wild September night in South Belfast are Dergview, a new opponent. Therefore we are going to the realms of the unknown as regards them as an opponent. Winning this game tonight will see our four point lead at the summit restored before a huge game in Portadown on Saturday afternoon when Annagh United host in a top four game at the BMG Arena. Win these two and we will have had a very productive first grouping of 11 league matches, 29 points from a maximum 33 is not bad a return with just one league defeat. Despite the definitive disparity in league positions, the bookies certainly think that the game is going to be yet another close run game with either side capable of taking the three points. You can look at getting a best price of 6-4 for us to make it five league wins in a row and go clear at the summit again whilst Dergview are best priced at 13-8. It is 5-2 if you reckon each side is going to end up with a point.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 119 (3 away)

Despite having a ten-day hiatus between matches, we picked up zero injuries in between so were able to name an unchanged starting eleven for tonight's fixture against Dergview. This meant that David Taylor and Jonathan Doyle resumed their partnership up front, with Joshua McIlwaine a very handy option to call upon from the substitutes bench should either of the starting strikers misfire. Dergview, managed by former Sunderland and Northern Ireland internationalist George McCartney, make four changes from their last game. Out go Jack Parke, Andrew Martin (knee injury), Niall McGinley and Michael Smith with Parke and Smith finding spots on their bench. They are replaced by Kane Patterson, Lewis Barr, Damian Duffy and Gabby Aduaka who partners Glentoran loanee Ciaran O'Hara up front. Tonight's referee is Peter McGrath from the Cliftonville area of North Belfast.

After a less than auspicious opening quarter of an hour where both sides struggled to find any sort of rhythm in the gusty conditions, we had the first real sighter on goal after 16 minutes. It came initially from a Dergview corner which led to a home counter attack that saw Sebastian Wylie play a neat ball around the corner for Sam Morrow who provided a sweet curling cross that was dummied by Taylor for Callum McVeigh to blast home. However, any celebrations we held soon got cut short by an offside flag against Taylor. We seized control after that and went close again just after the half hour when another testing cross from Morrow found Taylor whose goalbound effort struck team-mate Doyle before popping out to Aaron Porter who thought he'd found the net until Richard Purcell reacted superbly to turn it around the post. 

Little had been seen of Dergview in an attacking sense but as half time approached Caolan McLaughlin launched a long range strike that required a flying save from the then untroubled Oisin Gibson before we responded when Doyle played in Taylor but the Ballymena loan striker fired wide when well placed although it might not have counted as the player appeared offside. The breakthrough came after 52 minutes, Seb Wylie sending Morrow away down the left and the former Crusaders youngster burned away Patterson before providing an inch perfect cross for Taylor to tuck away past Purcell at the near post. Three minutes later we could have had a second when Craig Briers found McVeigh who advanced forth but saw his well struck effort turned away by the Dergview custodian.

Thus it came as a surprise to all when Dergview equalised in the 62nd minute Shaun McDermott's pass found McLaughlin and the winger produced a curling effort that gave Gibson no chance. Within less than 60 seconds, we were back in front when Ronan McKinley fouled McVeigh as the midfielder prepared to pull the trigger. Penalty. Doyle stepped forwards and comfortably sent Purcell the wrong way from the spot. 20 minutes remained when we added a third on the night, McVeigh's long range free kick struck the post but Taylor was on hand to poach home the rebound for his second goal of the evening. The same player almost completed a hat-trick five minutes later when McVeigh picked him out but his rising drive was just inches over. We pressed for a fourth and in the closing stages, Doyle clipped the bar from distance and then McVeigh's curler was saved by Purcell. Five wins on the spin now, four points clear again.

For an outstanding performance again on the left wing, Sam Morrow once more took the Man of the Match beers home with him. It's his third such award this season.

The majority of the match statistics will let you believe that this was a very close game, but the xG tells you differently. Now that's a statistic that I am very proud of since I assumed control here. 

2025-26 Season: Wylie's a Winner! - Volume 3, Chapter 35

Wake Me Up When September Ends…

Said Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day once upon a time, and this might have been the story of this particular part of the season. We're at the final stage of the opening round of league fixtures, everyone playing each other three times for a total of 33 matches before the “split” similar to that in the Scottish Premiership. The question we need to answer is:

Can we finish this second month with a 100 per cent win record in the league? Would be nice I agree.

Our destination of the final September 2025 fixture is the BMG Arena in Portadown, home of an Annagh United side that we defeated in a seven-goal thriller in last season's Intermediate Cup. This is the same Annagh United side that finished third in the Championship standings last season too, just four points behind eventual Champions Loughgall. Therefore we have a really tough assignment on our hands if we want to have the perfect month in League play. Despite being the league leaders by four points, the bookies obviously see Annagh as favourites to win this afternoon's match up. They have priced Darren Mullen's side as favourites at 10-11 with best odds for us to take the points home at 11-4. If you believe that the game will end up in a share of the spoils and we will get a point apiece then you can look at 13-5 for that to happen.

BMG Arena, Portadown

Attendance: 88 (3 away)

We opted to go into the game against Annagh with an unchanged side that produced a ruthless second half showing at home to Dergview just four days previously. That meant that David Taylor and Jonathan Doyle continued their partnership up front which combined for all three goals on Tuesday evening, and has 13 between them this season so far. Annagh make just the single change from their last line up with Andrew MacLeod coming for Scott McCullough who drops to the substitutes bench for Mullen's side. Mullen's starting eleven shows Jonathan Russell, on loan from Glentoran, at left back and another former Glens player in Jonny Frazer on the wing. We will also need to pay very close attention to centre forward Ryan Swan who has scored 43 times in just 90 matches since joining Annagh in the summer of 2023, his overall record is also impressive: an astonishing 76 goals in just 224 matches. This afternoon's referee is Barry Monaghan of Irvinestown.

The game was a slow burner to start with but we should have really taken a 12th minute with what is termed a gilt edged chance. Skipper Johnny Wilson started the move with a terrific ball down the left for Taylor, running the channel. Taylor measured a low cross to strike partner Doyle who should have scored bar a timely block by home defender Luke Cartwright. However, we did manage to go ahead just before the half hour when Aaron Porter's lofted ball was anticipated by Taylor who beat Jamie Ray to the ball and thumped a header over the stranded keeper and in.  It was no more than what the Ballymena teenager deserved.

Annagh should have drawn level two minutes after half time when a long ball forward deceived Harry Wylie, leaving Swan clean through but Oisin Gibson produced a great save to deny the home side's top scorer. Swan's miss proved to be costly as we scored a second four minutes later, and it came from the most unlikely of sources. A Sebastian Wylie corner was cleared out to Doyle who recycled possession and switched it to Harry Wylie coming out of the penalty area, the central defender took one touch before measuring an inch perfect curler into Ray's top corner. Outstanding. That said, we weren't comfortable as James McClay sent in a long range effort that required yet another superb save. They did score in the 67th minute when some fantastic wing play from Ross Gunn saw his lay off be met by the onrushing Shea Kearney, just inside the area, and he drove a powerful effort that gave Gibson no chance whatsoever. After that it was all hands to the pump with Gibson a defiant object in between the sticks to ensure the perfect month in the League.

He scored the opener, and was generally an absolute pain in the rear end for Annagh all afternoon…David Taylor took the Man of the Match award today. Even though he's 19 and can drink alcohol legally, he swapped the case of beer for a case of Pepsi Max! Whatever Davey boy….

We were far from at our best as these match statistics show in a game that really failed to get going, you can blame the rain for that maybes. But we have the points and that's the main thing…

2025-26 Season: That's September in the books again - Volume 3, Chapter 36

Before I summarise Saturday's action elsewhere, I'll recap on the Reserves and Under 18 games as both sides were in action this weekend. The Under 18s played on the Saturday night under the lights of The Dub as they matched up against the Welders second string, so quite the challenge ahead. Unpredictably enough, the Welders Reserves came out on top but it was a high scoring affair with a total of ten goals being netted: six for the visitors. Liam Toman and Joshua Quinn put them 2-0 up at half time, but Swedish teen Billy Olofsson halved the deficit six minutes after half time. Four unanswered goals for the away side in 12 minutes had them 6-1 up with ten minutes left to play: Toman completed a treble, Quinn a brace and Brian O'Neill adding the other. But Olofsson's second of the night and goals from substitutes Dave McCormack and Owen Madine (one of four permitted overage players) made it look a bit more respectable come the final whistle.

Sunday afternoon and the Reserves were in action against Glenavon's Reserve line up, and the experienced second string sent their visitors from Lurgan away with a 4-1 beating. Winger Daniel Reynolds scored twice whilst Andrew Ferguson (with a penalty) and Jordan Jenkins were also on target. It was the perfect tune up for Thursday's Championship Development League clash at Dundela. Zach Barr scored the lone Glenavon effort.

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Now onto the Championship round-up. First of all, look at the league standings…

SEVEN POINTS CLEAR! And we'll remain top even if we lose 2 games or those chasing win those games in hand, not that we want to be caught though. So why are we in this position then? Well when we came off the pitch in Portadown, we naturally were very happy to record yet another win but we felt the Welders would easily beat Dergview at Blanchflower Stadium. How blooming wrong were we? Three goals in the first 28 minutes from Michael Smith (two) and Ronan McKinley paved the way for a great win for George McCartney's men, whilst making Parkhouse's second half goal for the home side totally immaterial whatsoever. Warrenpoint defeated hosts Bangor by the odd goal in five, abetted in kind by a Simon McGlynn double. Caiolan Brennan scored the opener for the Point who were pegged back twice by Padraig Lynch and Ben Arthurs before McGlynn's second proved decisive,

The battle of the former Premiership sides saw the Sky Blues of Ballymena defeat the Ducks 3-1 in Ballinamallard. Jonah Mitchell scored twice for the away side with Patrick Webber adding the other, Dan Rooney scoring for the defeated Ducks. Darren Stuart scored a 77th minute for Newington at Ballyclare for a single goal win that took them off the bottom where they have been replaced by Ards who lost 3-2 at Dundela who are now 11th. John McGuigan's ninth minute penalty put the Duns ahead only for Conor Scannell to equalise. Noah Stewart edged the home side back in front but this was immediately cancelled out by Ebuka Kwelele for a 2-2 half time score. Stewart scored again a minute from time to give the home side the spoils and a much welcomed first win of the season.

The start of the new month also brings the latest batch of Manager of the Month awards, and this kinda happened:

I mean I should have won it last month, but to take the award for the perfect month is very pleasing indeed. Can only go a long way to increasing my personal managerial stock in the world of football. But they'll get rebuffed, I have a project I want to complete here…

So we're in another lull of games. October brings us five league matches, all in the space of 18 days as the second round of the league round robin commences in earnest. Can we stay perfect again, and have more good fortune elsewhere? It's a tough ask but we will be giving it our best. As Pat Benatar said once: “Hit Me With Your Best Shot!” - she was right you know?

2025-26 Season: Eat, sleep, football (repeat) - Volume 3, Chapter 37

Thirteen days between the Annagh United away game and the next match which is against Dergview on 10 October 2025.Thirteen days to get through and prepare ourselves for the first game of Phase Two of the next batch of league fixtures where we will be looking to either maintain or improve our remarkable standing at the top of the Championship. Granted during that period of inactivity for the first team, those chasing us will have fixtures to close the gap but we will be hoping for some more fixture favours.

Is there anything with hoping this happens? Or are we just being too greedy? I don't think we are.

Anyway this same period has seen the Reserves play twice, once in the Championship Development League then followed by a friendly. The Championship Development League fixture presented them with a trip over to Wilgar Park to take on Dundela's second string. They came home having been hammered 1-0! It doesn't sound like hammering but it was as Dundela had 21 efforts on goal compared to just 3 from us. The only goal came after half an hour's play when Connor Maxwell was adjudged to have fouled Anto Burns in the area although Burns made a bit of a meal of the challenge. Eamonn McIlhagga stepped up to convert. That result sends our second string down to fourth on 10 points, seven behind the section leaders Bangor with a game in hand.

Their second match was at Marrowbone Millennium Park where Crumlin Star hosted them. It was a very entertaining match with the final score being a remarkable 4-4 draw, and two of Crumlin's goals being own goals by us. Crumlin started bright and were 2-0 up after just 18 minutes thanks to own goal number one scored by “Interceptor” and the other from David Fearon. However we roared back to lead 4-2 with just 12 minutes to go thanks to four unanswered efforts; Owen Madine, Aidan Barrett (two)) and “Interceptor”: this time scoring at the right end of the pitch! However Fearon's second of the afternoon and a second own goal, this time from Lewis Loughlin ensured hands were shaken on a draw.

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We saw one player leave Martin McCarthy's treatment room and one enter it in the gap between games. The one that left it was goalkeeper Ryan Dalzell who has made a quite remarkable recovery from a broken collarbone sustained in mid-August. It's amazing considering we were not expecting him to return to training until early December. The thing now is to get Ryan some match practice in so I will look at putting him to start either Reserve or Under 18 fixtures until he's at that level which he was pre-injury. It will also challenge current number one Oisin Gibson for the starters spot. Talking about him, I approached the big man and told him how delighted I was with his recent showings for us. He smiled and was very appreciative unlike Craig Briers was in a similar situation last season.

This was tempered though 48 hours before the Dergview match as key midfielder Callum McVeigh picked up a knee injury and will miss that game for sure. Martin reckons he could be back for the away trip to Bangor on the 18th of the month though. My dilemma is who to replace him with. Candidates could be Madine, “Interceptor”, Kian McConkey or Cathal Farren. I just haven't decided whom. The same training session saw Briers feel a tightness in his groin so he's a slight doubt too. If he's not ready then I could turn to “Fergie” (Andrew Ferguson) and play him in central defence alongside Ben Mitchell whilst switching Harry Wylie to right-back. Again I haven't made a decision. Both will be game time decisions.

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That free Saturday saw five matches played with the Welders also having a free weekend. Bangor used one of their matches in hand and were expected to overcome struggling Dundela at Clandeboye Park. Things started well for the home side with Owen McConville giving them a fourth minute lead although Alan McMurtry's first of the afternoon cancelled it out two minutes later. Jeff Cooper and Kai McCormick then scored for Bangor to put the, 3-1 after just 17 minutes play but the goals kept on coming as Noah Stewart got the Duns within one just before the half hour mark. When Ben Arthurs netted from the spot after 59 minutes then you would have expected Duns to have been put away. But Stewart and McMurtry scored again, the latter with 13 minutes to go, to ensure a remarkable draw. That result does send Bangor second on goals scored as they have the same goal difference as the Welders; it also keeps us seven points clear and wastes games in hand from the chasers.

The Point and Annagh United cancelled each other out at Milltown. Jonny Frazer's equaliser coming just a couple of minutes after Caolan Brennan had given the home team a lead on the half hour. Goals from Jonah Mitchell and Calum McCurry proved decisive in the mid-table clash between Ballymena United and Ballyclare Comrades. The Sky Blues leapfrog their visitors into sixth thanks to those efforts, one in each half. The Ballinamallard United Ducks were joyful with a 4-2 win over Newington in Larne. Three goals in the first 35 minutes from Leon Boyd, Dylan King and Scott McArthur set the tone for the win although Keith Fallon reduced the deficit in first half injury time, Peter Maguire's own goal two minutes from the end made it a one goal game but Boyd scored his second from the spot in the fifth minute of time added-on to send the away support quackers with delight. Pardon the pun.

That defeat for Newington now sees them occupy the bottom place as previous incumbents Ards recorded a 3-2 win at our next opponent, Dergview. Two goals in as many minutes from Ebuka Kwelele and Ross Hunter had the Red and Blues ahead by the 26th minute but Ciaran O'Hara halved the deficit six minutes after Hunter's goal.  Michael Smith levelled the game for George McCartney's side but Conor Scannell scored what proved to be the winner in the 63rd minute.

It's a full programme on Friday night, what will happen next?

2025-26 Season  Curse, what curse? - Volume 3, Chapter 38

It was a real nice feeling to bag the September Manager of the Month award, I tell you. I remember the olden days in the English Leagues when I was growing up when you used to see each divisional winner pictured with a giant bottle of Bell's whisky, the legendary Bob Paisley got quite a few in the 80s for sure. Nowadays it's a photo of you holding some kind of award that you would get bought in a trophy shop when you're shopping for the end of season presentation evening trophies. But these days, winning the Manager of the Month presents it's own challenge in its own right: avoiding the curse.

And I don't want that curse to claim me as one of it's victims.

So what I am talking about when I mean by “the curse” then? Well, it's a fact that a lot of winners of this type of award generally lose their next league fixture after the award has been made. That's the curse. My next game after this is against ninth-placed Dergview who have had some fairly decent results since we played them at The Dub, and they have helped us establish what we have at the moment. Therefore we will not be treating this game in County Tyrone with George McCartney's men; as a win before a ball is kicked. We have to go there and get a result, and show why we are where we are. The bookies obviously think that George's lads have a chance of defeating us as they have made them slight favourites at 7-5 to hand us our second league loss of the current campaign. The best price for us is available at 9-5 with 5-2 being quoted for a draw.

Aside of tonight's game, we have been informed of a fixture change. As decreed now, we will not entertain the Ballinamallard Ducks on Saturday 25 October. As you now know, we ground share The Dub with Intermediate League side Queens University and they are actual the principal owners with us as mere tenants. Well on this date, Queens have a home match scheduled too so we have to play on an alternative date. Our Ducks home fixture will be now played on 18 November.

Darragh Park, Castlederg

Attendance: 87 (1 away)

We were of course forced into making one change from the side that finished our last game. Midfielder Callum McVeigh is out for the next few days with his knee injury, and after mulling it over with various candidates presented to me: Owen Madine will be partnering skipper Johnny Wilson in the engine room. The good news is that Craig Briers has been declared fit enough to play despite some doubts over his tight groin. Craig will be in his usual right back spot but I have decided to put “Fergie” (Andrew Ferguson) on the bench in case the full back cannot get through 90 minutes. If he can't, Andrew will come on and move to centre half alongside Ben Mitchell with Harry Wylie filling in the vacated Briers role. But we will cross that particular bridge if happens. George makes five changes to his Dergview side in all manner of positions as he looks to avenge the 3-1 loss we inflicted on tonight's hosts at The Dub two and half weeks ago. Tonight's referee is Gareth Stewart of Castledawson.

The match was itself, a very tense affair which suited Dergview perfectly as we looked to cope without the absence of McVeigh. We should have been ahead as early as the eighth minute when a swift counter saw Briers send Jonathan Doyle away down the right wing. The frontman attacked the byline before pulling the ball back for Wilson who thought he had scored for sure until a well timed block from Andrew Martin; diverted it wide of Richard Purcell's goal. The home side could have scored themselves in the 17th minute when Caolan McLaughlin outstripped Briers but the eventual shot from Dean Brown went high, wide and not very handsome. We did take the lead just the half hour though. More fantastic wing play from Sam Morrow found Wilson who drilled in his seventh of the season via the inside of the near post.

Some breathing space came 12 minutes from the end when a long ball from Harry Wylie was brought down well by Doyle and the striker attacked the space before producing some audacious tekkers to back heel pass into the path of Aaron Porter who steadied himself before lashing an effort across Purcell and into the opposite bottom corner of the net. There was still time for a nail biting finish as Dergview halved our advantage with just three minutes left on the clock. A corner from substitute Gabby Aduaka was met by a thumping header from Ciaran O'Hara that gave Oisin Gibson no chance whatsoever. However, our resillence came to the fore and we held on for a seventh league win in a row. What's this curse they were talking about then? Someone tell me…

In a match that was tighter than my Dad opening his wallet to buy a round of drinks, there were a number of good performances for us. Eventually the award was made and the Man of the Match beers went home with skipper Johnny Wilson.

The match statistics confirm how equal the sides were in terms of shots taken but the home side were a bit more wasteful than ourselves. Sometimes it's not all about winning convincingly, the ugly wins count as well…

2025-26 Season: Build Up to Bangor - Volume 3, Chapter 39

Whilst we were narrowly beating Dergview in Castlederg to keep our lead intact, there was a full programme of matches elsewhere as the League hosted a Friday Night Special where everyone would be in action on the same day, and same kick off time. No playing your game and then waiting for the following day to see how those above you (or in our case, below you) went on. I kinda like this, it's a much level playing field but it doesn't happen often enough for my liking. When football leagues start listening to the Clubs and players/officials then all will be good in the football world. But they don't, and we'll just have to keep making the noises until they do actually listen.

Anyway, our seven point lead at the start of proceedings has remained intact. Bangor, Saturday's opponents, are our nearest challengers but they were involved in a seven goal thriller at the BMG Arena in Portadown when Annagh United hosted them. It looked as good as over after 27 minutes when the hosts raced into a three goals without reply lead with former Glentoran winger Jonny Frazer scoring the lot. But when Padraig Lynch scored ten minutes before the break, the unlikeliest of comebacks was about to take place - even Lazarus would find it hard to top this. Owen McConville made it 3-2 in first half added on time to set up an interesting second half. Lynch scored his second just before the hour to make it a level game and it was then a case of seeing if anyone would go and win it. As it was, Bangor did thanks to Aodhan Doherty scoring that all important goal five minutes from the end.

Just behind them on goal difference are the Point after a 5-2 win over Ballyclare Comrades at Milltown. Bradley Rogers got their first after just two minutes, and they weren't looking back as Jamal Dupree and Simon McGlynn scored within three minutes of each other to make it 3-0 after 27 minutes there. Lee Lynch scored a penalty to reduce it to 3-1 but Dupree scored his second of the night to make it 4-1 on the stroke of half time. Darius Roohi made it a 4-2 game with the Comrades second after 62 minutes but McGlynn's second 15 minutes from time put the icing on the proverbial cake for Warrenpoint. There's a two point gap to the Welders in fourth after they drew 2-2 at the Blanchflower Stadium with Ballymena United. Dajon Golding had the home side 1-0 ahead after 17 minutes but Michael Place equalised from the spot two minutes later. Caolan McBride put the Sky Blues in front in first half added-on time and that looked like the winner until Sam Higgins scored for the Welders to ensure honours shared.

Two goals from Patrick Cafolla were instrumental for Ards as they defeated the Ducks 4-2. Ross Hunter scored the opener in the first minute before Cafolla's first of the night made it 2-0 in just seven minutes play. Ebuka Kweiele made it 3-0 in the 48th minute before Leon Boyd got the away side on the board three minutes later. Cafolla made it 4-1 after 64 minutes and although Boyd scored a 72nd minute penalty to make it 4-2; Ards took the win. The bottom of the table clash between Dundela and Newington ended in a 1-1 draw at Wilgar Park; Diego McGann scoring first for the Duns in the 22nd minute but Peter McKiernan levelling for the Larne-based side in the 51st. The Ton could have won it nine minutes from the end but Darren Stuart saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Niall Brady.

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The only things that really happened in the week leading up to the trip to Bangor concerned Callum McVeigh and the Reserves. As regards the central midfielder, the good news is that he's back in training following his knee injury. However, that's tempered by the fact he looks well short of match practice so it would be possibly foolish to include him this weekend at Clandeboye Park. We could run the risk of him getting injured again and we don't want that. Once he's gained his match sharpness back, he'll be back in the team. That's a given.

The Reserves travelled to Larne on Wednesday evening to take on Newington's second string in a Championship Development League Group B fixture. The side included Ryan Dalzell who was needing minutes following his recent injury as well as Josh McIlwaine, Alexandre Machado and “Interceptor” (Sean O'Kane) but mainly lots of the youngsters gaining experience at a higher level. Three goals in 13 minutes had them trailing 3-0 after 36 minutes with Sean Ashe's double coming after Keith Fallon's 23rd minute opener. Second half saw us score twice to make it more respectable a scoreline but ultimately fall short. John-Paul Harmon made it 3-1 in the 66th minute and Charlton Jefferies (so named after Sir Bobby apparently) netted 12 minutes from the end. That result keeps them 4th in the group of six.

Coming soon, new updates….

2025-26 Season: Bangor close gap as unbeaten run comes to an end - Volume 3, Chapter 40

The fixture list has been weird so far this season, and not too kind at times for us. We're now at the start of another spell of games where we are playing three games in the space of ten days and two of the matches are against teams in the top half of the league standings. That begins with a massive top two clash at Clandeboye Park where we play the only side that has beaten us in the league so far this season, Bangor.

Naturally we want to go there and make a statement, extend our unbeaten run to ten league matches and go ten points clear at the head of the table at this stage of the campaign. Bangor, of course, would love nothing finer than to hand a second loss on our record and close that gap.

The city of Bangor is also an historic one, with reports that it was founded as far back as the sixth century with the now defunct Bangor Abbey. The East Down city was a town until the Queen's Platinum Jubilee when it was awarded city status alongside six others such as Wrexham, Doncaster and Dunfermline. We know however, that we are in for a game but it won't decide the destination of the title. Once thing is for definite, we need to start the game better than we did at home ti the Seasiders: we were 3-0 down in 39 minutes. Whilst we rallied in the second half, and scored twice, we couldn't ascend the final part of the mountain that we had created for ourselves. However, the bookies are predicting a close game again judging by the odds that are on offer. The Seasiders have been made 11-10 favourites to win this afternoon's match, whilst you can get 9-4 for us to take the three points. It's 5-2 if you fancy a draw though.

Clandeboye Park, Bangor

Attendance: 437 (46 away)

We make just the sole change from the side that won 2-1 at Dergview eight days ago. That comes in the middle of the park as “Interceptor” (Sean O'Kane) replaces Owen Madine alongside skipper Johnny Wilson. Two names make the substitutes bench as they inch closer to a first team return after being with injuries, those being first choice goalkeeper Ryan Dalzell and influential midfielder Callum McVeigh. I don't plan to give either any minutes at Bangor but to have them back in the first team picture is a boost for us. Bangor make a couple of team changes themselves with Matthew Mcmurtry and Joey Jones coming in for Daniel Devlin and Oisin McLaughlin whilst one-time PSNI target Curtis Murphy is on their substitutes bench. This afternoon's referee is Gareth O'Donnell from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.

We made an enterprising start at Bangor but couldn't breach their defences, and as a result it came against the run of the play when the Seasiders took the lead in the 25th minute. A left wing corner from Ben Arthurs was met by a far post header from Jones into the opposite bottom corner. It was the former Woking midfielder's first goal for the Seasiders since signing for them on a free transfer this summer from Hereford. That goal lifted the home team and their support, enabling them to take control of this top of the table encounter. They added a second six minutes from half time, and it was a goal that Oisin Gibson will not want to be reminded of as he was at fault for it. Jones collected the ball a good 35 yards out and spectacularly tried an ambitious chip after seeing Gibson off his line. What he didn't account for was the custodian totally misjudging the ball's flight and then going under him before nestling in the back of the net. 2-0 down and once more chasing the game against the same opponent. Talk about Groundhog Day, eh?

After a stern talking to at half time, we came out with a new purpose and halved the deficit in the 49th minute with a well worked goal. Skipper Wilson picked up a throw in from Sebastian Wylie and played a neat ball into the feet of top scorer Jonathan Doyle who brilliantly rolled his marker before striking a low finish beyond Tom Murphy. It was his 10th goal of the season. However, they say that you are at your most vulnerable after you have scored and it so proved as Bangor restored their two goal lead a minute later. A long clearance from Murphy saw Ben Mitchell fail to deal with it and clear, Arthurs brought it down with one touch and with his next: lashed an unstoppable shot beyond Gibson for his 14th of the season. We huffed and puffed after this, whilst trying to keep them from scoring a fourth, and scored a second in the fourth of six minutes added-on when Aaron Porter produced a wonderful delivery from the right and Sam Morrow got in front of his marker to sweetly volley into the gaping goal. Could we grab a third and a point? Alas not, as time ran out and Bangor celebrated making it two wins from two against us.

In a match which had so much at stake, a lot of our players were completely off it: no more than the entire back four. The Man of the Match beers went to home striker Arthurs who scored one and assisted on the other two. Young winger Porter was by far our best player in the Bangor rain which never abated all match.

Whilst we were good with a better xG and a shots to on target ratio, Bangor could have really ripped us a new one if they had been a bit more clinical in front of goal. Hopefully this defeat will galvanise us and not send us on a losing streak. One winning streak might have ended but another can start on Tuesday night under the lights against Annagh United, right?

2025-26 Season: Has the door been opened? - Volume 3, Chapter 41

So we have tasted defeat for the first time in 10 league matches at Bangor, who remain the only side that have beaten us in league play this season. I said to the players in the sheds after the game to not feel too disheartened and we're still having a blooming good season so far. Even if those behind us win their matches in hand, we will still be at the head of affairs. This squad still has it in them to bounce straight back and go again on another winning streak. I mean it would have been a massive risk to play Callum McVeigh without any match practice in, but would it have changed the outcome. Well, we will never know the answer to that will we?

Elsewhere there were four other matches played this weekend aside of us, Dergview and the Ducks of Ballinamallard didn't have games.

Friday night saw Ards travel to Larne to face Newington and it was a game that had the most dramatic of conclusions. Ross Hunter gave the away side a 18th minute but a Darren Stuart penalty ten minutes from half time restored parity for Newington. As the game entered the second minute of seven minutes added on, Ards took a late lead thanks to Ebuka Kweiele, yet they conceded immediately afterwards as Stephen Hunter (no relation to the Ards first goalscorer) bagged a second Newington goal to ensure the teams would shake hands on a 2-2 draw.

Whilst we were slipping to a loss at Bangor, Warrenpoint Town were also losing ground at Ballymena. The Sky Blues took the spoils in a 2-1 win which helped solidify their mid-table position at present. Mikey Place put the home team into a 12th minute lead but Caiolan Brennan equalised after 24. The winner came 16 minutes from time when a John Bennett cross was headed in at the far post by Calvin McCurry. That result opened the door for the Welders to go third if they could defeat Dundela at Blanchflower Stadium, and they did just that with a 3-1 home win. David Parkhouse's 14th of the season put them into an early lead after just three minutes but the Duns levelled two minutes later thanks to Noah Stewart. Step forward winger Scott McLean as the main difference. The former Kilmarnock trainee put the Welders back in front in the third minute of first half added-on time and then scored again just after the hour to seal the win.

Tuesday night's visitors to The Dub Annagh United tuned up for our game by edging home by the odd goal in five at Ballyclare. Andrew MacLeod put them ahead after just 50 seconds, volleying past Daryl Wilson after Ross Gunn had nodded a Jake Stewart cross down into his path. Stewart himself made it 0-2 after 18 minutes with a crisp finish from a nice Gunn cross to put the Comrades under the pump early on. However they came roaring back with two goals in seven minutes to restore parity. Michael Morgan steered home a Brian Healy cross to halve the deficit before Healy himself headed in a Marc Walsh delivery to make it 2-2 in the 38th minute. The winner came seven minutes from the end when Ballyclare failed to clear their defensive lines and Gunn took a touch before smashing it top bins for a dramatic winning goal.

It's now a case of finding out more about each other, which players have the bottle and which ones don't? We need a response…