Shedender - Comments

Welcome to the Championship/Premier Intermediate League in Northern Irish football and the curse of non-contracts.

Yep it's a tough final month @KEZ_7 especially with three of the last four games being on the road.

It's completely tough final month of the season @bigmattb28.

The final month of the season began with a tough trip to Newry City and a single goal gave us a 1-0 win and then four days later we travelled to Ballyskeagh and recorded an excellent 3-1 victory on the road but those back to back victories haven't secured a playoff spot yet. In the Intermediate Cup semi final we beat Premier Intermediate League side Harland & Wolff Welders 4-2 after extra time to advance to the final in which we'll face fellow playoff contenders Distillery in the final.

Back to league action and our only home game this month saw our playoff hopes suffer a massive blow as Knockbreda won 2-0 at Bangor Fuels Arena but on the final day of the season we made the playoffs against all the odds after a sensational 4-0 away win at the league champions Ballinamallard United and it was a fantastic end to a tremendous season. The final game of the month was the playoff first leg away to Knockbreda and the game remained in place after a 1-1 draw.

Our first game in May saw us play the playoff second leg at home to Knockbreda and a 4-2 victory saw us progress to the relegation/promotion playoff which happens to be against our fierce rivals Ards and the first leg Bangor Fuels Arena saw us secure an excellent 3-1 victory which has put us in control. We won the Intermediate Cup after beating Distillery 3-0 and then beat Ards 1-0 in the second leg to secure an unlikely promotion to the Premiership and our first time in the top flight since 2008.


And this is how the league table ended up after the playoff games were played - Ballinamallard United were crowned champions with ourselves being promotion despite finishing not only in third place and seven points behind the champions from Fermanagh. As you already knew, Loughgall were relegated to the third tier while Warrenpoint survived a relegation/promotion playoff against the team who finished second in the PIL. I'm not going to class this as a title so I'll need to return to the Championship

Points:
La Liga: Seventh = 20 points
Club World Championship: Runners-up = 5 points
Spanish Cup: Semi Finals = 10 points
Champions League = Quarter Finals = 5 points
Beat Barcelona x2 = 10 points

Total: 50 points

It'll be interesting to see were you head to next. Good work with East Bengal.

Oh indeed it's a big month ahead @Dan.

Cheers @Rocco17, it's been a fantastic season regardless of what happens.

Still in the hunt for the playoffs, last month was quite a positive month but it was also important that the form maintained as we have reached the business end of the campaign and the first game in February was one to forget as we suffered an unacceptable 4-0 home defeat to Newry City and we deserved nothing from that game, eleven days later and the side progressed to the quarter finals of the Intermediate Cup but needed penalties to defeat the reserve team of Portadown - back to league action and a trip to Breda Park saw us beat Knockbreda 3-0.

Four days after that win at Knockbreda we then welcomed the league leaders Ballinamallard to Bangor Fuels Arena and a superb performance saw us record a 3-1 success but the final game of February saw us draw 3-3 at home to fellow playoff contenders Distillery. Speaking of fellow playoff contenders, our only league game in March saw us beat Institute 2-1 at home and then we beat the same team 4-0 in the quarter final of the Intermediate Cup again at home.


Heading into the final month of the league season and we still remain in the haunt for the playoffs and it's incredibly tight as there's only seven points between Institute in fifth and Knockbreda in second. We're currently fourth. Ballinamallard United have secured a bare minimum of a playoff spot but they'll win the league barring a complete collapse and to the surprise of no one, Loughgall have been relegated to the Premier Intermediate League while Warrenpoint Town, PSNI and Dundela will fight it out to avoid the relegation/promotion playoff spot.


So there's just the four league games remaining with three of them being away from home against Newry City, Distillery and Ballinamallard while we also host Knockbreda. The semi final of the Intermediate Cup is also scheduled to be played throughout April - should we make the playoffs, I will add the playoffs to the next month so potentially expect both April and May to be added as one.

Always remember @bigmattb28 that we were predicted to struggle in the Championship so the fact we are currently sixth, well, I can't complain too much.

Oh indeed I was @Dan and I'm glad it wasn't when it perhaps could've been disastrous.

On the back of what turned out to be a poor December it was important we bounced back as the new year came around and the first game of twenty twenty one saw us exit the Irish Cup at the fifth round stage as Premiership side Larne beat us 2-1 at Bangor Fuels Arena before we then defeated leaders Ballinamallard United 1-0 at home just the three days later.

We then had an eleven day rest to get the squad refreshed before the third round of the Intermediate Cup as we squeezed past Amateur league side Crewe United, recording a 2-1 success and I thought it might've been a lot more comfortable than it turned out to be - the final game of January saw us make the journey to Derry's Brandywell Stadium to face Institute, the game finished 1-1.


A decent enough month has seen us rise up a position to fifth but we're still well adrift of the Championship leaders Ballinamallard who look like they're going to guarantee the title sooner rather than later while at the basement Loughgall still prop up the table and look a little doomed so far as they're thirteen points from safety but I'm delighted we've secured a top half finish on Bangor's return to the Championship - we can still secure a bare minimum of a playoff spot as it's incredibly tight.


With only one game currently being scheduled for March I have decided to throw the two months together although should we progress in the Intermediate Cup against Portadown Reserves then I believe the next round will be played in March. Apart from the Intermediate Cup game there's four Championship games in February with three of them being at home against Newry City, Ballinamallard United and Distillery while we travel to Knockbreda three days after the Intermediate Cup tie. Our one league fixture in March sees us host Institute.


The final piece of news this January is that the (new?) board are allowing me to go on my latest coaching course which will see us get my Continental C Licence should I be successful in doing so. Just like the other updates, it's going to take approx. four months worth of study to complete the the football club are covering the nine hundred and sixty pound fee for the course.

The file is working absolutely fine.

There's new challenges at the beginning of each month.

Same @bigmattb28 , I'm sure Ballinamallard will drop points eventually.

December was a month to forget as we didn't win a single league fixture throughout the month which I'm hoping turns out to only be a blip. The month did begin however with progression in the Irish Cup after defeating Mossley 3-1 at Mossley Recreation Ground but then three days later Distillery beat us 3-1 in our first league game of the month and then Dundela easily won 3-0 at Bangor Fuels Arena.

We then had a twelve day break before our next Championship game which was a home game against Institute and that finished 1-1 before the month concluded with a six goal thriller against Queens University Belfast as the points were shared in a 3-3 draw, a game we probably should've won.


A poor month has seen us slip from third to sixth and now we're a staggering twenty one points behind the leaders Ballinamallard who don't seemingly want to slip up but somehow our goal difference is still positive. Loughgall remain bottom and ten points adrift of both PSNI and Warrenpoint and the latter has had a terrible campaign.


Just three games are currently schudeled for January but I believe the first game in the split could be played so it may be four. They're all home games in three different competitions - in the Irish Cup we face Premiership side Larne, Ballinamallard in the Championship and then Amateur side Crewe in the third round of the Intermediate Cup.


Due to the good work that I've been doing at Bangor Football Club, I have received and turned down two job interviews from clubs in England. Sutton United were first to offer me an interview before Hartlepool United soon followed suit. Both rejected though as I've been enjoying managing Bangor and would love to complete Northern Ireland before moving onto a different country.

The penultimate month began with a trip to South Down to face Newry City and the hosts secured a 2-1 success as our inconsistency continues but then a week later and a single goal gave us a deserved 1-0 win at home to Warrenpoint. In the Intermediate Cup second round we beat fellow Championship side Dundela 3-2 at Wilgar Park to progress to the third round.

League action resumed three days later and a 0-0 draw at Newforge Lane against the PSNI happened before the final game of the month saw us beat fellow high flyers Limavady United 2-0 at home.


Up to third now after the four league fixtures that were played this month but we're also eleven points behind the league leaders Ballinamallard who have opened up a nine point lead. Loughgall continue to prop up the Championship and are now nine points from safety.


The final month of the calendar year will see us face five fixtures with four of them being in the league and one of them being in the fourth round of the Irish Cup. In the Irish Cup we have been drawn away to Amateur side Mossley Young Men while the four league games will see us travel to Distillery before back to back home games against Dundela and Institute, the final game of the year will see us face struggling Queens.

So basically Diego Forlan would've rather retired than play for you?

Yep it's been a solid start @bigmattb28 but then again, there's very little between the two divisions.

Indeed @Dan.

So a busy month kicked off with back to back defeats in two competitions - Dundela beat us 2-1 at Wilgar Park before Coleraine dumped us out of the League Cup as the Premiership outfit won 4-2 on their travels. We won our first league game as Queens University were beaten 4-3 before a 1-1 draw at Ferney Park against Ballinamallard United.

Just three days after drawing in Fermanagh, we faced Carrick Rangers at a neutral venue and they beat us 1-0 to end our Co. Antrim Shield hopes but four days later we then travelled to Carrick to take on Barn United in the Intermediate Cup first round and eased to a 5-1 victory. The game at Breda Park against Knockbreda ended 3-3 before the final game of the month saw us secure a single goal victory over basement club Loughgall but it should've been more as Bangor dominated at home.


With the month now concluded we remain in fourth place after thirteen league games and eight points behind leaders Ballinamallard - it's tight though because only five points separate seventh placed Distillery and second placed Institute. Loughgall continue to prop up the table, four points adrift of Queens University.


Just the four games are currently scheduled for November although I believe the second round Intermediate Cup tie will be played next month. Two journeys to Newry City and PSNI await us while we host both Warrenpoint Town and Limavady United.

September began with a sensational win at Seaview against Premiership outfit Crusaders as the Championship new boys won 3-2 in North Belfast and then four days later we progressed in the Steel & Sons Cup but needed penalties to see off fellow Championship side Knockbreda at Bangor Fuels Arena. A trip to Premier Intermediate League side Newington in the Co. Antrim Shield quarter final and we progressed to the semi finals after a 2-1 win.

The first league fixture of the month saw us slip to a disappointing 3-1 loss away to Limavady United but then three consecutive wins came in the Championship as Newry City and Distillery were beaten 3-0 and 4-2 respectively at home but then came an excellent 4-1 away win against Warrenpoint Town. Distillery dumped us out of the Steel & Sons Cup as the hosts eased to a 4-0 win at Ballyskeagh and then the month ended with Institute beating us 2-0 at The Brandywell.


It's been a decent start on Bangor's return to the second tier of local football as the club are currently fourth after the opening eight league games with four wins, one draw and three league defeats but a positive goal difference which I'm satisfied with. Ballinamallard no longer have a one hundred percent record as the Fermanagh side suffered two defeats throughout September. Loughgall prop up the table, two points behind Queens University and Warrenpoint Town as the South Down outfit have had a slow start to the campaign.


The third month of my second season at Bangor Football Club is another busy month as there's seven fixtures currently schudeled over three competitions. Five of the games are in the league as we travel to Dundela, Ballinamallard United and Knockbreda and host both Queens University and Loughgall. The League Cup third round tie see us host Premiership's Coleraine and in the Shield semi final we face Carrick Rangers.

@syemo remember, if you get sacked as Bangor manager then you're getting banned.

Cheers for the comment @r96Skinner.

Two trophies have been checked off this season @HawkAussie as we won the Steel & Sons Cup as well this season.

It's been a mixed start to life in the Championship as we've won one, lost one and drew one from our opening three league fixtures while the football club has also progressed in two cup competitions. The campaign began with a 3-2 defeat at home to Knockbreda but the first league win came at Lakeview Park a week later as Bangor secured a well deserved 3-0 success - we then progressed in the Steel & Sons Cup after a 6-1 win at Drumaness Mills.

Just three days later after Steel & Sons Cup progression a trip to The Oval to face Glentoran was up next and advancement happened after a 3-2 victory but that doesn't tell the entire story because we had led 3-0 at one stage before the Glens got two goals back. The opening month ended with a 1-1 draw at home to PSNI, we took the lead but the visitors levelled.


The opening month has been finished and after a mixed start to the season we find ourselves in fifth place and five points behind the unbeaten Ballinamallard who have a one hundred percent record after three games while both Loughgall and Queens University both have a point with the former propping up the table on goal difference.


September sees us play seven competitive fixtures with five of them being in the Championship while we have a Co. Antrim Shield tie away to Crusaders and a Steel & Sons Cup third round home fixture against Knockbreda. In the league we'll entertain Newry City, Limavady United, Distillery, Warrenpoint Town and Institute.

Oh no doubt @bigmattb28 but I'd rather we didn't win the title in a stressful 5-4 game. Hard work starts now but I've got some players who are more than capable of making the step up.

Two trophies down, only 30 something to go @Dan.

Cheers @syemo.

Promotion back to Northern Ireland's second tier was secured in an epic encounter at Portstewart and now the hard work begins to try and launch back-to-back promotion bids but the pressure is off us as the media predict us to struggle this season and finish at least third bottom but I feel that's insulting and I'm confident I can repeat my success at Dergview and overachieve. Five players arrived up until the end of preseason and one of them is guaranteed to be a starter as Kyle Woods arrived from PIL side Newington.

Central midfielder Sean Douglas and centre back Tarek Arafa arrived this summer as the duo arrived from fellow Championship side Dundela, Josh Lynch has arrived as a rotational option on the left wing and Dan Smith came in from "unattached", No players have departed the club this summer so we've got a big enough squad capable of fighting on all domestic fronts - which means, I'll play the same eleven each and every week depending on injuries/suspensions.


It was a busy preseason but an unbeaten preseason and it was almost perfect bar a scoreless draw at home to Premiership side Coleraine. Preparations for the new campaign began with a 2-0 win over Scottish side Edinburgh City and then three days later we beat Amateur League side Ballywalter Rec at home before back to back away wins at PIL side Newington and Amateur side Ards Rangers before the 0-0 at home to Coleraine. Holywood were defeated 5-1 and Kilrea United 6-2 both away from home. The side beat Sirocco Works 6-2 and then preseason ended with a 4-0 win at Knockramer Park against Lurgan Celtic.


The final piece of business in preseason is that the board are allowing me to go on my latest coaching course and should I be successful, well, I will secure my National A Licence which I'd be delighted with. Yet again it's going to take approx. 4 months worth of study to complete the course and again the board are covering the six hundred pound fee required for the course.

Although I don't think there's much between the PIL and Championship @syemo, next season is going to be a tough one nonetheless so expect more red circles.

If I bottle this @Dan then the game will be uninstalled immediately.

Portstewart have had a great season @bigmattb28 and the fixture is away from home so it's not going to be easy.

A superb season finishes at the end of this month and what a season it has been as Bangor won the Steel & Sons Cup for the first time since 2011 and now they've also bagged the Premier Intermediate League trophy after an epic nine goal thriller at Seahaven as the visitors won 5-4, club captain Andy Long bagged a brace but it was Mark Cooling that won us the title late on, a poor defensive display though as I believe we had actually led 3-0 at one stage. In our first game since being crowned champions, Newington were beaten 2-0 at Bangor Fuels Arena and then Queens University lost 3-2 again we were at home.

The final away game of the campaign took us to Glen Road Heights to take on Sport & Leisure Swifts who defeated us 3-1 and then in the final league game of the season against Moyola Park we edged a seven goal thriller, winning the game 4-3 to end an excellent season - the only downside is the last three league games we have been so poor defensively, I don't know whether it's been complacency since the title has been won or we've just been poor defensively and now it's coming out.

Season has been done and now the hard work starts for life in the Championship.


And that's all she wrote, Bangor's first season back in the confines of Irish League Football has come to an end and what a season it has been, crowned Premier Intermediate League winners after finishing a staggering 16 points clear of second placed Queens who'll go into the relegation/promotion playoff with whoever finished second bottom of the Championship and also securing the Steel & Sons Cup after a hard fought win over Championship side Knockbreda. Dollingston are relegated out of the Irish League after two season while it was a poor season for Harland & Wolff Welders who finished third bottom.

You're flying through India. KIU.

Cheers @syemo, if we could've done the treble (adding the Intermediate Cup) it would've been great but I suppose I can't be greedy.

Yep @Dan it's time to now concentrate on the league as we've reached the business end.

Due to having just the one game in March,I have decided to add the home fixture against the Welders in to this update. Anyway it has been a successful five Premier Intermediate League games as the side only suffered one league defeat - the month began with a hard fought single goal win at home to Newington before securing a superb 3-1 success at Planters Park against Dollingstown and then Tobermore were easily disposed off at home as Bangor won 3-0 to maintain our strong title hopes. The final game in February saw us lose 3-1 to the basement club Annagh United in a game that I want to forget.

Our one and only fixture in March saw us host struggling Harland & Wolff Welders and we bounced back to winning ways, securing a 3-1 win.


A playoff spot has been wrapped up after what has been a superb season at Bangor Fuels Arena and with the club being 13 points clear at the summit I believe the league can be wrapped up should be win our next league game, which I believe is away to Portstewart. Dollingstown are now bottom but it remains tight at the foot of the table with five games remaining as anyone in the bottom half can be relegated automatically to the Premier Intermediate League.


The potential title party at Seahaven will kick off the final month of the season as there's five more games to be played while we have three home games to conclude our first season back in the Irish League as the home fixtures will be against Newington, Queens University and Moyola Park while the two away games will be against Portstewart (as previously mentioned) and Sport & Leisure Swifts

It's the first trophy done @bigmattb28 but hopefully not the last.

As we enter the new year the business end of the season is almost upon us and being top of the table and six points clear means the pressure is all on us to get over the line, failure and it'll be pure disappointment. The new year began with back to back away trips in which we picked up maximum points in both of those games, first up was a trip to Castledawson to entertain Moyola and we returned back to the Seaside with a 3-1 win, a 2-1 win against Queens University followed just three days later.

Progression though in the Irish Cup didn't happen as the club exited in the fifth round following a 4-1 home loss against the Premiership side Glentoran while a disappointing 0-0 home draw against Banbridge Town followed. The month ended with more cup disappointment as Championship side Carrick dumped us out of the Intermediate Cup following a 2-1 defeat at Bangor Fuels Arena.


The gap at the summit has now opened up to 9 points and it could've perhaps been a few more if it wasn't for that frustrating scoreless draw against Banbridge and the goal difference remains healthy as well. Annagh continue to prop up the table but it's also tight down there as just eight points separate the basement side and seventh placed Tobermore United.


There's just four games scheduled to be played next month but with just one game scheduled for March I may add that one in as well. We have two games at home and two games on our travels - the home games will be against Newington and Tobermore while we will travel to Mid Ulster sides Dollingstown and Annagh United. The only fixture in March which I might as well add, will be at home to Harland & Wolff Welders.


Final piece of news this month and the board are allowing me to go on a coaching course which will see me secure the National B Licence if I am successful, once again it's going to be approx. four months worth of study and the board will be covering the six hundred pounds for the course so I better be successful. Once that's completed I'll be trying to go for my National A Licence as soon as I can as I need to get my reputation up as soon as possible.

Oh of course there's still positives @bigmattb28 and I'm glad the Tobermore game seems to be meerly a blip.

Better than I expected @Dan and long may it continue.

A busy month for Bangor Football Club began with a trip to Premiership side Ballymena in the semi finals of the League Cup and a disappointing performance saw the Premier side easily win 4-0 to end our chances but just four days later and a 3-1 win at Parkway saw us progress to the next round of the Irish Cup as Comber Rec were dumped out. The first league fixture of the month saw us beat struggling Harland & Wolff Welders 2-1 at Tillysburn Park, the first home game saw a 3-1 win over Sport & Leisure Swifts at Bangor Fuels Arena.

Our third league game of the month took us to Seahaven to entertain high flying Portstewart in what's our final league fixture before the Steel & Sons Cup final and it ended with a 3-1 success for the visitors. It's now Christmas Eve and it's time for the Steel & Sons Cup final against Championship leaders Knockbreda and despite riding our luck at times I secured my first trophy in management and Bangor's first Steel & Sons Cup success since 2011 following a 1-0 win and then the month and year concluded with a 4-1 win at home to Armagh.


And this is what the league table looks like at the midway point of the season and we are sitting top of the table and six points clear of Queens University and with a superb goal difference as well of plus twenty two. Annagh United are propping up the table and currently six points adrift of second bottom Banbridge Town. There's a big four months of football coming up as we look to secure promotion back to the second tier for the first time since 2016 when they were self-relegated.


As we head into the new year there's going to be five games ahead of us with three of them being in the league and two in different cup competitions. The league fixtures will see us make the trip to Castledawson to face Moyola Park and Queens University while we welcome Banbridge Town to our Clandeboye Road home. We host Premiership's Glentoran in the Irish Cup fifth round and also host Carrick Rangers of the Championship in the third round of the Intermediate Cup.

You done a solid job with Melbourne Victory in Australia and now I'm sure you'll do an even better job at East Bengal and chalk India off in no time.

And you've already won a cup with EB? Good job fella. KIU.

It's been a better start than I expected @tongey and long may it continue.

We do look unstoppable indeed @bigmattb28 but I'm sure we are due a blip sooner rather than later. We've been lucky in some of the games.

Cheers @Dan.

I'm a little surprised at how well we've begun this season @syemo as I expected us to struggle a little.

Top of the table and without a single defeat in all competitions, it's been a tremendous start to Bangor's return to the Premier Intermediate League but the unbeaten start came to a halt in our first game in November as Tobermore United secured a 3-1 win at Fortwilliam Park and we deserved to loss as we were shocking throughout but just three days Coleraine were undeservedly beaten 2-1 in the League Cup quarter final despite the Premiership side being better throughout. Championship side Dundela were beaten 2-1 in the Steel & Sons Cup semi final but I believe we had to come from behind to beat the Belfast outfit.

Next up was a trip to Crewe United in the second round of the Intermediate Cup and a single goal saw us progress to the third round. The final game of the month saw us beat basement club Annagh United 4-2 at Bangor Fuels Arena - playing the basement club at home, a clean sheet would've been nice.


So despite losing for the first time this season against Tobermore United we still remain top of the table and four points clear of second placed Queens University and we've got the best goal difference in the PIL as well. It's continuing to be a tough start to the season for relegated (from the Championship) Harland & Wolff Welders as they're second bottom and only two points ahead of the basement club Annagh.


Next month is the final month of 2019 and it's going to be a busy month ahead as there is seven matches over four different competitions. In the Premier Intermediate League we have four games with two being at home and two being away - the home games will see us entertain Sport & Leisure Swifts and Armagh City while the club will travel to the second bottom Welders and high flying Portstewart. Bangor will also travel to Ballymena for the League Cup semi final, take on Comber Rec in the fourth round of the Irish Cup at Parkway and face Championship leaders Knockbreda in the Steel & Sons Cup final.

The superb start to the campaign continued in October even if we did drop our first points of the campaign as we were held to a 2-2 draw at Seaview against Newington, that draw came just three days after Bangor progressed to the Steel & Sons Cup quarter final stage after comfortably disposing of Strabane at Bangor Fuels Arena. Four days after the disappointing draw at Newington we played hosts to Premiership side Larne and in a ding dong battle an upset was caused as the hosts won 2-0 to progress to the next stage.

With the shock win against Larne behind us it was then back to league action and a home fixture against Dollingston who we defeated 4-1 and then four days later it was off to Newforge Lane to take on Championship side PSNI in the quarter final stage of the Steel & Sons Cup and we advanced to the semi final stages after a 4-2 success in a game that ended up going to extra time. The month concluded with a 4-1 win over Cliftonville Olympic in round one of the Intermediate Cup.


Still top but our one hundred percent record came to an end at Seaview but the football club still remain three points clear at the summit and still unbeaten in the process. I did state that the Welders wouldn't be bottom for much longer despite their horrific start to the campaign and two wins from this month has seen the Tillysburn Park outfit rise up to tenth with Portadown based club Annagh United rock bottom, below Armagh City on goal difference.


There is going to be a minimum of five games ahead of us in November but just two of them are going to be in the Premier Intermediate League and those games will be away to Tobermore United and home to Annagh United. We also have a trip to Coleraine in the League Cup quarter finals and Dundela will be looking for revenge after we dumped them out of the League Cup back in August as we meet in the semi finals of the Steel & Sons Cup and we've got home advantage even though the games in real life are usually played at Seaview. The second round of the Intermediate Cup will also be staged next month but the draw hasn't been made yet.

Good job @syemo.

How has Dale Patton done for you? Anytime I play him he didn't perform, turned into a bellend and I ended up releasing him. I've got Ben Arthurs as first choice and he's been solid so far.

I need to have all the graphics installed (player faces, logos, kits) but I don't really care for data updates apart from the official SI ones.

I'm sure you'll beat Melbourne City to secure the FFA Cup - if you do, would that be Australia completed or is still work to do?

They're all winnable games this month as well @bigmattb28 so there's no reason why I can't extend our lead at the summit.

It was a superb start for Bangor on their return to the Irish League after two seasons away and the excellent start to the campaign continued in September as we won all three league fixtures and progressed to the fourth round of the Steel & Sons Cup. A home tie against Tandragee kicked off the second competitive month and a 3-1 win saw us progress to the third round and in the third round that ended up being played just three days later we dumped out the Premier Intermediate League's basement side Harland & Wolff Welders, again 3-1 and again at home.

Back to league action and we welcomed Moyola Park to Bangor Fuels Arena and a 5-2 win saw us pick up our fourth league win from as many games, next up was a tricky trip to Banbridge Town and a late winner saw us record a 2-1 success at Crystal Park. The month concluded with another epic game as we beat Queens University in a "Jekyll and Hyde-esqe" performance - unless I'm mistaken we lead the students 4-0 at half time after an excellent first half performance but Queens then ended up winning the second half 3-0 but we somehow held on.


Six wins from six games as our remarkable start to life in the third tier continues as we still maintain momentum and the club is four points clear of Mid Ulster based club Dollingstown. Remember when I said I'd be surprised if the Welders remain bottom for much longer? Well, they've now played six league games and lost all six but I'm still sure their form will pick up. We may have a goal difference of +11 but we've still only been able to keep one clean sheet so far this campaign.


Five games minimum await us in October with the toughest test coming against Premiership newboys Larne who we welcome to the Seaside but we simply can't think about that game as we have two matches before the League Cup third round tie - Strabane Athletic at home in the Steel & Sons Cup third roune tie and a tough away trip to Crusaders' home ground of Seaview to face Newington. After the Larne game we host the current second placed side Dollingstown before an first round Intermediate Cup tie but the draw hasn't been made yet.

We could also face another Steel & Sons Cup tie if we are able to get past Strabane.

I'm confident we can have a good season @bigmattb28, whether the clubs good enough to be promoted remains to be seen.

Oh course @Dan but I was always planning on taking over the club who had gotten promoted to the Premier Intermediate League and it just happened to be Bangor.

What can I say here? Just look at all that green as it's been a tremendous opening month to life at Bangor Fuels Arena. The season began with a 3-1 home success against Moyola Park in the League Cup first round and our reward was a short trip to East Belfast outfit Dundela in round two and the club advanced to the third round with a hard fought 2-1 win against the Championship side at Wilgar Park.

The league campaign though began with an epic encounter at Bangor Fuels Arena against Portstewart as we edged a seven goal thriller, winning 4-3 but it shouldn't have been as close as it was as my Bangor side played very well throughout the game, the second league game took us to Glen Road Heights in West Belfast and a comfortable 3-0 win followed on the road and then our third and final game this month was another epic as it was an eight goal thriller at Holm Park in Armagh as the visitors recorded a 5-3 success.

One thing to take from the opening month? You're going to potentially get your monies worth.


So it's three wins from the opening three games and progression to the third round of the League Cup, it's been a great opening month for the newly promoted Seasiders and I'm hoping that'll continue throughout the campaign. It's been however a tough start to the season for relegated Harland & Wolff Welders who are lying rock bottom without a single point from the opening three games but I'm sure they won't be win-less, pointless and bottom for much longer.


There's going to a minimum of four games to be scheduled through September with three of them being in the Premier Intermediate League with two of them being at home against Moyola Park and Queens University Belfast while we've got a tricky away trip to Banbridge Town in between the two home games. The football club have been drawn at home to Tandragee in the second round of the Steel & Sons Cup and that's a winnable tie to our home advantage - if we do indeed progress then I'm sure the third round tie will be scheduled for some date in September.

I came here expecting relegation in the first season, not promotion. Good job though @KEZ_7.

You seem to be a violent bunch second season though.