Bangor Ladies were knocked out of the NIWFA Championship Cup in the first round on Friday night after a 3-1 defeat to Ballymena United Women at Clandeboye Park.

Ballymena took the lead in the 10th minute through Rebecca Curry, and Chelsea Millar doubled the advantage two minutes later. Jennifer Montgomery added a third on the stroke of half-time.

Bangor top scorer Olivia Marshall pulled one back in the 65th minute with her ninth goal of the season, but the home side could not mount a comeback.

Manager Rory Hamill said the result was disappointing and that his side had not been as fluid as usual. He noted a penalty appeal for handball in the opening minutes that was not given and felt that conceding just before the break was a critical setback.

Hamill was without record goalscorer Amber Dempster and midfielder Toni Stewart. He described Dempster's hold-up play and Stewart's energy as significant misses.

The defeat followed a 7-0 league win over Mid Ulster Ladies and a 1-0 victory away to the same Ballymena side earlier in April.

Hamill said the team would now turn its full attention to the league, with away fixtures against Ballymoney United and Strabane Athletic coming up.