Bangor eased into the second round of the Intermediate Cup on Saturday as they defeated Ardstraw.
Having travelled to Holm’s Vaughan in Newtownstewart, Bangor showed no ill effects of their lengthy trip as they were two goals to the good at half time thanks to Mark Cooling and Brandon Nelson.
Substitutes Gareth Beattie and Ben Arthurs added to the score line in the second half as Bangor progressed in the cup competition.
Hugh Sinclair made eight changes to last week’s starting lineup including a first start of the season for Michael Edgar and the Seasiders had the lead inside the opening six minutes.
Jack Wasson won a header in midfield which allowed Andy Long and Michael Halliday to quickly exchange passes and release Mark Cooling. Bangor’s top scorer advanced forward unchallenged before clipping a beautiful effort over Andrew Gailey in the Ardstraw goal.
Bangor enjoyed a good spell with Brandon Nelson hitting the side netting from a tight angle before Andy Long tamely headed at Gailey when well-placed following an Adam Calvert cross.
The home side had their best chance of the match in the 21st minute when the lively Samuel McKelvey met Andrew Little’s cross from the left, but the Ardstraw midfielder sent his looping header a foot wide of the post as Darren Gibbons watched on.
Both sides exchanged blows with Gailey once more denying Long following a defense splitting pass by Wasson while Gibbons got down to his left to push away a low shot from Ardstraw player-manager Ivan Sproule.
With a minute remaining, the first half Bangor doubled their lead. A clearing header from Michael Edgar was hooked forward by Michael Halliday with Brandon Nelson timing his half volley to perfection as he fired into the far corner giving Gailey no chance.
Mark Cooling was inches away from grabbing his second of the day in the second half but his wicked free kick from 25 yards clipped the crossbar as Bangor enjoyed completed control.
Another fine passing move between allowed Adam Calvert to bare down on goal from his left back position but he lifted his effort over the bar in the 68th minute.
The third goal did arrive two minutes later. Nelson showed determination to pull the ball back from the bye-line where halftime substitute Gareth Beattie was waiting to hammer home from close range.
The win was sealed in the 85th minute when Ben Arthurs raced onto a flick from Ethan Boylan. The Bangor forward kept his composure to slide the ball past the onrushing Gailey and into the bottom corner as he rounded off a fine team display.
Bangor: Gibbons, Dickson, Calvert, Getty, Arthurs, Edgar, Long (46′ Beattie), Cooling (71′ Arthurs), Halliday (53′ Boylan), Wasson, Nelson. Subs not used: Devine, Wray
Scorers: Cooling (6′), Nelson (44′), Beattie (70′), Arthurs (85′)
Booked: Arthur
Ardstraw: Gailey, Boyd, Mitchell (46′ Russell), Mills, Robinson, Donaghy, Spratt, Adams, McKelvey (60′ Clarke), Little, Sproule. Subs not used: Finlay, McIlwaine
Booked: Adams, Donaghy
