Bangor began their 2019 with an emphatic victory over Cookstown RBL on Saturday afternoon.
On a tight, bobbly pitch the Seasiders ran out deserved winners thanks to a brace apiece for Mark Cooling, Gerard McMullan, and new signing Matthew Johnston.
From the first whistle it was clear that Bangor were determined to claim all three points. Michael Halliday was denied in the opening three minutes by home goalkeeper Kyle Nelson while two minutes later Ethan Boylan was unfortunate to see his headed goal ruled out for a foul in the six-yard box.
Bangor continued to search for the opener but were kept out by Nelson and two blocks on the line by covering defenders as McMullan, Mallin, and Wasson all went close.
The breakthrough came in the 15th minute in familiar fashion when Bangor were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal and Mark Cooling made it look easy as he found the top corner.
There was a scare at the other end when the Bangor defense failed to deal with a Ryan Moore corner and only the outstretched leg of Paul Cairnduff prevented Paul Dickson from putting through his own net.
That was to prove a vital save as only moments later Bangor doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion. The industrious Jack Wasson showed his vision to pick out McMullan on the left flank. The Bangor winger skilfully flicked the ball high over the on-rushing Nelson and in the same movement side footed the ball over the covering defenders and high into the net from a tight angle.
While Ethan Boylan and Ben Roy both went close for the Seasiders it was Tommy Wray who passed up the best chance, sending his 8 yard free header wide of the target from a Cooling corner.
On the hour mark, Hugh Sinclair introduced new signing Matthew Johnston as he replaced Jack Mallin and it was a dream start for the right winger as he pounced on a McMullan cross to score from close range within a minute of entering the field.
Johnston had two within five minutes as he reacted quickest to slam home a Halliday knock down as Bangor enjoyed complete dominance.
The impressive Kyle Nelson kept out a 30-yard Ben Roy drive but he was powerless to stop Mark Cooling finding the top corner with a wicked effort from a 35-yard free kick.
Substitute Ben Arthurs did well to setup Ethan Boylan in the 80th minute, but the hard-working Bangor forward was denied the goal his performance deserved when Nelson held his rasping 16-yard volley.
With the last kick of the game, Gerard McMullan grabbed his second and Bangor’s sixth of the day squeezing the ball into the far corner after Johnston cross field pass.
Bangor: Cairnduff, Mallin (60′ Johnston), Dickson, Wray, Widdowson, Wasson (64′ Hislop), Roy, Cooling, Halliday (69′ Arthurs), Boylan, McMullan. Subs not used: Curtis, Edgar
Scorers: Cooling (15′, 78′), McMullan (33′, 90′), Johnston (61′, 66′)
Booked: Wasson, Roy
Cookstown RBL: Nelson, Reid (55′ Taylor), Boyd, Purvis, Donaldson, Jackson, Kelly, Hunter (46′ Ramsey), Barnabe, Moore (76′ Lee), Ferguson. Subs not used: Thorn
Booked: Barnabe, Kelly
