Bangor FC booked their place in this season’s McReynolds Cup final after defeating Glebe Rangers at the Bangor Fuels Arena on Saturday.
For the fourth time this season, the Seasiders defeated the reigning league champions and they needed three goals of real quality on Saturday to see off the Ballymoney-men.
In a first half of little goalmouth action, it was Bangor who enjoyed the majority of possession and territorial advantage. Scott McArthur fluffed his lines from 16 yards while Gerard McMullan’s break forward lead to nothing in the 20th minute.
Ethan Boylan came closest to opening the scoring in the 43rd minute as he got on the end of a Ryan Arthur knock down, but the Bangor striker sent his effort over from a narrow angle.
In a first half void of much quality, it was a moment of magic which opening the scoring in the dying seconds. Mark Cooling rolled the ball to Gerard McMullan who, cutting in from the left wing, sent a glorious curling effort sailing into the top corner from 30 yards.
The second half was only 41 seconds old when Ethan Boylan doubled Bangor’s advantage in spectacular fashion. Boylan latched onto a Ben Arthurs flick on and sent a left footed volley looping over goalkeeper Josh Dunn from 25 yards for his 59thgoal in a Bangor shirt.
Three minutes later and the visitors should have had a goal back but for a breathtaking save from Darren Gibbons. A Jake Francis free kick picked out Alan Sheppard and his close range corner was somehow diverted onto the crossbar and over by the instinctive reactions of Gibbons.
The Bangor goalkeeper was at his best again in the 67th minute producing a double save to keep the visitors out. Kurtis McCartney’s low 20 yard free kick was parried by Gibbons before the shot-stopper through himself to his right to bravely keep out Lee Gault’s follow up.
With the wind in their backs, Glebe Rangers continued to bombard the Bangor penalty area from set pieces but there was no way past a resolute defense who have now conceded twice in their last nine outings.
Bangor substitute Ben Roy made sure there was to be no late comeback from the visitors as he found the bottom corner from 25 yards to set up a final with either St James Swifts or Coagh United.
Bangor: Gibbons, Johnston, Beattie, Arthur, Wray, Hislop (61′ Roy), McArthur (72′ Lucas), Cooling, Boylan (80′ Burrows), Arthurs, McMullan. Subs not used: Dickson, Halliday
Scorers: McMullan (45′), Boylan (46′), Roy (88′)
Glebe Rangers: Dunn, Shaw (55′ McCartney), Sheppard, Francis, Kennoway, Gault, Reid, McWhirter, Morrison, Mitchell (55′ Christie), Ferris. Subs not used: Brown, McKendry
Booked: McWhirter
