Based on the number of chances created, Bangor deserved to progress in Saturday’s Irish Cup tie.
Leading at the break through an incredible Mark Cooling strike, Bangor should have been out of sight.
Instead, a nervy second half saw an anxious Bangor side struggle to exert the same dominance against a rejuvenated Banbridge Rangers.
With no way past man of the match Paul Cairnduff, Bangor held on and an injury time strike from Jack Mallin made sure the Seasiders progress to the third round.
Returning to the starting lineup since August, Brett Widdowson almost gave his side the lead in the third minute but his towering header from a Cooling corner was blocked on the line by a Banbridge Rangers defender.
Bangor continued to play with confidence and purpose but they were disrupted midway through the half when Colum Curtis injured his shoulder in a heavy collision which saw the attacking player require hospital treatment.
Jack Mallin went close for the Seasiders from 20 yards before the same man turned provider when he cut the ball back for Cooling. With the visiting goalkeeper Bryan McMullan committed, Cooling’s goal bound effort was blocked on the line by the sizeable presence of defender Chris Chambers.
When Bangor took the lead in the 31st minute, it was in spectacular fashion. Substitute Jack Wasson and Jack Mallin combined well on the left and when the ball was played across Cooling 25 yards from goal, the Bangor midfielder sent a first time rocket into the top corner of the net.
Andy Long and Brandon Nelson then linked up to allow Ben Arthurs a clear sight of goal but the striker’s effort was blocked by the legs of the prone McMullan.
The visiting goalkeeper was in top form in the 38th minute when he parried Nelson’s rasping 20 yard drive before getting to his feet quickly to keep out Arthurs’ follow up.
Despite dominating the first half, Bangor nearly found themselves pegged back in the closing stages of the half when Dean Spence fired over from the edge of the box before Paul Cairnduff bravely dived at the feet of Paul Greenaway as the forward bore down on goal.
The chances continued to come and go for Bangor after the break with Ben Arthurs guilty of passing up a great chance made by Michael Halliday. Bangor’s top scorer scuffed his first effort from six yards before ballooning his second effort over the top from the same distance.
After McMullan ended a Jack Mallin run with a smart block, Arthurs once more missed the target as he bundled Mallin’s right wing cross wide in the 53rd minute.
Banbridge Rangers were dealt a blow when goalkeeper Bryan McMullan landed awkwardly in a collision with Brandon Nelson. The impressive shot stopper was replaced by defender Chris Chambers – but that change seemed to galvanise the mid-Ulster side.
Adam Loughlin raced onto a long Jeff Brady pass in the 67th minute but Cairnduff was equal to the effort before the Bangor keeper held Dean Spence’s speculative effort moments later.
The lively Stuart Mallen danced his way past a couple of Bangor challenges but Cairnduff used his feet to keep out the low effort as the visitors looked the side most likely to score.
Spence and Mallen were both again denied by Cairnduff but as the visitors threw men forward Bangor looked to strike at the other end.
Adam Calvert hit the outside of the post from wide on the left but Jack Mallin sealed the victory deep in injury time as he fired home from a Ben Arthurs knock down.
Bangor: Cairnduff, Beattie, Widdowson, Nelson (69′ Calvert), Wray, Mallin, Long, Cooling, Halliday (63′ Boylan),
Curtis (23′ Wasson), Arthurs. Subs not used: Getty, Edgar.
Scorers: Cooling (31′), Mallin (90’+5)
Booked: Wasson, Nelson, Mallin
Banbridge Rangers: McMullan (59′ Ward), Brady, Wilson, Mallen, Hazley, Greenaway, Spence, Loughlin, Johnston, Chambers, Porter. Subs not used: Frizell, Patterson.
Booked: Wilson
