Saturday saw the Seasiders secure their seventh win from seven games this season as they swept aside Coagh United.
Bangor conceded first before goals from Ben Arthurs, Michael Halliday and Thomas Wray were just rewards for the home side’s dominance. A late goal for Coagh United threatened to make for a nervy finish but Bangor hit back with Brandon Nelson grabbing his first goal for the Seasiders in injury time.
Jack Wasson returned to the starting line-up in midfield for Hugh Sinclair’s Bangor side and it was the Seasiders who looked the most threatening from the first minute as Michael Halliday flicked a long Ryan Arthur throw in straight into the grasp of goalkeeper William Hassan.
Hassan, who was in goal for Desertmartin when they visited the Bangor Fuels Arena in August, was the busier of the two goalkeepers as he got down quickly to keep out Halliday’s effort while he also held Mark Cooling’s rasping 20 yard volley.
Against the run of play though, Bangor found themselves behind. Jamie Tomelty quickly took a free kick awarded to the visitors on the right touchline line, and with the Bangor defence caught napping, Scott McGeown crossed low for James Ferguson to hit high into the net after 25 minutes.
Parity was restored two minutes later when Ryan Arthur headed a Mark Cooling free kick back across goal where Halliday nodded down into the six yard box for Ben Arthurs to scramble home from close range.
Arthurs could have had a hat trick in five minutes but he was denied by a brave block from Hassan following another goalmouth scramble before his next chance lacked enough power to trouble the Coagh United goalkeeper.
The Bangor striker did play his part in Bangor’s second goal but it was Ben Roy who stole the plaudits. Playing on the left flank, Roy broke up a Coagh United attack on the edge of his own penalty before picking out Arthurs with a raking 40-yard pass forward. Roy showed his athleticism to race forward, collect Arthurs’ pass, and centre the ball from the goal line to allow Halliday to glance his near post header past the helpless Hassan.
Ryan Arthur was unlucky not to grab his third goal in as many games when he got his head to a Cooling corner, but Matthew Sloan was well placed on the line to clear after 60 minutes.
Bangor wobbled as Coagh United enjoyed a period of pressure midway through the half with Darren Gibbons expertly pushing a Ferguson 20-yard drive wide of the post.
Without enjoying the same dominance as in the first half, Bangor still pressed forward and substitute Ross Craig produced a top drawer save from Hassan as the veteran goalkeeper got his fingertips to Craig’s effort which was destined for the top left corner of the net from 25 yards.
The game looked to have been made safe when Thomas Wray powered his header past Hassan from a Cooling corner in the 82nd minute moments before Ben Roy crashed a 20-yard volley off the underside of the bar.
In the 88th minute Coagh United substitute Hugo Batista found the bottom corner from inside the Bangor penalty area as he squeezed home Tomelty’s cross to threaten a late comeback.
However, that fightback never materialised as Bangor kept possession well throughout added time. The patient build up came to fruition when Craig and Roy combined to allow substitute Sammy Devine to square for Nelson to tap home from close range.
Bangor: Gibbons, Long (57′ Craig), Arthur, Wray, Getty, Dickson, Wasson (63′ Devine), Cooling, Halliday, Arthurs (70′ Nelson), Roy. Subs not used: Widdowson, Mallin
Scorers: Arthurs (27′), Halliday (34′), Wray (82′), Nelson (90’+1)
Booked: Wasson, Dickson
Coagh United: Hassan, McGeown, Hogshaw, Johnny Montgomery, Neill, Sloan, Tomelty, Glasgow, Thompson (78′ Batista), Kempton (75′ Ferry), Ferguson. Subs not used: Jake Montgomery, Taylor.
Scorers: Ferguson (25′), Batista (88′)
Booked: Montgomery, Hogshaw
