After back-to-back defeats, Bangor returned to winning ways on Saturday as they progress in the Intermediate Cup.
The Seasiders were made to fight hard by a spirited and determined 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys sides at Cloyne Crescent in what was an entertaining game.
It seemed like Bangor had the game wrapped up when Gerard McMullan scored his side’s third of the day in 57th minute but within five minutes, the home side had leveled the scores; and it looked like Bangor were in trouble.
That was not the case though as Hugh Sinclair’s side responded well, scoring twice more almost instantly to secure their place in the third round.
It was a lively start in Monkstown with Mark Marshall drilling a 25-yard free kick just wide of Darren Gibbons’ goal in the opening moments before Ben Roy found the outside of the post at the other end from a tight angle.
Marshall went even closer in the 12th minute with another set piece which left the crossbar shaking but it was Bangor who found the back of the net four minutes later.
Ben Arthurs raced onto a Michael Halliday flick on, and the youngster drilled a low shot across Gavin Robb and into the far corner to give Bangor the lead.
Calamity struck the Bangor rear-guard moments later when Chris Getty lost his footing to allow Ryan Weir the opportunity to bear down on goal but Darren Gibbons was on hand to block the forward’s attempted lob while the covering Gareth Beattie made up the ground to clear Josh Mannis’ goal-bound follow up.
After Jack Wasson dragged his 20-yard sot wide of the 18th Newtownabbey goal, the home side were awarded a penalty when referee Keith Halliday penalized Tommy Wray for holding Weir at a throw in. Jonathan Mahoney rifled the spot kick into the top corner to level the scores.
The referee was the center of the attention again three minutes later as he awarded Bangor a penalty when the home goalkeeper hauled down Ben Arthurs. The keeper received a yellow card for the foul and had to pick the ball out of the net as Mark Cooling calmly found the bottom corner.
Bangor looked more confident in the early stages of the second half as they pushed forward with Gerard McMullan twice denied by Robb in quick succession. The 18th Newtownabbey goalkeeper continued to impress as he kept out Arthurs following a fine move between Roy and Halliday.
There was nothing Robb could do to stop McMullan in the 57th minute. The energetic Wasson won the ball in midfield before spraying a cross-field pass to McMullan that the winger collected, cut inside and fired low into the bottom corner.
The home side were handed a lifeline two minutes later when Keith Halliday pointed to the spot for the third time of the afternoon after penalizing Gareth Beattie. Despite the lengthy Bangor protests, Mahoney kept his composure to once more fire into the corner from 12-yards.
It was all square in the 63rd minute when substitute Thomas Watson capitalised on a mistake in the Bangor defence to cross for Wesley Patterson to sweep home.
To their credit, Bangor responded well with McMullan going close before the Seasiders did retake the lead four minutes later. Ben Roy exchanged passes with Halliday before shooting past Robb. The ball ricocheted off the inside of the post and Marshall could do nothing but help the ball over his own goal line from point blank range.
Bangor’s two goal lead was restored almost immediately when a slip in the home defense allowed Halliday to unselfishly square for Arthurs to tap in from close range for his second of the day.
18th Newtownabbey did not capitulate and could have pulled a goal back but for a smart save from Gibbons to deny another Marshall free kick before while Chris Getty was in the right place to keep out a goal bound effort from McLarnon.
Bangor: Gibbons, Dickson, Beattie, Wray, Getty, Wasson, Roy (76′ Long), Cooling, Arthurs (70′ Lucas), Halliday, McMullan. Subs not used: Calvert, Arthur, Mallin.
Scorers: Arthurs (16′, 67′), Cooling (27′ pen), McMullan (57′), Own Goal (66′)
Booked: Wasson
18th Newtownabbey OB: Robb, Marshall, McGrath (77′ Downing), Frew, Sellar, Sharkey, R Patterson, W Patterson, Weir (55′ Watson), Mahoney, Mannis (77′ McLarnon).
Scorers: Mahoney (24′ pen, 59′ pen), W Patterson (62′)
