Bangor 2 Ards 0
By Neil Watson
BANGOR were crowned 2026 Spectator and Chronicle Cup champions when they beat rivals Ards at Clandeboye Park last Thursday night.
It took the Seasiders just five minutes to get their noses in front, and the opener came from a move that started deep inside their own half.
Jack O’Mahony fought hard to win possession on the right flank and offload to Lewis Harrison. The skipper picked out Mick Morgan, who showed strength to hold on to possession and pick out the run of the overlapping O’Mahony.
From the right side, O’Mahony crossed into the penalty area, where summer signings Lucas McRoberts and Steven McCullough combined, with the former-Portadown man firing beyond Ards goalkeeper James Taylor.
Ards could have equalised just moments later through recent signing Fintan O’Boyle but, having managed to barge his way into the penalty area, the frontman saw his effort well blocked by Alfie Mitchell.
Chances were few and far between, and it took until the 48th minute for the next shot on target to arrive, as Harrison tamely fired at the Ards goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area.
Almost immediately, Ards went close, when a counter-attack saw Eamon Scannell try his luck from 25 yards, with his left-footed effort landing just wide the post.
Bangor substitute Liam Burns was wide of the mark with his header from O’Mahony’s delivery, but his side would eventually put the game to bed in the 70th minute.
Link- up play between McRoberts and Stephen McGuinness teed up Harrison, before the Bangor skipper moved the ball into the path of Morgan, who calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner, sealing his side’s silverware triumph.
Next up, Bangor face a double header, travelling to play both Comber Rec (2pm) and Dundela (3pm) in pre-season on Saturday.
Bangor: McMahon, Mitchell, Francis, Neale, O’Mahony, Harrison, Trialist, Burns, McCullough, Morgan, McRoberts. Subs: Allen, Mulvenna, Cushnie, Lynch, Boyd, Ferguson, McGuinness, Hughes.
