Bangor booked their place in the 6th Round of the Irish Cup with a well earned victory over Harland and Wolff Welders. The Seasiders will now play Limavady United away from home in the 6th Round.

Bangor started the game well and after only 3 minutes Jim McCloskey tested Fox with a powerful header which the ‘keeper couldn’t hold. The rebound fell to Lee Feeney but from a tight angle, the forward’s shot thumped the outside of the post.

A minute later it was Morrow’s turn to test Fox with a bending 20-yard shot. This time the Welders’ ‘keeper got down well to hold onto the goal bound effort.

Despite the solid start to the match, Bangor found themselves a goal behind after 5 minutes. Some neat passing between McNamara and Dickson allowed Neill to race clear of the Bangor defence. As Brown advanced on the striker, Neill coolly lofted the ball over the ‘keeper and into the goal.

Andrew Fox used his feet well to kept the visitors’ lead intact with a smart block from an Andy Morrow 18 yard shot after good work from Lee Feeney.

In the 16th minute, referee Brian Turkington adjudged Thomas Dickson to have handled a Jackie Kerr cross. Cullen Feeney duly stepped up and scored his first goal for the club.

Courageous defending kept the scores level as the Welders threatened to double their tally. Andy Massey did well to get his body in the way of a goal-bound shot from the lively Neill after good work from Kitson.

On the 30-minute mark, Jim McCloskey was unlucky not to grab the lead for Bangor. The lanky winger cut in from the right wing but his low shot hit the base of the right post with Fox beaten.

As the first half drew to a close, Brian Russell replaced the injured Cullen Feeney sparking a change in the Bangor formation, while Lee Feeney was cautioned for a late challenge.

Half time: 1-1

Bangor began the second half as they did the first. After just 4 minutes, a neat short corner routine allowed McCloskey to cut in from the left. McCloskey’s powerful in swinging shot thumped off the right hand post with Andrew Fox beaten.

The ever-dangerous Alan Neill almost doubled his tally for the night as he closed in on the Bangor goal. A well-executed tackle from Gary Clifford on the 18 yard line sent the ball looping into the air which needed Brown to push the ball round the post for a corner.

The resulting corner caused a goalmouth scramble, with Darren Kitson having a 5-yard effort blocked on the goal line by one of the many bodies.

After 55 minutes, the woodwork again denied Bangor. A through ball by Morrow picked out Brian Russell. The substitute took a touch before shooting low across Fox but Russell was unlucky to see his shot cannon off the left upright. Fox managed to get to his feet just in time to block Cheevers’ follow up shot from 18 yards.

Bangor got the goal their hard work deserved 3 minutes later. Smart work by Ryan Brown in gathering the ball and quickly punting it downfield allowed Brian Russell to header the ball on for Morrow. The Bangor captain held off his two markers before side stepping Fox and sliding the ball home.

It was the Welders turn to be denied by the woodwork after 64 minutes. This time Munn was out of luck as his rasping 20-yard volley rattled the right post after a corner was only half-cleared.

Brian Turkington handed Bangor their chance to seal the win from the penalty spot. Grant Dunlop had gathered a long ball over the top of the defence from Morrow before being tripped by Fox in the area as the midfielder looked to round the ‘keeper. With Cullen Feeney off the pitch, Johnny Cheevers took charge, but he blasted his spot-kick high over the bar.

Andrew Fox had to be on his toes to deny a spectacular 30-yard shot from Jim McStravick as the defender advanced forward with 15 minutes remaining.

The Welders almost got back level when a quickly taken Thomas Dickson free kick drifted just over the cross bar. With 5 minutes remaining, Alan Cochrane nearly scored against his former team. Brown punched clear a cross but Cochrane quickly volleyed back at goal. The flying Gary Clifford made sure the ball wasn’t goal wards as he covered for the out of position Brown.

Bangor sealed the win in superb fashion thanks to Jim McCloskey. With 4 minutes remaining, McCloskey picked up the loose ball in midfield before advancing down the left flank. McCloskey beat 2 defenders before cutting inside and firing low past Fox and into the bottom right corner.

Full time: 3 – 1

Bangor: Brown, Clifford, C Feeney (Russell), McStravick, Massey, Cheevers, Dunlop (Officer), Kerr, Morrow, L Feeney, McCloskey. Sub not used: Douglas.

Scorers: C Feeney (’16 pen.), Morrow (’58), McCloskey (’85)
Booked: L Feeney

H&W Welders: Fox, Allen, Roy (Marks), Munn, Lamont, Kitson, Hanna (Cooper), McNamara, Neill (Cochrane), Craig, Dickson.

Scorer: Neill (‘5)