CARRICK RANGERS 1-5 BANGOR , JJB Sports Irish Cup Replay

Taylors Avenue, Tuesday 3rd February 2009
Match Report by Neil Watson 

Bangor put their off-field problems behind them as they turned on the style to comprehensively progress to the next round of the JJB Irish Cup. New manager John Bailie watched on as an Andy Morrow strike in the 22nd minute set the Seasiders on their way before Paul McDowell added a second half hat-trick. Davy Larmour pulled a goal back for Carrick Rangers, but David Irvine blasted home a fifth goal to seal the rout.

With a strong wind in their back, Bangor took the game to the home side with Paul McDowell going close early on.

Andy Morrow made Bangor's pressure count when he latched on to a Mark Magennis pass from the left wing. The Bangor captain drilled a low first-time shot across goal and into the bottom corner of the net.

Carrick came close to levelling the score minutes later from a Delgado corner, but Justin Van Matre sent his header over the crossbar when well placed.

Bangor almost added to their lead moments before half time when Darren Lockhart's delicate chip over the advancing Greg Shannon was cleared off the line by Paul Prenter.

Half-time: 0 - 1

With the second half only minutes old, Bangor doubled their lead. Aaron McKee, who replaced the injured Lockhart at half-time, sent a perfectly weighted pass throught the Carrick defence for Andy Morrow. Greg Shannon was quickly off his line to block Morrow's shot but the ball fell invitingly for Paul McDowell who, from 30 yards, made no mistake as he lobbed the ball back over Shannon and into the net.

McDowell added to his tally in the 51st minute as he met a Dom Melly corner at the near post to send a looping header over Shannon and into the far corner of the net.

Bangor's fourth goal arrived in the 74th minute after some fantastic breakaway football. Intercepting a Carrick attack on the edge of his own penalty area, Jim McMenamin moved the ball forward to Aaron McKee to setup the counter-attack. Four quick passes later and Paul McDowell found himself bearing down on goal from the right as he fired the ball across Shannon and into the net to seal his hat-trick.

Davy Larmour grabbed a consolation goal for his side in the 77th minute when he lifted the ball over the stranded Ryan Brown from 10 yards after a long ball out of the Carrick defence.

Minutes later David Irvine restored Bangor's four goal advantage as he emphatically blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 14 yards to give Shannon no chance.

With the final whistle approaching, Ryan Brown produced a top class save to claw away a looping header from Larmour when a goal seemed certain.

Full-time: 1 - 5

Bangor: Brown, Cleary, Boyd (Drysdale), McMenamin, Youle, Melly (Anderson), Magennis, Irvine, Lockhart (McKee), Morrow, McDowell. Subs not used: Hand, T Tumelty

Scorers: Morrow ('22), McDowell ('47, '51, '74), Irvine ('79)

Referee: Mr T Moutray