Loughgall earned a valuable point away against Bangor despite having led twice in the game. The Villagers brought in Aaron Walsh to make his club debut against the side he joined from last week.
Jamie Rea opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a fantastic strike that went in off the post after an excellent pass from Wilson Taveres. Two minutes before the break the hosts levelled when Loughgall ‘keeper Gareth Buchanan upended Paul McDowell inside the area, and Mark Cooling scored from the resultant penalty.
Loughgall still managed to go in at the break ahead when Warner Mullen’s 25 yard free-kick deflected off the wall and went through the hands of Bangor ‘keeper Chris Johns.
The Seasiders piled on the pressure on the second period as Loughgall tired and they equalised through Mark Cooling’s second goal when his disguised free-kick wrong-footed Buchanan and found the back of the net.
Bangor thought they’d won the tie in injury time when Colin Nixon had headed the ball into Loughgall’s goal however referee Ken Gibbons ruled that a foul had occurred amidst a crowded penalty area.
Loughgall: Buchanan, Taveres, Mallen, Copeland, Walsh, Henderson, Ferguson, Dallas, McMahon (Boyle 82m), Mullen (Uprichard 84m), Rea. Unused subs: Wilson, Hudson.
Bangor: Johns, Beattie, Youle, Wray, Nixon, Walsh, Curry (Long 80m), Watson (Cooling 29m), Morrow, McDowell (Boylan 72m), McBirney. Unused subs: Gibson, Lucas.
