Bangor prove as testing as the conditions for Newcastle

Bangor prove as testing as the conditions for Newcastle

3 September 2025

NEWCASTLE Town were confident of picking up three valuable points against a visiting Bangor Amateurs side, only for their hopes to be dashed in a 3-1 defeat.

With Bear Park in the clutches of a swirling wind and driving rain, Bangor elected to play with the elements at their backs in the opening half.

After just five minutes of play, the visitors were beginning to rue their decision, as Newcastle’s Kian Mulholland shot past goalkeeper Jamie Gent to open the scoring.

Despite the set-back, the travelling men held their nerve and played their way back into the game, equalising through Kian Storey just five minutes later.

The Newcastle defence were now firmly on the back foot and on the quarter of an hour mark, Bangor striker Lekan Sule raced on to a ball over the top to fire an effort against the Newcastle upright.

The home side failed to heed the warning and just three minutes later, the dangerous Sule slotted past McLaughlin to give his side the lead.

Just as Town thought things could not get worse, they lost the influential Jonathan Scannell to a knee injury, with Jamie Boyd coming on to replace him.

The hosts were now defending deep, as Bangor surged forward, however, they were unable to add to their advantage and the home side felt they could use the elements to their advantage.

Unfortunately, for Newcastle, the weather eased slightly and Bangor took full advantage, with Christoper Curran-Cochrane netting a third goal five minutes into the second half.

Amateurs were in no mood to let the home side back into the game, introducing substitutes Joel Hunter and Scott Majury to shore up their defence.

Jack Deery had a half-chance for Newcastle, hitting the side netting, with ‘keeper Gent struggling to cover his goal.

The home side were given a possible way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty, but Gent got across his goal to stop Mulholland’s spot kick.

Bangor were in no mood to present Newcastle with any other opportunities, and the efforts of skipper Ryan McCurdy and fellow centre-half ensured chances were limited.

Town quite simply lacked that little bit of guile to unlock a robust and determined Bangor rearguard.

Mulholland, Curran and Tinovimba Kawanza all had half-chances, but the visitors held out comfortably to secure all three points, just as they did twelve months ago when they won 3-2 at the same venue.

It was a disappointing result for the home side, with the conditions and the loss of playmaker Scannell not helping their cause.

However, in truth, Bangor simply adapted better to the horrendous conditions and took their chances when they presented themselves.

Match Sponsor: Quinn’s Bar, Newcastle.