Carrick Rangers 2 Bangor 2

Stephen O’Neill opened the scoring for the Seasiders before an Abby Sanusi wonder-strike brought Carrick level.

Dominic Melly gave the visitors the edge in the second session, and Gibson had a penalty saved by Stephen Cairnduff.

Gibson made amends in the dying embers of the game when his back-post header rescued a point.

Carrick went into this match aiming to bounce back from a dour 0-0 draw at Donegal Celtic and the disappointing Steel Cup defeat to Crusaders Reserves. Boss Michael Hughes opted to give debuts to Ciaran Donaghy, Ryan McCann and Dermot McVeigh. Sanusi was also handed a start.

Bangor were first out of the blocks on eight minutes when striker O’Neill capitalised on a moment of indecision in the Rangers defence before rounding Gareth Deane and rolling the ball into the empty net.

Jody Lynch hit the bar with a left-foot effort from 20 yards and hard-working Aaron Harmon sent a left-foot shot marginally over.

Carrick drew level on 38 minutes with a real goal of the season contender from Sanusi. The Dubliner went on a powerful run from deep and let fly with a 30-yard piledriver which ripped into top corner leaving Paul Cairnduff rooted to the spot.

Right on half-time, Bangor’s Andy Morrow turned his man and forced Deane into a strong save at his near post.

Carrick could have nosed in front just after the break had Harmon’s goalbound shot not been blocked on the line by the experienced Colin Nixon.

But it was Bangor who got ahead when Melly bundled in Tommy Lambe’s looping header to make it 2-1.

Carrick were awarded a penalty 12 minutes from time after Andy Long was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Cairduff produced a fine stop, getting down well to his left to deny Gibson from the spot.

Gibson redeemed himself with two minutes left when his back-post header went in via the post.

Carrick Rangers: Deane, Smith, O’Kane (McConnell 83), Donaghy, McVeigh, McCann, Lynch, Harmon, Sanusi, Gibson, Davidson (Burns 70). Subs not used: Dougherty, Curran, Haveron.

Bangor: Cairnduff, Long, Hylands, Youle, Nixon, Melly, Forsythe (Hall 84’), Cooling, Morrow, O’Neill (Boylan 79), Lambe. Subs not used: Whitford, McGonnell, Walsh.

Referee: Damien Basketfield.