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Smith struck on 28 minutes to help the runaway First Division leaders to their first silverware of the season when he volleyed home the rebound after a Lukasz Adamczyk effort had been blocked.

It was a goal scored somewhat against the run of play after the Seasiders had started brightly with Andy Morrow and BJ McMenamin both going close only to find Villagers 'keeper Marc Robinson in superb form.

Bangor might also have levelled just before the break but Andy Forsythe was unable to keep his header from a Glenn Hand cross on target.

Robinson once again thwarted Morrow early in the second half with a brilliant fingertip stop to prevent his high ball heading for the roof of the net.

A later effort from Hand drifted just over before, in the final minute, substitute Ryan Brown looked to have forced extra-time when he headed home a Forsythe cross - only for referee Ross Dunlop to to rule the 'goal' offside.

Moments earlier Adamczyk came within a whisker of doubling Loughgall's lead when his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Forsythe but, in the end, it didn't matter.

Manager Niall Currie will now be hoping that the Villagers will emulate the achievements of the last two sides to lift the trophy - Crusaders and Institute - who went on to claim league honours at the end of the season.