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MATCH REPORTS 2004-05 |
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| 1999-00 |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
2002-03 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
| 46 |
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A first half brace of goals from leading goalscorer Paul Roberts set
Bangor on the way to a North Wales Coast Cup Final win over impressive Welsh
alliance opponents Prestatyn Town at Llandudno last night. After Phil Priestley had saved well from Craig Griffiths it was Bangor who took the lead on 21 minutes. Clayton Blackmore crossed from the right for Paul Roberts to gather and crash home past goalkeeper Dunt rom close range. On the half hour former Rhyl youngster Jon Fisher Cooke was taken off after an unsavoury clash with Phil Priestley as Prestatyn pressed for an equaliser. The Bastion Road side's defence was well marshalled by former Bangor utility man Dave Fuller but on 42 mins City doubled their advantage. A well judged pass down the right side was picked up by Paul Roberts who beat Dunt once again with a cleanly hit dirve. |
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The second half was saw Prestatyn launch forward in search of some
reward and City were indebted to Phil Priestley who dealt competently with
everything thrown at him. On the hour though it was Dunt who caught
the eye with a tremendous stop from Chris Priest whose fifteen yarder looked
a goal until the last moment. City rang the changes in the second half with Ritchie Owen and Chris Short replacing Les Davies and Clayton Blackmore on 64 mins, and then a quarter of an hour later Peter Hoy made way for Mark Connolly on the right. On 81 mins it was 3-0 as Paul Friel and Paul Roberts combined to work an opening for replacement Ritchie Owen whose calm finish left Dunt helpless and the destiny of the cup beyond doubt. A clear 3-0 win for City but an evenly matched contest with Steve Hoult in the Prestatyn midfield catching the eye along with Dave Fuller who continued to marshall the defence effortlessly. |
| Bangor:
Phil Priestley, Clayton Blackmore, Ben Ogilvy, Peter Hoy,, Paul
O'Neill, Phil Baker,
Gareth Williams, Paul Friel,
Paul Roberts, Chris Priest, Les Davies. Subs: Mark Connolly, Chris Short, Ritchie Owen, Eifion Jones, Darren Owen, |
| 45 |
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| Former
Stockport County goalkeeper Tony Pennock gave a stunning display at Farrar
Road yesterday to help his side to a single goal victory in the final
Welsh Premiership match of the season. They were also assisted by
a superb strike from the edge of the box from one time Liverpool academy
starlet Leyton Maxwell whose often dormant skills lit up the first hour
of this match. The departing Paul Friel - who has completed his University studies - was unable to take his final league bow due to injury. Chris Priest slotted into centre midfield whilst Tony Gray continued - albeit initially - in the right wing berth. For the visitors former Barry narcissist Gary Lloyd played behind Maxwell with the burly Burke partnering Mark Dodds upfront. Attacking the Farrar End it was Paul Roberts who forced the first save from Tony Pennock with a clean twenty yard drive. Leyton Maxwell found former Barry striker Nicky Burke with an inviting cross but Phil Priestley was equal to the goalbound header. On 13 mins though Carmarthen went ahead. There seemed little danger as the ball dropped to Leyton Maxwell on the edge of the box but he unleashed a tremendous volley into the roof of the Bangor net with Phil Priestley grasping thin air. Clayton Blackmore nearly caught Pennock offguard with a floated freekick but his last minute decision to slap the ball away proved the right one. Then Owain Jones fired on target - after a suspicion of a foul on Tony Gray - but again Pennock was in the way. On the half hour Richard Kennedy was yellow carded for a clear foul on Owain Jones by referee Kevin Parry. Carmarthen are big physical side and as City pressed they committed a string of fouls, both Estyn Chiverton and rightback Luke Hardy to the fore. The latter clattered Kevin Scott on the left, Phil Baker delivered right footed in the direction of his centreback partner Paul O'Neill whose header skimmed the visitors bar. If Pennock had been beaten by the former Gretna defender's header he was quickly back in command when Kevin Scott crossed moments later. The final action of the first half was a foul by Hardy on Chris Priest which earned the abrasive fullback a yellow card. |
| Half Time 1-0 |
| Estyn Chiverton was yellow carded for failing
to retreat at a freekick within minutes of the restart before the big
defender used his experience gain a freekick in his area when City fans
were appealing for a penalty for a foul on Paul O'Neill. On the
hour Tony Gray set up Clayton Blackmore but once again Bangor fans were
thwarted by the alert Pennock who gladly conceded a corner on the right
and duly held the kick when it arrived moments later. On 62 mins Les Davies was replaced by Peter Hoy who enjoyed a foray on the right wing, delivered some useful crosses and generally involved himself in the procedings from the offset. His first involvment saw Carl Lamb crash a powerful drive on target which produced an excellent low save from the blasted Pennock. With some twenty minutes remaining Kev Scott pushed forward to send in a high cross which Carl Lamb nodded wide from twelve yards out. Peter Hoy is also one of the Bangor "long throw" society and he found Paul Roberts whose clean strike was brilliantly held by Pennock. Carmarthen then replaced the tiring Maxwell with Jimmy James and five minutes later, on 76, brought on the tricky Omar Abdillahi for Mark Dodds. The young sub may be lightweight but he does not lack for skill or confidence if this cameo is anything to go by. The ludicrous Kevin Parry then yellow carded Chris Priest for a perfectly good tackle. City built up the pressure on the visitors goal, the impressive Richard Carter and Estyn Chiverton stood firm. Kevin Scott's header was blocked but Owain Jones could not convert the half chance. When Carmarthen broke Phil Baker used his pace and positional sense to good advantage. Into injury time Tony Gray might have done better but at least won a corner which resulted in Owain Jones' shot being deflected over for a second kick which the eager Pennock held. Deep into injury time Peter Hoy galloped down the right and fizzed across a low cross shot which needed just a touch - but there was no one to apply. The home side left the field to warm applause both for a diehard performance and in general for achieving third position and the possibility of that elusive European adventure. Carmarthen move on to two Cup finals, good luck to them - if they havent used it all already! |
| Bangor: Phil Priestley, Clayton
Blackmore, Kevin Scott, Chris Priest, Paul
O'Neill, Phil Baker,
Tony Gray, Owain Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Mark Connolly, Peter Hoy, Chris Short, Ben Ogilvy |
| Carmarthen: Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd,
Carter, Chiverton, Smothers, Maxwell, Kennedy, Dodds, Burke, Evans Subs: Aspell, Abdillahi, Jones, James: |
| MoM Bangor City |
Phil Baker |
MoM Carmarthen |
Tony Pennock |
Match Referee |
Kevin Parry |
| 44 |
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City reached the final of the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup
thanks to a 2-1 win at Colwyn Bay last night. Bangor took the lead in the opening minutes through Owain Jones who converted a Les Davies cross, and doubled their advantage with twenty minutes remaining when Carl Lamb sent Paul Roberts through to beat Matt Parry in the Bay goal. Up to that point City had had the better of the proceedings and saw Chris Priest hit the post and Les Davies force a good save from Parry. However the second goal sparked the hosts into life and a late goal from Calvin Davies caused Bangor a few nervous moments but they held on for a deserved win and a place in the final. |
| Bangor:
Phil Priestley, Clayton Blackmore, Ben Ogilvy, Chris Priest, Paul
O'Neill, Phil Baker,
Mark Connolly, Owain Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Peter Hoy, Eifion Jones, |
| 43 |
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| A
hatrick from young striker Carl Lamb saw City home to an eighth win from
nine games and clinched third palce and European football. Prematch news confirmed that Chris Priest was still hampered by the injury which forced him off at Airbus a week ago, Paul Friel partnered Owain Jones in centre midfield. The young striker chased down the right on a couple of occasions in the first few minutes and delivered low crosses which no one anticipated. Both sides won early corners but created nothing in particular - but in the 13th minute that all changed. Les Davies raced down the left wing an swung over an inviting cross which Carl Lamb headed home emphatically from six yards out. Bangor looked as if they might take complete control as Owain Jones raced behind the Talbot defence but Paul Roberts and goalscorer Lamb both failed to make proper contact. However the visitors signalled their intentions as Rhys Griffiths repeated the feat and suffered much the same fate as Shaw failed to get on the end of the cross. City seemed to have a good shape, a comfortable manner on the ball and a willingness amongst the youngsters to play for each other. More corners followed, with Port Talbot forcing three in quick succession, but City's defence stood firm. Then from a set piece Paul Roberts headed wide after the initial centre had been half cleared. Tony Gray was enjoying a second outing inside a week on the right wing, his left footed cross found left winger Les Davies lurking at the back post but Rob Thomas made a great save concede a third corner which quickly yielded a fourth. The cross caused some kind of havoc in the vistors box but Thomas and his defenders denied Paul O'Neill and Les Davies before Paul Roberts effort was eventually cleared following a fitfh corner kick. City had one last chance to double their advantage after a foul on Tony Gray but the freekick was cleared. Then as the half time whistle drew closer Talbot striker Carl Shaw just failed to get a touch to an inviting through ball from the right. Referee Woodthorpe blew and both sides left the field with the game still very much in the balance. |
| Half Time 1-0 |
| Barely had Bangor fans taken their
seats after the restart when the lead was doubled on 47 mins. Phil
Baker's clearance was controlled and turned wide by Paul Roberts in midfield.
His sweeping pass found Tony Gray on the right whose dipping cross
was met first time by Carl Lamb who managed
to get across his marker and lift the ball over Thomas into the St Pauls
End net. On 50 mins Paul Friel made way for Mark Connolly who, after a brief stay in centre midfield, replaced Tony Gray on the right with Paul Roberts taking over in alongside Owain Jones. City's top scorer crashed a ball across the box moments later he supplied Carl Lamb twernty yards out but Thomas pulled off a good save to deny the youngster his hatrick. Kev Scott sent the resulting corner onto the roof of the net but then found time and space to deliver a vicious low cross which again eluded the forwards. Owain Jones continued to influence the central areas whilst Paul O'Neill again and again rose to the challenge of anything within 40 yards of him. On the hour substitute Mark Connolly hit the post from twenty yards with Thomas well beaten, then Rhys Griffiths forced a good save from City 'keeper Phil Priestley with a clean low drive. Scott repeated the low cross from the left but again no one could capitalise. Manager Peter Davenport had little choice but to replace an injured Phil Baker, patient Peter Hoy taking his place. Talbot replaced the impressive Scott Gorvett with Matthew Roberts after the hard working defender had received treatment after a clash on the left. On 70 mins it was 3-0 as Carl Lamb latched onto Paul Roberts powerful headed through ball to beat Thomas from the edge of the box after a heavy first touch had drawn the 'keeper off his line. A first hatrick for the pacey young striker and one which confirmed his rich promise. But Talbot had not read the script and Carl Shaw found time and space on the right to beat Phil Priestley from eight yards to worry the home support. On 77 mins the level of concern rose again after a howler from Ref Woodthorpe who allowed Talbot to take a quick freekick ten yards from the original spot. Young substitute Matt Roberts raced clear on the left and beat Phil Priestley with a powerful drive from the edge of the box. With time running out Leigh DeVulgt nearly levelled the scores but Phil Priestley pulled off a superb one handed save. Paul Roberts set the willing Lamb free down the middle but Thomas was off his line quickly to clear, finally a shot from Tony Gray hit Carl Lamb but may wel have been travelling wide. There was a sigh of relief at the end from the Farrar Road faithful, three points gained and evidence that City have another striker that the club along the coast will be desperate to sign in due course. |
| Bangor: Phil Priestley, Clayton
Blackmore, Kevin Scott, Paul Friel, Paul O'Neill, Phil Baker, Tony Gray, Owain
Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Mark Connolly, Peter Hoy, Eifion Jones, Ben Ogilvy |
| Talbot: Thomas, McCarley, Parry,
Gorvett, Cockings, Surman, John, DeVulgt, Griffiths, Jones, Shaw Subs: Bowen, Roberts, Keefe |
| MoM Bangor City |
Carl Lamb |
MoM Talbot |
Scott Gorvett |
Match Referee |
Andy Woodthorpe |
| 42 |
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| If
Wrexham are relegated from Coca Cola League One - as seems likely -
there is a fair chance that their manager and supporters will say they
were unlucky and did not deserve to lose the games they lost. They
might do well to reflect on the amount of luck they used up at Farrar Road
this evening in the Premier Cup Semi Final win over a Bangor side which
more than matched their full time opponents. True the opening quarter belonged to the visitors. With Mark Jones and Levi Mackin working hard in midfield and the unpredictable Hecotr Sam on the lose, City took a while to settle. Indeed the early roll of the dice favoured Bangor as Sam raced past Kevin Scott and saw his goalbound near post effort skim off Phil Baker before being deflected wide by Phil Priestley's feet. During this early pressure centrebacks Paul O'Neill and Phil Baker were both outstanding as they dealt with everything that was thrown - or kicked - at them. Then on 25 minutes City had the lead. Tony Gray found space on the right, pulled the ball infield to Paul Friel whose first time cross was met by an inch perfect diving header from Paul Roberts which beat Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster's full length dive. If one incident can change the shape of a match this certainly did. Bangor gained confidence and cracks quickly appeared a the visitors defence which has leaked 73 league goals this season. Tony Gray gathered the ball on the right, turned despite the attention of Morgan, but saw his eight yard shot spin wide. By now Owain Jones and Paul Friel had established themselves in midfield with non stop action on and off the ball. Ten minutes before the interval City were saved by an dubious offside flag. Impressive 21 year old local midfielder Mark Jones split the Bangor defence with a well placed pass which was finished in style by Chris Armstrong, but the official intervened to cut short the celebrations. Wrexham gained momentum again and once more Baker & O'Neill were in business with a mixture of timely interventions and booming clearances. But with time running out Bangor should have doubled their advantage. Carl Lamb raced clear, leaving the cumbersome Morgan floundering in his wake, but as he ran on goal the yong striker could only watch in disbelief as what looked like a perfectly placed low finish was brilliantly palmed onto the post by visiting 'keeper Ben Foster. In the final minute of the half Mark Jones blazed over from outside the box and both sides left the field with much to think about. |
| Half Time 1-0 |
| Five minutes after the restart Carl
Lamb again got the better of the Wrexham defence but Foster raced off
his line and smothered the iniital danger. The 22 year old loan
signing from Stoke City was slowly but surely proving a thorn in the
side of City's hopes. Mark Jones continued his habit of shooting from
distance with another 25 yarder which Phil Priestley held comfortably. Les Davies was unsettling the visitors right side with a mixture of pace and power. On one such occasion he controlled the ball after slipping to pass across goal for Tony Gray but Wrexham gladly conceded the corner kick. The corner, taken by Clayton Blackmore, was half cleared to Carl Lamb but his cross fell awkwardly for Les Davies who headed over. Moments later Kev Scott charged down the left but was blotted out by Craig Morgan. On 62 mins Wrexham were level in farcical fashion. Former Chester defender Alex Smith sent in a loose cross which Phil Priestley tried to catch one handed, snatched as the ball slipped and bounced off his knee and was then adjudged to have fouled Chris Armstrong as the Llay veteran fell over rather theatrically on the edge of the box. The Bangor bench pointed out that the linesman - directly in line and closely positioned - had not flagged by referee Ray Ellingham awarded the kick which Chris Armstrong quickly got up to convert from the statutory twelve paces. Bangor should have regained the lead within minutes as a long throw from Kev Scott was flicked on by Morgan and headed goalwards by Tony Gray. Those watching at the St Pauls End began celebrating but neither officials signalled a goal and play went on. Then Carl Lamb was in on goal once more but a timely intervention by Shaun Pejic stopped him in his tracks. City continued to press forward as left winger Les Davies passed to Owain Jones but his goalbound effort was blocked by Holt on twelve yards out. With twenty minutes remaining Phil Baker went on a marauding run on the left and crashed in a low cross which Carl Lamb turned over with Tony Gray better placed. Levi Mackin picked up the failing of shooting wildly from distance before another long throw from Kev Scott was flicked at by Les Davies and dropped for Tony Gray whose overhead kick flew well wide. With around ten minutes left another long throw flicked on by Les Davies was headed firmly on target by Owain Jones but Foster pulled off an incredible one handed stop for another corner which ended Clayton Blackmore hitting the side netting. On 82 mins Wrexham scored what proved to be the winner. Hector Sam raced past Paul O'Neill and Phil Baker on the left, pulled the bal back for midfielder Mark Jones whose low finish beat Phil Priestley from eight yards. The next action was the introduction of Denis Lawrence for Andy Holt before Kev Scott's long throw was again flicked on by Les Davies but pushed from under his crossbar by the increasingly impressive Foster. Referee Ellingham then showed commonsense when Clayton Blackmore was spoken to rather than red carded for a foul on Alex Smith. In the final minutes City replaced Phil Baker with Peter Hoy but he had little time to make an impact and the final whistle blew with the visitors escaping with a largely undeserved win. BBC Wales adjudicator Ian Walsh made Ben Foster the man of the match; enough said. A word for Carl Lamb whose workrate and attitude were exceptional, his time will surely come. |
| Bangor: Phil Priestley, Clayton
Blackmore, Kevin Scott, Paul Friel, Paul O'Neill, Phil Baker, Tony Gray, Owain Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Chris Short, Eifion Jones, Peter Hoy, Ben Ogilvy |
| Wrexham: Foster, Holt, Smith, Pejic,
Morgan, Bennett, Jones, Mackin, Armstrong, Williams, Sam Subs: Lawrence, Ferguson, Ugarte, |
| MoM Bangor City |
Phil Baker |
MoM Wrexham |
Ben Foster |
Match Referee |
Ray Ellingham |
| 41 |
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| This
was a better result for those not involved than it was for Bangor or
Airbus as neither side could pick up the three points needed to make
a difference at the top or bottom of the Welsh Premiership. Dominated by a perishing wind which swept in from the airfield, Airbus had the territorial advantage in the first period but only managed one shot on target. Bereft of the guiding influence of Clayton Blackmore and his right wing ally Gareth Williams, Bangor were probably content with a blank first half but frustrated by the second. That goalbound effort from midfielder James Woods brought a competent save from Phil Priestley who otherwise had little to do, apart from gather the occasional overhit long ball and "up and under" in his six yard area. Otherwise he would have been grateful for some outstanding defending from those in front of him, in particular Paul O'Neill who won every header with and managed some effective clearances into the wind. City's best attacking opportunities came on the left where Les Davies was up against the towering Steve Hughes. Carl Lamb thought he had grabbed the lead with a finish from the edge of the box but referee Lee Evans had whistled for handball against the pacey young striker. However Bangor suffered a serious setback on 40 minutes when experienced midfielder Chris Priest, who had suffered a back injury, had to be replaced by Paul Friel. The best move of the first half saw Kevin Scott pass deep from left to right to Mark Connolly whose cross found Carl Lamb but the final moment spoilt the moment as Paul Roberts ballooned his effort onto the runway. The final act of the first half saw Carl Lamb thread a through ball for Mark Connolly but his run on goal ended in a shot which crashed narrowly wide to the relief of 'Bus goalkeeper Paul Whitfield. However there was a sense of achievement in reaching the interval with a clean sheet considering the strength and direction of the wind - not to mention the temperature! |
| Half Time 0-0 |
| City fans rubbed their hands together
and contemplated a wind assisted assault on the Airbus goal. It
took ten long minutes for the first cause for concern as Kevin Scott's
long throw was flicked on by the veteran Dodds and grabbed by Whitfield
in his six yard area. On the hour another long throw from the Wrexham
based leftpeg was headed on by Les Davies but Whitfield was able to palm
over for a corner which in turn was scrambled clear. Kevin Scott then crossed from the left but Paul Robert's header flew over from eight yards. Owain Jones was emerging as the central figure in Bangor attacks and his powerful run down the left resulted in a deep cross to Mark Connolly on the righthand edge of the box. His layoff found Carl Lamb but Whitfield again saved well. The belligerent Hopkins conceded a freekick on the right as City attacked. Kevin Scott placed the ball and with everyone expecting a high swirler he kept his shot down and wastched with disappointment as Whitifled scrambled down to gather despite the attentions of Paul Roberts. On 65 mins another high ball from Kevin Scott caused confusion but Paul Roberts saw his shot on the turn fire over. Scott then had another freekick held by Whitfield after a handball from Hopkins was spotted by referee Evans. With twenty minutes left on the clock Mark Connolly sent a thirty yard drive over the crossbar after a clever layoff from Carl Lamb. Airbus then replaced centreforward Kevin Leech with Simon Andrews whose pace was to prove a concern for the blues defence. Minutes later Bangor forced three corners on the left, with Paul Whitfield finally claiming the third with some relief. City sent on young Ben Ogilvy for Les Davies who was injured on the half way line some minutes earlier. Bangor won a freekick on the right hand edge of the box as Hopkins fouled Mark Connolly but to no benefit. Manager Peter Davenport then opted to throw on Peter Hoy in an attacking role in place of rightback Chris Short who had enjoyed a fine battling performance in difficult conditions. Hoy quickly joined the action as he crashed a shot goalwards from the right but John Davies blocked bravely. On 86 mins City were awared a penalty for a foul on Carl Lamb. To the disbelief of the Bangor hordes Paul Rooberts struck the crossbar with his spot kick and Airbus again lashed the ball clear. There was still to be one final chance as Peter Hoy latched onto a ball on the edge of the box, turned on goal but sent his shot high over the bar from twelve yards. The final whistle blew and although some home fans cheered it was more a case of points dropped for both sides. However credit where it is due as the Airbus defence, superably marshalled by the veteran Paul Dodd, fought gallantly in what at times was a remake of the Alamo. |
| Bangor: Phil Priestley, Chris
Short, Kevin Scott, Chris Priest,
Paul O'Neill, Phil Baker, Mark Connolly, Owain
Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Paul Friel, Peter Hoy, Eifion Jones, Ben Ogilvy |
| Airbus: Whitfield, Hughes, Hopkins,
Dodd, Davies, McIntosh, Jones, Woods, Leech, Dowridge, Smart Subs: Andrews, Mutunha, |
| MoM Bangor City |
Paul O'Neill |
MoM Airbus |
Paul Dodd |
Match Referee |
Lee Evans |
| 40 |
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| After
a couple of good wins on the road at Aberystwyth and Rhyl it was never
going to be easy against the Bluebirds of Caersws. Fittingly then
a solitary first half strike from Clayton Blackmore settled the dispute
in a match of many wasted chances from both sides. Manager Peter Davenport gave Chris Priest his first start since recovering from his broken leg, with Clayton Blackmore at rightback and Gareth Williams on the right wing. Despite tales of woe, Caersws fielded pretty much their strongest side allowing for the absence of midfielder Chris Venables. It was Bangor who should have gone ahead in the opening minutes. Paul Roberts turned the ball into the path of Gareth Williams whose deep cross reacehd big Les Davies but his back post header went just wide. Caersws responded as former City favourite Ricky Evans lofted into the box for Graham Evans but the little marksman crashed his shot wide. Andy Marfell, who look sharp in the early exchanges, setn a dipping volley just over. Then on eight minutes what was to prove the only goal of the game. Les Davies combined well with Chris Priest on the left, the former Chester schemer ran into the box and was brought down by Huw Clarke. Blatant penalty? Not according to Steve Hames who waved play on and the ball was cleared to rightback Clayton Blackmore who immediately drove the ball beyond Andy Mulliner from fully 35 yards. Caesws then enjoyed a period of pressure and forced a couple of corners. Phil Baker and Paul O'Neill were made to work hard in central defence. On twenty minutes Carl Lamb charged at the visitors defence, beat three or four defenders but saw the ball run away from him at the vital moment and watched as Mulliner made a clean low save. Minutes later Les Davies latched onto a cross, cut inside onto his right foot, but Reynodls made a brave block. Then Paul O'Neill charged down a Geraint Lewis volley in similar fashion as the game swept end to end. City won a corner on the right, an inswinging corner from Kevin Scott was header off target by Carl Lamb. Owain Jones was clearly enjoying his battle with Ricky Evans and Geraint Lewis, so too Chris Priest who supplied Carl Lamb on the right. His run and cross found Paul Roberts but again Mulliner made a good save. The Bluebirds were still searching for an equaliser and when Sean Jehu crossed from the left City were glad to see Graham Evans just fail to make a clean contact at the back post. Five minutes before the interval Clayton Blackmore tried to double his tally but a long range volley dipped just over the crossbar. |
| Half Time 1-0 |
| The first action of the second period
involved a superb save from Phil Priestley who blocked a point blank
effort from Graham Evans. Then City's towering midfileder Owain
Jones sped down the right and fired in a cross which eluded City's strikers.
On 55 mins the first change of the afternoon came after Gareth Williams
has been clattered by Sean Jehu and was replaced on the right by Mark
Connolly. Carl Lamb worked hard to get on the end of a high ball from Paul Roberts but the 36 year old Colin Reynolds used his experience to clear the danger. On the hour City could have doubled their advantage when Les Davies broke clear, passed to Kevin Scott who teed up Chris Priest but his scuffed effort was easy for Andy Mulliner. Paul O'Neill then had to be alert to clear from Davies before Les Davies again turned provider but Carl Lamb's shot was too close to the visitors' custodian. Mark Connolly was next in the firing line to block a goalbound shot in hsi own six yard area. Up to the Farrar End and a double blast from Les Davies - the second as he slid on the grass - came to nothing. Referee Hames then booked the veteran Reynolds for a foul on City's midfieder Chirs Priest. On 73 mins former Shrewsbury Town apprentice Neville Thompson replaced Graham Jones but made little impact on procedings. Moments later Carl Lamb chased down the left, crossed near post, but Owain Jones scuffed his effort. With ten minutes remaining Andy Mulliner ran out to beat Kevin Scott to a long through ball and seemed to step out of his area with the ball in hand, but nothing was given. On 84 mins Geraint Lewis made way for Jack Bermingham, then Phil Priestley saved well from Graham Evans who shot from the edge of the box looked a goal all the way. In the final minute City sent on Peter Hoy for a disgruntled Paul Roberts, then Owain Jones forced one last outstanding save from Andy Mulliner after good build up play from Les Davies. Deep into the five minutes of injury time Paul Friel came on for Les Davies who received a good ovation form the City fans. Finally Steve Hames belw his whistle and the Bangor lads marched off with a seventh straight win under their belts. |
| Bangor: Phil Priestley, Clayton
Blackmore, Kevin Scott, Chris Priest, Paul O'Neill, Phil Baker, Gareth Williams, Owain
Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Paul Friel, Peter Hoy, Mark Connolly, Ben Ogilvy |
| Caersws: Mulliner, Thomas, Jehu,
Reynolds, Clakre, Lewis, Jones, Marfell, G.Evans, R.Evans, Davies Subs: Thompson, Bermingham, Probert |
| MoM Bangor City |
Paul O'Neill |
MoM Caersws |
Andy Mulliner |
Match Referee |
Steve Hames |
| 39 |
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| Bangor
won this North Wales derby after some poor defending before the break and
seizing the initiative after the restart. There were hard working
performances from - amongst other - Owain Jones, Phil Baker and Carl Lamb
but the double blast from Paul Robers was too hot for Rhyl to handle and
sent the blue horde home in good heart. City might well have gone ahead inside five minutes when a Kevin Scott freekick found Paul Roberts unmarked infront of goal but his header flew over the bar with goalkeeper Paul Smith flat footed. On ten minutes Rhyl were not so wasteful as Andy Moran sneaked in at the right hand post to crash the ball home off Phil Priestley after Lee Hunt had fired wide from the left. City hit back with Phil Baker's chip setting up Carl Lamb but Smith pulled off a brave stop. The ball ran out to Clayton Blackmore whose low cross was caught first time by Paul Roberts but his low shot sped narrowly wide. On twenty minutes Phil Priestley made a good save from Marc Limbert, who moments later hit the crossbar with a twenty yard freekick which seemed to bounce on the line and was scrambled clear. However on 23 minutes City were level. A long throw from the left delivered by Kevin Scott was flicked on by Les Davies and bungled home by top scorer Paul Roberts from point blank range with 'keeper Smith flapping like a goose on ice. Rhyl retaliated with Lee Hunt charging clear but Phil Priestley slid in to snuff out the danger as the ball cannoned out for what should have been a goalkick but somehow became a corner. Bangor were having problems dealing with long clearances and were grateful to Phil Baker's timely intervention on the right. With ten minutes to go to the interval Eifion Jones slid in bravely to concede a corner when the hosts originally won a freekick. The final five minutes saw Carl Lamb run down the right wing and cross for Paul Roberts in the six yard area. Gareth Wilson fired goalwards but his shot struck Andy Moran and went out for a goalkick. As the game swung end to end Lee Hunt wasted a good chance for Rhyl, but the hosts still went in ahead at half time. On 41mins a bouncing ball again caused problems, allowing Moran to set up Marc Limbert whose powerful low drive beat Phil Priestley at his left hand post to the delight of the home fans behind his goal. Bangor were probably relieved to hear the half time whistle as Peter Davenport would be keen to address some of the causes for concern evident in the first period. |
| Half Time 2-1 |
| At half time Bangor sent on right winger
Gareth Williams in place of Eifion Jones. In the re-shuffle Clayton
Blackmore dropped to rightback and Phil Baker lined up alongside Paul
O'Neill at centreback. City's first opening of the second period
fell to Clayton Blackmore but his long range effort was always rising
over the bar. Phil Priestley then raced out to punch a dangerous
cross but was relieved to see Lee Hunt head off target when the
loose ball was lofted back into the six yard area. Carl Lamb was causing the Rhyl defence problems with his hurrying and chasing. On one raid he raced down the right, ran along the goalline and crossed for Paul Roberts but the ball span behind City's leading goalscorer and the chance was gone. However on 61 mins Bangor were level with Lamb again involved in build up. Rhyl failed to clear a bouncing ball on the edge of the box, Les Davies passed to Owain Jones who was fouled by Simon Davies. The home side set up a wall which happily disintegrated when Paul Roberts pushed the freekick two yards to his right for Clayton Blackmore to drill home from 25 yards into Smith's bottom corner. Referee Jones then yellow carded Simon Davies and Kevin Scott for precious little but in fairness maintained control on proceedings. Lee Hunt briefly clashed with Phil Priestley as he stretched to touch a goalbound effort from Moran. On seventy minutes Chris Priest came on for Paul Friel who had received treatment in the centre circle following a late tackle. There was a further stoppage when a Rhyl fan ran on the pitch - not quite streaking - but was neither intercepted nor restrained by the police or stewards. City sent over crosses from right and left which bemused the hapless Smith - cue more flapping - and ended in Carl Lamb heading narrowly wide at the back post. On 78 mins City had the all important lead. Owain Jones won possession on the right flank, just inside his own half, and lofted the ball forward for leading goalscorer Paul Roberts to chase. He kept calm and despite the attention of Lee Atherton, calmly bounced the ball past Smith inside the left hand post. A couple more subs followed, with Chris McGinn replacing Lee Atherton and then Tony Gray coming on for Carl Lamb. Referee Jones played the seemingly inevitable lengthy injury time - four minutes or slightly more - but City were camped in Rhyl territory and never looking like letting the result out of their grasp. When the whislte finally blew the large open spaces where those overtight white shirts had been minutes earlier told their own story. A hard fought win and a double over Rhyl for Bangor; business as usual. |
| Bangor: Phil Priestley, Clayton
Blackmore, Kevin Scott, Eifion
Jones, Paul O'Neill, Phil Baker, Paul Friel, Owain Jones, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Les Davies. Subs: Gareth Williams, Tony Gray, Chris Priest, Ben Ogilvy |
| Rhyl: Smith, Graves, Brewerton,
Atherton, Powell, Davies, Wilson, Limbert, Hunt, Moran, Adamson Subs: G.Powell, McGinn, Smith |
| MoM Bangor City |
Paul Roberts |
MoM Rhyl |
Jamie Brewerton |