|
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Bangor |
| 1999-00 |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
2002-03 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
2007-08 |
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| 44 |
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THE WELSH CUP |
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Congratulations to Rhyl who won this well attended Weslh Cup
Final at The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. An open and largely unventful first half in which Rhyl created the clearer chances quickly transformed into the inevitable, dominated by a rank bad decision by a substandard referee. The pre match news centred on the selection of Ian Havard in goal ahead of Andrew Price behind Kyle Jones in the defence rather than Ben Ogilvy who had been outstanding at Park Avenue. With a high ball assault on the horizon Adam Docker could only watch from the bench. How the first 45 minutes remained goalless must have mystified John Hulse as his Rhyl side carved a handful of clear cut openings wasted by Andy Moran. With the City defence coming under pressure from the route one approach, Greg Stones headed wide from a deep cross from Stuart Graves whilst Moran drove over and wide in the opening exchanges. Young Ian Havard calmed Bangor nerves with a clean catch from another Graves cross. City weathered the storm and Paul Roberts fired on target from long range and then young student Mike Linnecar tested John Gann who was relieved to push behind as the ball arrowed into the top right hand corner. Paul Roberts then ran past three of the big Rhyl defenders - who numbered four centrebacks in their line up - but shot tamely at the diminutive Gann. Moran unsettled City but again slashed his effort wide when well placed. Neither side managed to play much constructive football in a first half which saw the ball given away too easily and both sides looking for the long clearance. The half time whistle was welcomed by City fans who felt they had everything to play for still in the second period. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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However within three minutes of the restart the major talking
point of the afternoon emerged. A long hopeful ball down the left
caught Clayton Blackmore in two
minds and allowed Andy Moran in on the left. His low cross struck
Paul O'Neill on the right arm. Penalty. Moran drove his
cross
from close range at the whole hearted defender whose arms were close to
his side. This was a poor decision and one which saw City
trailing
1-0 as Andy Moran duly netted from the
spot
despite encroachment from both sets of players which was not spotted by
the previously eagle eyed official. His eyesight dimmed but not
his
hearing; Chris Priest dismissed for dissent. By 48 minutes the match was over, and the afternoon rendered meaningless for the 1200 or so Bangor fans amongst the 1700 crowd. Clayton Blackmore re-organised by switching to a 3-4-2 formation and pushed Kyle Jones into midfield. Versatile left footer Martin Beattie and Paul O'Neill worked overtime to keep the Lilywhites at bay. Rhyl used the extra space although City fought hard and played some reasonable football and Paul Roberts turned and fired goalwards but saw hit shot blocked by Timmy Edwards, one of five former Citizens in the starting eleven. On 78 minutes it was 2-0 and game over. Another cross from Stuart Graves found Gareth Wilson alone in the box and his unstoppable strike beat Ian Havard from twelve yards. City fans sensed the inevitable but were literally handed a lifeline when George Horan palmed a ball high over his head for a penalty kick on 87 minutes. But to round off a rueful day Paul Roberts blasted over into the Eric Roberts Stand to the dismay of the noisy blue contingent. And that was about it. Paul O'Neill went close one last time, Lee Hunt missed from close range and Whitby blew time on a match he had done much to ruin for both sets of fans. The irony being that Rhyl, the bigger, stronger and more experienced side were favourites and may well have won without "divine" intervention. |
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| 43 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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A hatrick from
leading goalscorer Paul Roberts sealed an end of season win for City
and ended the brief stay of Cardiff Grange Quins in the Welsh Premier.With Paul O'Neill absent through injury Carl Lamb made a rare start at centre half alongside Martin Beattie and midfielder Chris Priest a welcome return alongside Kieran Killackey. 16 year old striker Quins Nathan White chased a ball down the middle of City's makeshift defence to put the home side ahead inside three minutes to fuel hopes of an upset. But eight minutes later -after Tanetta had hit the bar - Paul Roberts brought City level witha close range finish after good build up play involving impressive midfielders Layton Maxwell and Chris Priest. On 24 mins Kieran Killackey was yellow carded and with one eye on the Welsh Cup Final, City manager Clayton Blackmore withdrew the midfielder and sent on the versatile Kyle Jones. Chris Priest was also yellow carded seven minutes before the interval. With both sides contemplating half time young Nathan White struck again on 44 minutes with a clean strike from the edge of the box to give the home side a 2-1 half time lead. |
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| HALF TIME 1-2 |
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At the restart Bangor
boss Clayton Blackmore withdrew left footed student Mike Linnecar in
favour
of promising youngster Mike Burke. City centreback Martin Beattie cleared off the line before on 53 minutes Paul Roberts struck again as he put the finishing touch to a good team move to level the sides at two all. On 68 mins there was the novel sight of a goalkeeping change when Andy Price replaced Ian Havard. and the former Bolton youngster will be pleased he kept a clean sheet for the remaining twenty five or so minutes. As the final twrnty minutes approached Carl Lamb was switched to attack and his presence helped Paul Roberts complete his hatrick with three minutes remaining. There was still time for the Quins to self destruct with red cards shown to Adbillahi, Tingley and goalscorer White in the closing minutes as Port Talbot official Phil Southall lost patience with the frustrated - and relegated - home side. |
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| 42 |
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|
WELSH PREMIER |
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A disappointing end to a disappointing league campaign for
Bangor as visitors Newtown grabbed the one nil win that guarantees
their Welsh Premiership survival. There was precious little to entertain the sparse crowd although it might have been different if Tommy Harrison's second minute header had not been turned away from goal by Paul Roberts. A moment later Carl Jones - operating on the right wing - crossed for Mike Linnecar who drove the ball back across goal but no one was able to take advantage. On the quarter hour mark Paul Roberts switched play from the left and Clayton Blackmore fired on target but struck Carl Lamb and the ball ran out for a goalkick. Roberts span and shot again on target but John Rowley held comfortably. Thern on 20 minutes Player of The Season left the field with a leg injury, Ben Ogilvy took his place with Tommy Harrison switching to centreback. Debutant Farrar Road ref Darren Adie of Caldicot then yellow carded "Soccer Icon" defender Craig Williams for a block on Paul Roberts and rightback Lee Davies for timewasting. City won a freekick which Clayton Blackmore sent goalwards but Rowley held confidently. Just after the half hour mark Newtown won the first corner of the game through Dan Barton, who sent a header past Ian Havard but Kieran Killackey cleared for a second kick which Barton latched onto but fired over. Bangor bounced back with a high swirling centre from Martin Beattie which Rowley misjudged but Carl Lamb saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line. Moments later Mike Linnecar's cross-shot from the right skimmed the Newtown bar. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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The second period began with a midfield battle which culiminated
in Carl Lamb limping off on the hour to be replaced by Layton Maxwell
with Carl Jones pushing forward alongside Paul Roberts. Newtown needed the win and began to press with Dan Barton at the centre of three successive corners won but with no goal to show for their efforts. City broke upfield but The Robins came back for more - corners that is - but from their fifth and sixth efforts no clear chance emerged. On 72 minutes the inevitable refereeing odyssey. City attacked on the right, young sweeper Craig Williams ran into his own box and clearly handled under pressure from Paul Roberts. An obvious penalty but no red card. Wrong, no penalty and play on! This despite the stand side linesman being ideally positioned to spot the offence if the referee was unsighted. Up the other end, and with another sense of the ineviable, a goalbound effort from Dan Barton hit Martin Beattie and rolled to Gareth Hughes on the right whose low drive beat Ian Havard to put the visitors ahead. And really that was about it. City won a corner, Clayton Blackmore was booked, Newtown won their seventh corner and in the dying minutes Paul Roberts trudged off to be replaced by Mike Burke. The whistle blew and the players left the field with Newtown followers understandably relieved to have ended a dreadful season with safety assured. City have just the away trip to Grane Quins to contemplate before the date with Rhyl at Wrexham a week later. |
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| 41 |
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|
WELSH PREMIER |
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| Bangor triumphed against former
champions
Cwmbran who seem set to follow Barry Town out of the national league
with more of a whimper than a bang. However The Crows took the lead with an early goal which tall striker Steve Loverso tapped home after indecision in the Bangor defence allowed a cross to reach him. The former Taffs Well marksman had scored in the 3-1 defeat at Aberystwyth over the weekend. Bangor , driven on by returning player manager Clayton Blackmore, were soon back on level terms. A direct ball forward from midfielder Kieran Killackey was collected by Paul Roberts who made time and space to turn and shoot beyond Lancaster from the edge of the box for a goal timed at 16 minutes. On 24 minutes it was 2-1 with leading goalscorer Roberts involved once again as he supplied Paul O'Neill whose close range finish ended home resistance with three quarters of the match remaining. |
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| HALF TIME 1-2 |
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After the interval Cwmbran sent on Rhys Carpenter and former
Newtown winger Jamie Edwards for Goodridge and Hanbury in a determined
attempt to pick up a point. Much of the second period saw City's midfield duo of Kieran Killackey and Kyle Jones in control of proceedings with Carl Jones and Mike Linnecar showing well on the flanks. Clayton Blackmore, Carl Jones and Carl Lamb went close for City but could not create or convert a clear chance. Credit to the home side who rallied near the end and Heal and Collins forced a couple of acrobatic saves from re-instated goalkeeper Andrew Price who gave an assured performance to ensure City headed home with three points and four from the double header weekend. |
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| 40 |
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|
WELSH PREMIER |
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| The first part of City's double
header in
South Wales ended in a one all draw at New Bridge Meadow, but with bad
news to temper the good. Midfield inspiration Chirs Prest was red
carded five minutes from time and will miss the remaining league
fixtures
- beginning with the Easter Monday match at Cwmbran. City started well with Paul Roberts and the pacey Carl Lamb unsettling the home defence but on 13 mins it was County who took the lead. A Chris O'Sullivan freekick was headed downwards by defender Wyn Thomas and the alert Rob Jones fired home from ten yards out. Bangor fought back and Carl Lamb thought he had equalised but goalscorer Jones was on hand to clear off the line. However County fought back again and Tim Hicks blasted wide and then fired over the crossbar after good approach play from Wyn Thomas and Lee Hudgell. As Bangor fought for an equaliser Carl Lamb was in the thick of the action with a cross which Paul Roberts sliced and a run on goal which ended in a shot off target. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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The Bangor
equaliser came after Layton Maxwell picked out Paul Roberts with a long
range
pass which the Criccieth striker turned into the path of 16 year old
Carl
Jones who beat two home defenders before crashing the ball past the
acrobatic
Kendall. City could have taken the lead as Layton Maxwell and Chris Priest impressed in midfield and fashioned chances which went unconverted despite the best efforts of Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb and goalscorer Jones. Haverfordwest also pressed for a winner but chances came and went with substitutes Owain Thomas and Jack Christopher going close. With thirteen minutes remaining player manager Clayton Blackmore eased himself towards match fitness as he replaced Carl Lamb. Unhappily for Bangor there was bad news five minutes from time as fussy curly haired ref Kerry Morgan red carded Chris Priest after a conflict involving Haverfordwest veteran Chris O'Sullivan. This rules him out for three matches - but hopefully not the final - main event - of the season. |
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| 39 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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Bangor boss was able to welcome back Kieran Killackey who
slotted in at right back, but his decision to play Ian Havard meant the
teenage 'keeper spent the night in Ysbyty Gwynedd with concussion after
being elbowed in the face by Rhyl striker Lee Hunt. In the 65th
minute leading goalscorer Paul Roberts took over in goal and was beaten
three times in the remaining half hour. The visitors started the brighter and Havard was in the thick of the action as Harrison and O'Neill were at full stretch to cope with Hunt and Moran. The Lilywhites won nine corners as City creaked but did not crack in the face of intense pressure. City's best moments in the first period belonged to 16 year old winger Carl Jones who forced a clearance from George Horan and a good save from John Gann. However the whistle blew and the goalless scoreline gave grounds for optimism for the over worked Bangor defence. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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Former Bangor striker Lee Hunt was the central figure in the
second period. His close range miss seemed an early let off for
the blues but his spiteful elbow on 18 year Ian Havard saw the young
goalkeeper leave the field on 65 mins and forced Paul Roberts to take
over in goal, with Kenny Burgess on in his place. With the Bangor defence under pressure Lee Hunt then turned his attention to football and his 20 yard strike opened the floodgates on 70 minutes. City sent on young striker Mike Burke - who had performed well against Llanelli at Park Avenue - for the tiring Layton Maxwell, but this did not change the course of events. A late strike from Andy Moran doubled the lead, City sent on Kevin Roberts for Carl Lamb, and deep into added time former City defender George Horan settled the scoring as the visitors ran out comfortable winners as they pursue their Inter Toto Cup chase. |
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| 38 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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Bangor's disappointing home form
came back to haunt them last night, in the shape of former favourite
Les
davies who scored both the visitors goals. When the FAW consider the video evidence of the antics of Cortex Belle & Richard Harris at Park Avenue they might bare in mind that Adam Docker and Kieran Killackey were unable to take part in this local derby, with Kenny Burgess and Tommy Harrison recalled at right and centre back respectively. Port also fielded a changed side, with youngsters Geraint Mitchell, Jon Peris Jones and Iwan Thomas amongst the new faces. Paul Roberts and Les Davies went close against their former clubs as the game swung from end to end. Maesgeirchen winger Les Davies put Port ahead on 35 mins with a clean drive from the edge of the box after the visitors had forced a couple of corners. He might have added to his tally but Andrew Price, back in goal after missing out on Saturday, saved well. Before the interval Deganwy referee Mark Petch yellow carded Les Davies but home fans might feel he could have been brought to book sooner for some wild challenges. |
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| HALF TIME 0-1 |
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The second half
was six minutes old when Paul Roberts
levelled
the scores. His fierce drive from a Mike Linnecar throw beat the
diving Harvey from eighteen yards for his 18th league goal of the
season.
Roberts might have put City infront but his goalbound effort
was booted clear by Lee Webber. Twenty minutes after the interval Port sent on substitututes Ywain Gwynedd, Iwan Williams and Holyhead youngster Curt Williams in place of Rhys Roberts, Iwan Thomas and Gareth Caughter. Young defender Geraint Mitchell was yellow carded as City built up some pressure on the Port goal but could not find a second goal. City sent on Layton Maxwell and then Mike Burke for Carl Lamb and Kenny Burgess respectively but to no avail. However with both sides looking for a winner it was Port who struck deep into injury time as Les Davies latched on to Jason Sadlers cross to hammer the ball home for his second - and decisive - strike of the evening. Bangor refused to give up and Mike Linnecar fired across the face of goal but no one was there to convert. The whistle finally blew and the Port players left the field the happier as manager Clayton Blackmore was left to rue the ninth home defeat of the season. |
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| 37 |
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|
THE WELSH CUP |
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What a
performance! In the
face of strong arm tactics from the rugby town side, this spirited
young
Bangor side won the day by playing football and in Paul O'Neill had the
Man
of The Match in every sense of the word. An early taste of the Reds tactics came when club physio Gwyn "Felin" was called on to treat midfielder Kyle Jones inside two minutes. The air of arrogance about Peter Nicholas' side disappeared on five minutes when Paul Roberts and the lively 16 year old left winger Carl Jones won a corner on the left. The Pwllheli youngster sent over an inviting cross which Paul O'Neill met with absolute conviction to head The Blues into the lead in front of the Dias Stand. Llanelli retaliated with Cortez Belle causing problems and Jacob Mingorance firing well wide. Left winger Jones raced across field for City but ended up on his right foot and lifted the chance high and wide. On the half hour Chris Priest was yellow carded for a foul on Ivan Nofuentes which produced a threatrical dive from the notorious Spanish wide man. Minutes later City won a couple of throw ins from the right, the second of taken by Mike Linnecar saw the student head deep back across goal and force a corner as the bulky Roberts failed to hold beyond his far post. With Adam Docker by now suffering double vision after a "collision" with Cortez Belle, the big striker ran unchecked into the box but was denied by a clean sliding challenge from leading goalscorer Paul Roberts. On 38 minutes Adam Docker was carried to the touchline on a stretcher and replaced by Mike Burke. This saw Kyle Jones drop into central defence, Paul Roberts into midfield and the young sub upfront alongside Carl Lamb. His first taste of action was a run and shot from twenty yards which sped wide of the post. In the closing minutes the hard working Carl Lamb shot on goal and nearly "nut-megged" Roberts but the ball clipped the keeper's knee and went behind. Ben Ogilvy took the corner, City fans appealed loudly for handball, but the moment passed and Referee Ellingham blew for half time. By this time Adam Docker had departed Park Avenue in an ambulance and the thuggish Cortez Belle had floored Paul O'Neill with a cynical elbow across the face. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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Bangor started brighlty and forced a couple of early corner
which came to nothing. Llanelli became increasinly desperate as
manager Peter Nicholas bellowed instruction from the sidelines, but in
all honesty his team lacked composure. Mike Burke ran on goal but fired wide, and minutes later the young sub controlled the ball in the box, despite the close attention the three Llanelli defenders, but could not find the target. On the hour mark a nervous back pass from Lee Phillps was pounced on by Duncan Roberts and City were duly awarded a freekick inside the Llanelli box. With the wall obscuring the goal Paul Roberts blasted on goal but his shot was blocked with Chris Priest firing over. Priest was outstanding with endless tackles, interceptions and careful passes which rarely grab the headlines but make the difference between success and failure over ninety minutes. He had the perfect ally in City legend Paul Roberts who patrolled midfield and worked manfully whilst the young strikers foraged upfront. Llanelli sent on Nick Harrhy and the burly Richard Harris in place of left winger Craig Williams and Mingorance. In all honesty this hardly changed things although Harris quickly joined proceedings with some wild challenges which saldy went unpunished. This seemed all the more ironic when Carl Lamb was yellow carded for kicking the ball away whilst Harris and Cortez Belle remained without caution. The highly rated Richard Appleby replaced Jame Rewberry in the Llanelli midfield with ten minutes or so left on the watch he could do little as Carl Jones found space on the left to send Carl Lamb in on goal and win a sixth corner for Bangor. Harris might have earned himself a red card for a wild lunge on Killackey but nothing happened. By this time the match was wide open as both sides had numerous chances to score, Phillips, Belle and Nofuentes going close for Llanelli and Carl Jones, Burke and Lamb likewise for Bangor. 18 year old Ian Havard continued his faultless display with some clean handling - eventually - the whistle blew. Noisy celebrations from the whole Bangor contingent and a well deserved Man of The Match award to Paul O'Neill. But on the day they were all heroes, no one more so than player manager Clayton Blackmore directing proceedings from the sidelines. |
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| 36 |
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|
WELSH PREMIER |
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Trailing 1-0 on the half hour Bangor fought back to beat sixth
placed Port Talbot 3-2 thanks to a last gasp goal substitute Kyle Jones. Manager Clayton Blackmore will take a good deal of satisfaction from this result achieved in the face of some questionable decisions by Referee Neil Morgan and his assistants. With a breeze aiding the visitors as they attacked the St Pauls End, Bangor forged an early chance for student Mike Linnecar, Port Talbot struck back through Lee John and Rob Cockings but neither unduly troubled recalled goalkeeper Andrew Price. On 27 minutes though the visitors went ahead. A long clearance out of defence was latched onto by Craig Hanford who launched a wind assisted punt into the Bangor box. Chris Pridham reacted first, controlled and calmly chipped Andrew Price from the edge of the box for a deserved lead. Bangor fought back and seized the initiative with right winger Mike Linnecar making progress along the touchline. Adam Docker, a tower of strengh in the centre of defence, launched a long throw from the left which Carl Lamb headed on but Paul Roberts could not latch onto the half chance. Chris Priest set up Clayton Blackmore but Talbot goalkeeper Neil Thomas punched away in spectacular style. Carl Jones crossed from the left but Carl Lamb headed wide under pressure from Neil Thomas. Leigh Devulgt tested Price with freekick but the young keeper held comfortably. A foul on Carl Jones on the left yielded a freekick sent goalwards by Clayton Blackmore. The ball dropped to Mike Linnecar who was half tackled, Paul O'Neill darted in to find Chris Priest whose low cross invited a volley from Carl Lamb which beat Thomas all ends up. The goal was timed at 43 minutes and with no added time an upbeat City side left the field to warm applause. |
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| HALF TIME 1-1 |
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The breeze now assisted City towards the St Pauls End but it was
Port Talbot who went close with Matthew Rees headign a corner onto the
Bangor crossbar and Paul O'Neill charging a freekick which threatened
the status quo. As play switched upfield Carl Jones fired right
footed from twenty yards but saw his goalbound effort blocked, then an
almighty scramble in the Bangor box ended in Andrew Price finally
clutching the ball on
the deck. On the hour Bangor won their first corner and minutes later replaced Kieran Killackey with Kyle Jones whilst the visitors sent on Gareth Phillips for Robert Cockings. On 67 mins City had the lead. Paul Roberts gathered the ball on half way and passed to Chris Priest who in turn found Carl Lamb. His return pass seemed intended for Chris Priest. but it was the No 9 who regained possession and beat Thomas from 20 yards despite the attention of the Hanford. Bangor promptly introduced Layton Maxwell for Mike Linnecar but on 71 mins the visitors were level. A dubious free kick allowed Tom Hooper a shot at goal which Andrew Price saved well but the rebound fell to Rhys Griffiths who netted from close range. An ugly skirmish by the Bangor dugout resulted in a yellow card for Adam Docker who was a victim of being bigger than the players trying to assault him. When play resumed Kyle Jones sent a long throw deep into the visitors box but Paul Roberts' back to goal flick was easily held. With time running out Kawme Barnett made his first appearance in place of Carl Jones who had impressed on the left wing. Lee John then nearly clinched a win for Port Talbot but his run into the box ended in a fall whch failed to convince the officials. On 90 minutes Chris Priest kept his feet to beat to Hanford and Dean Johnston on the right before crossing to the edge of the box where substitute Kyle Jones headed down and beyond Thomas to the delight of the home support. Again precious little added time and three points won and appreciative applause from the home fans as the players left the field. |
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| 35 |
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|
WELSH PREMIER |
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Bangor earned three points an important home victory over Cefn
Druids with a goal in each half but were made to sweat after the
visitors pulled one back five minutes from time. Player manager Clayton Blackmore gave a debut to new goalkeeper signing Ian Harvard who has joined City from Shrewsbury Town. The Ludlow based stopper played for Colwyn Bay in their double header at the weekend. Cefn fashioned the first chance of the match inside thirty seconds when Mike Heverin raced clear but could not find the target to the relief of the Bangor faithful. City fought back with a free kick from Clayton Blackmore which the lanky Pahulyi held, as he did from Mike Linnecar whose run ended with a weak shot. With Kieran Killackey working hard in midfielded, City finally took the lead on 42 minutes. Kyle Jones took a throw in on the right, Mike Linnecar and Carl Jones were involved before Pahulyi fumbled Clayton Blackmore's shot into the path of Paul Roberts who netted from close range. Into stoppage time City thought they had doubled the advantage but Carl Lamb saw his goabound effort cleared off the line and Referee Lawler whistled. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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Bangor looked to build on their lead but Pahulyi saved Paul
Roberts header after
a good cross from Carl Lamb. On the hour Layton Maxwell replaced 16 year old Carl Jones who had enjoyed a promising debut in front of veteran left back Ben Ogilvy. On 74 minutes Bangor finally scored the vital second. Carl Lamb was fouled on the edge of the box by centreback Mark Hobson who was shown the yellow card. Clayton Blackmore struck the freekick which was blocked in the goalmouth but Paul O'Neill reacted first to stab home from close range. As City fans thought they could relax they were quickly proved wrong as the visitors reduced the deficit on 83 mins through Mike Heverin who capitalised on a defensive slip at the back post. Some nervous moments followed but Bangor deservedly held on - despite lengthy injury time - to secure the win and three points. |
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| 34 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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| A disappointing match at a
blustery Park Avenue served up little by the way of entertainment for
the wind chilled
faithful, even less for the handful of travelling supporters. That the match should be settled by a speculative hoick from a right footed leftback just about summed things up, but should not detract from a deserved win for the Black & Greens and new manager Brian Coyne. After some watchful defending from Kyle Jones it was Bangor, attacking the Dias Stand, who thought they had the lead on eleven minutes. Paul Roberts carried the ball at the Aber defence before finding Mike Linnecar on the right. The tall student cut inside onto his left foot and unleashed a low drive which the bulky Richard Morgan could only parry to Paul Roberts who duly converted from close range. However the linesman was well placed and flagged instantly - and referee Huw Jones of Oswestry awarded a defensive free kick. Playing with the wind Bangor enjoyed some pressure which culminated in Clayton Blackmore testing Morgan from the edge of the box. However the fateful moment arrived following a foul by Paul Roberts on City's right side. The free kick was taken by Stuart Roberts who rolled the ball square to Nic Evans who unleashed a speculative long range shot into the wind. Andrew Price seemed to have things covered but the ball dipped at the last moment and passed over his head into the net. Despite ths setback Pau O'Neill continued to work hard for Bangor at the back whilst Chris Priest and Kieran Killackey competed well against Bari Morgan and Luke Sherborn in the middle. City nearly drew level minutes later when a Bangor freekick was quickly taken by Clayton Blackmore but Morgan reacted in time to concede a corner which Carl Lamb hooked over at the near post. Bangor continued to create half chances and five minutes before the interval Mike Linnecar found Paul Roberts in the box but he blasted over the Dias Stand. In the time added for injury and mischief Luke Sherborn latched onto a Stuart Roberts pass but Andrew Pryce saved cleanly. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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Half time
saw Adam Docker replace the injured Chris Priest, with Kyle Jones
moving
forward into midfield to allow the sub to line up alongside Paul
O'Neill. During the interval the chill wind had also decided to stop swirling around and lend its support to the home side as City struggled to get out of their own half for long spells. Five minutes after the restart Adam Docker defended well, as he did for much of the second period, to clear Aber's fifth corner. City broke upfield but Carl Lamb just failed to get on the end of a ball into the box from Linnecar. Aber were awarded a freekick just inside the half which Aneurin Thomas sent forwards into the Bangor box. The lively Stuart Roberts fired it at the left upright but was denied by Andrew Price who blocked his close rang effort. On the hour mark Bangor again thought they had scored. Miek Linnecar, who was amongst City's better players, chipped the ball forward to Paul Roberts who ran goalwards and lobbed Morgan - but saw the ball drop just over his crossbar. Referee Jones was in action then with a yellow card for Kieran Killackey for a wild challenge on goalscorer Evans who reduced the chances a harsher outcome by sportingly getting to his feet with little fuss or delay. There followed a strange section of play where the paying spectators in the mainstand were treated - at close range - to a game of head tennis punctated by regular throw ins. Eventually Aber forced a seventh corner before Mike Linnecar ran on goal and shot cleanly but saw the slightest of deflection help Morgan make a clean overhead catch. Towering Aber striker Tom Billing than charged down the left before hammering a rising drive against the Bangor crossbar. Glyndwr Hughes failing to control and convert the rebound. Hughes was finding space on the right and brought the best out of 17 year old lefback Ben Ogilvy who was ably assisted by the tireless Kieran Killackey. On 73 mins Bangor fans got their first glimpse of former Cardiff City youngster Carl Jones who replaced Carl Lamb and settled infront of Ogilvy on the leftwing. Carl was a school-team mate of Ben's at Ysgol Glan Y Mor in Pwllheli. The young substitute might have grabbed a point for Bangor after Mike Linnecar had charged down the right but he couldnt keep his back post effort down. The final whistle blew, the home fans roared and the goalscorer performed a bizarre jig on the half way line! City fans trudged away and contemplated the journey home and the midweek visit of Cefn Druids. |
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| 33 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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Bangor crashed to a fifth successive home league defeat after
leaking both goals in a wretched first quarter hour which left the
sparse crowd in stunned silence. City have not won a WP fixture
at Farrar Road since Boxing Day. With this re-arranged fixture following hot on the heels of Saturday's cup tie, player manager Clayton Blackmore opted to watch from the sidelines with young Kyle Jones filling in at right back. Martin Beattie returned alongside Paul O'Neill but his bad luck continued with a knee ligament injury which saw him replaced on 57 mins - as Jones had been ten minutes earlier. However things could not have got off to a worse start for the reshuffled defence as they saw the visitors take a sixth minute lead. Dangerman Craig Jones opened the scoring on six minutes when he turned in a cross from one time Bangor target Dave Hughes. Things got worse on the quarter hour mark when former Bangor striker Chris Moores crossed from the right and Paul O'Neill could only guide the ball past Andrew Price into the Bangor net. Teenage winger Craig Jones, whose father Brynley played for City, gave leftback Tommy Harrison a torrid evening and unsettled the Bangor defence with his pace and dangerous crosses. Bangor gradually improved but scarcely threatened the Airbus goal. Paul O'Neill continued his tireless efforts whilst Kieran Killackey worked hard in midfield without being able to exert any real control. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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Young Kyle Jones did not re-appear for the second period
following an injury and his place at right back was taken by player
manager Clayton Blackmore. On 57 mins Martin Beattie suffered a knee injury which saw him replaced by Ben Ogilvy who slotted in alongside Paul O'Neill. On the hour both Kieran Killackey and Adam Docker were yellow carded by referee Andy Richards. With twenty minutes to go City sent on Mike Burke for the tiring Docker with James Hussaney coming on for visiting striker Chris Moores minutes later. City's best moments came from Mike Linnecar, again operating on the left wing, whose long range efforts gave the home fans some cause for optimism. Ten minutes from time Bangor finally closed the gap. Paul Roberts sent a fierce drive on target which goalkeeper Adam McGhee could only parry to Mike Linnecar who scored from close range. But it was too little too late and the visitors left with the spoils - to the delight of their small band of fans. |
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| 32 |
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|
THE WELSH CUP |
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With both sides
forced to re-organise it was Bangor boss Clayton Blackmore who could
smile at the end with his newcomers - in particular midfielder Kieran
Killackey - who came out on top. An ultra competitive display by Killackey in front of defensive lynchpin Paul O'Neill laid the foundations for a battling Bangor performance which ensured a Semi Final showdown with Llanelli. On a slippery pitch Carmarthen enjoyed the benefit of a light wind as they attacked the St Pauls End and forced the first chance of the match which Mark Dodds dragged into the side netting. Moments later the pacey Cotterrall broke on the left but shot across the face of goal. With ten minutes gone a throw from Kyle Jones found Carl Lamb but he fired over. The first yellow card of the afternoon was shown to Chris Priest for a trip on half way which was viewed as a professional foul by Referee Whitby. Andrew Price saved comfortably from midfielder Steffan Hughes before Clayton Blackmore tested Andrew Delve with a rising volley from the edge of the box at the Farrar End. Left winger Cotterrall then slid off the pitch at full tilt and collided with the advertising boards at the St Pauls End and required lengthy treatment before returning with a wounded knee. Dodds and Lamb went close as the sides slugged it out in difficult conditions, before Martyn Giles went into the book for dissent following a needless foul alongside his dugout. Mike Linnecar, operating on the left for Bangor, created an opening for Paul Roberts but his shot was held On the stroke of half time a Carmarthen corner struck both Paul O'Neill and Kyle Jones on the arm, but with no intent Referee Whitby rightly allowed play to continue despite the best efforts of the visitors bench. Half time, no goals and still all to play for. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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The omens
were not good for Bangor as the restart confirmed that the wind had
dropped and would not drive City forwards as anticipated. Clayton
Blackmore went close but Delve held cleanly, then Carl Lamb fizzed past
Giles but fired his shot over from the right. With O'Neill and Killackey both performing heroics, and player manager Blackmore leading by example, Bangor continued to seek an opening. However the diminutive Danny Thomas nearly upset those plans as he wriggled past Blackmore but shot well wide from eight yards. On the hour the Neath born International was yellow carded for a calculated foul on half way. Paul Roberts and Mike Linnecar linked up in the box but the student saw his effort evade Carl Lamb before City fans got a first glimpse of recent signing Adam Docker on 65 mins as he replaced Carl Lamb. Mattie Davies ambled on for Thomas to make something of a mockery of weight based abuse aimed at Bangor striker Paul Roberts by the sullen Carmarthen bench. Mark Dodds shot on target but Price again held cleanly, right wingback Luke Hardy was yellow carded, whilst the visitors three burly defenders came to realise that mountainous newcomer Docker was up for the battle. On 72 mins Clayton Blackmore and Chris Priest combined to release Layton Maxwell whose low twenty yard drive forced a great one handed stop from Delve for City's first corner of the afternoon. Moments later Adam Docker slid the ball to Mike Linnecar on the left. He fired goalwards but Giles somehow lifted out for a corner from under his own bar. The corner found Paul O'Neill but he headed back across goal and out for a goalkick. Play switched to the Farrar End as Cotterrall, bad knee or not, curled a superb cross onto substitute Mattie Davies' head but Price saved acrobatically. With six minutes remaing Darren Gowans replaced Mike Linnecar on the left. On 88 minutes a high ball forward from the left by Clayton Blackmore dropped to Chris Priest. His goalbound effort was parried - perhaps fumbled - by Delve into the path of the ever alert Paul Roberts who slotted home from close range. Bangor fans celebrated, the visitors bench devastated, with so little time on the clock. The final touch fell to Darren Gowans who booming clearance from inside his own box promoted Mr Whitby to whistle and confirm that hugely anticipated Semi Final clash with Llanelli on 1st April! |
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| 31 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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A poor match for the wind chilled faithful - including seven
from Connahs Quay - and one which picked up the midweek obsession with
feigning or unprofessional conduct as it was once known. Bangor began attacking the Farrar End assisted by an stiff breeze and with the same eleven which had won the televised match at Carmarthen. The opening exhanges were uneventful enough with The Nomads forcing a couple of corners before Paul Roberts shrugged off the attentions of Pinch and Williams to shoot just off target form twelve yards. On the quarter hour mark young goalkeeper Andrew Price scuffed his clearance but the ever alert Martin Beattie nipped in to deny veteran striker Stuart Rain a clear shot at goal. Clayton Blackmore crossed from the right but Paul Roberts snatched at fired wide. Lively striker Tommy Mutton unsettled Martin Beattie but the former Druid defended bravely with a last ditch tackle. On twenty minutes Tommy Harrison sent a curling freekick from the left arching under the visitors bar but Smith punched clear at the last moment. Blackmore then slipped Kenny Burgess in on the right but his cross-shot was wildly over hit and came to nothing. The only real annoyance in the first period a series of marginal offsides against City by the "assistant" whose performance drew unheard of criticism of Llanrug from the main stand! As half time grew nearer Bangor won a third corner through the hard working Mike Linnecar but Paul Roberts lashed his effort well wide after seizing on a misplaced header from Flint striker Molyneux. With two minutes on the clock the alert Mutton latched onto a lose ball and fired goalwards from eight yards but was denied by a superb reaction save from Andrew Price in the City goal. And that was about it, honours just about as even as the blank scoreline, frozen hands and feet allround. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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If the first half had been without incident the second was quite
the opposite. The first incident was a yellow card for the
outstanding
Mike Linnecar for a late tackle on Ryan Crawford. A forwars
challenge perhaps. Then City winger Kenny Burgess ran into
the box and fired on target which Smith held despite attention from
Linnecar. The former Rhyl 'keeper hardly endeared himself to the
Bangor fans at the St Pauls End with some dramatic feigning.
Things got quickly worse on the hour when Chris Williams then
tried to persuade referee Parry that Paul O'Neill had somehow hurt him
and was copied by Alan Morgan on half way. In fairness the
official was visible annoyed by both acts but might have taken more
direct action. Five minutes later from a sixth Connahs Quay corner Molyneux booted the ball out of the gorund. Then a turning point. Kenny Burgess gathered the ball in the box and shot low on target despite a clear push by Pinch. As Smith gathered the mishit shot City fans sat back expecting a penalty but referee Parry waved play on. Advantage? City continued to look for an opening and Mike Walsh shot over from fifteen yards. On 69 mins the visitors had the lead, again with a touch of controvesy. Awarded a throw in by the visitors dug out Phil Molyneux gained fifteen yards to throw at the near post and tempt a headed clearance from Paul O'Neill which sped past Andrew Clarke into the Bangor net. Chris Williams then fouled the hard working Mike Linnecar - what a pity he should surface so late in his University course - but the freekick came to nothing. A ball in from the right caused more concern as Linnecar fired a spiteful backheel on target, Connahs Quay half cleared and did so again as the tall student fired point blank twice more before the visitors finally cleared. On 78 mins Kyle Jones - whose cross sparked off the triple salvo - was replaced by one time Liverpool academy star Layton Maxwell. But on 80 mins a misjudgement by Andrew Price left Martin Beattie in an otherwise unguarded goal. A cross struck his hand, the referee obliged with a penalty and followed up with a red card for City's consistent defender. Chris Williams converted the penalty kick with ease. On 84 mins goalscorer Williams was red carded for a lunge on Linnecar with the opinionated Smith yellow carded a his needless contribution. This yielded a freekick from the right but Linnecar headed over. City forced a late corner but this was cleared and the referee blew - to a less than pleasant response from the blues support. |
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| 30 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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| Bangor were worthy winners in
this televised match as two goal Paul Roberts produced a Man of The
Match performance alongside noteable newcomer Mike Linnecar. With Kieran Killackey and Carl Lamb unavailable manager Clayton Blackmore drafted 18 year old Kyle Jones into midfield and student Mike Linnecar upfront. Both played a big part in this away win and in particular the galloping academic was a thorn in Carmarthen' s side until his late substitution. Bangor took the early initiative with Paul O'Neill setting Linnecar up but his effort went across the face of goal. Carmarthen looked dangerous through Cotterrall and Wayne Jones on the left with Clayton Blackmore at full stretch to keep them out. Inside ten minutes there had been two stoppages, one when Wayne Jones caught a blow in the face and the other Kadi Mohammed who hurt his elbow on Tommy Harrison's head! O'Neill had to be alert to keep Carmarthen out on the left before Referee Ellingham showed his yellow card to home defender Craig Lima for a foul on Paul Roberts on the edge of the box. Roberts hit the freekick against the wall and the visitors broke upfield through Jones and Cotterall but O'Neill cleared the sanger. City's centrehalf then saw a shot blocked with the hosts again looking dangerous on the break with Tommy Harrison defending well deep in his own half. Tomy Harrison went close for Bangor, Cotterrall rounded Andy Price but Blackmore cleared, Paul Roberts saw his shot blocked and again Carmarthen broke - this time through Walters - but Andrew Price made a good low save. On the half hour mark Giles headed over from a fourth Carmarthen corner. However a minute later Bangor had the lead. Kyle Joes sent Mike Linnecar galloping down the left wing. The tall student cut inside and fired a fierce drive on target which Andrew Delve fumbled into the path of Paul Roberts who beat Wayne Jones to the lose ball for a close range finish, Cwmbran 2000 style. On 36 mins Wayne Jones was carded for a late challenge on Kenny Burgess and then Bangor boss Blackmore followed him into the book for a blatant check on Cotterrall. Three minutes before the interval Danny Thomas blaxd over then Paul O'Neill shot wide off Tommy Harrison's pass. Into the one minute of stoppage time (remember the two early injuries?) and a goa which never was as Paul Roberts raced through to score - only to find the whistle had blown a couple of seconds earlier! |
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| HALF TIME 0-1 |
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Town manager Mark Jones replaced Richard Carter with Mark Dodds
as what
seemed like a declaration of intent but the powerful striker
played just about everywhere other than upfront. On 51
mins quick thinking - and a very long throw -by Mike Linnecar set
Paul Roberts up in the Carmarthen
six yard area but he hesitated and the chance went. Minutes later Kyle Jones squeezed the ball through to Linnecar but his close range effor hit Delve on the legs. But on 56 mins it matter not as City doubled their advantage. A 56 minute corner on the left delivered deep by Clayton Blackmore was midjudged by Delve and Paul Roberts kept his eye on the ball to calmly head home from beyond the back post. Carmarthen showed the strength of their squad as 100 goal marksman Mattie Davies came on for Martyn Giles on the hour mark, but it was Bangor who should have gone further ahead when Mike Walsh - enjoying a run out on the left - played in Paul Roberts but he took one touch too many, then Mark Dodds showed his defensive qualities as City's two goal striker threatened again. The left wing threat of Cotterrall seemed to have subsided but Sacha Walters continued to pose a threat with a fine run and shot which was blocked by manager Blackmore. Mattie Davies sent Danny Thomas through buthe lifted his shot over the bar then on 77 mins Kaid Mohammed stirred from an otherwise quiet debut to run into the Bangor box but could only shoot at Andrew Price whilst under pressure from the ever alert Martin Beattie. On 80 mins Chris Priest was harshly yellow carded for a trip on Walters before Kenny Burgess shot wide after good build up play involving Paul Roberts and Clayton Blackmore. On 82 mins a "run out" Mike Linnecar made way for Layton Maxwell and Referee Ellingham carded Neil Smothers for a pull on Kyle Jones. Time fizzled out with a final yellow card for Sacah Walters for a foul on the mesmerising Maxwell. Two minutes of stoppage time and the final whistle blew on a deserved Bangor win at Richmond Park, with two goal striker Paul Roberts once again the hero. There were also fine performances from Paul O'Neill, Martin Beattie and Chris Priest, but this was a fine team performance and one which lifts City to seventh in the table. |
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| 29 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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A 100th league goal for Paul Roberts - including 86 for Bangor -
was not enough to see City to an expected home win over a depleted
Caersws side at Farrar Road this afternoon. The early anticipated goal came on ten minutes as City dominated the opening stages of the match forcing a series of corners at the Farrar End and warming the hands of Andy Mulliner on his return to his old hunting ground. Within five minutes Mulliner had produced a low one handed save from Paul O'Neill's downward header off Clayton Blackmore's corner. As Caersws struggled to clear the ball Referee Petch awarded City a freekick twenty yards out and Clayton Blackmore sent a low skidding effort round the wall that brushed the wrong side of the goalpost. On ten minutes Bangor had the lead, albeit with the visitors claiming offside. Player manager Blackmore chipped the ball in from the right, Paul O'Neill headed downwards and Paul Roberts calmly shielded and controlled under pressure from the 'Sws defence before beating Andy Mulliner with a low drive from six yards. City looked set for a comfortable win as Blackmore released Carl Lamb but his effort was scuffed. The first warning from Caersws came on the quarter hour mark when Ross Stephens sent a thirty yarder over Andy Price's crossbar. On 16 mins Andy Thomas was shown the yellow card for a foul on Mike Walsh, then Stephens found the target with a twenty yarder but Andy Price held comfortably. On 25 minutes he was not so successful as Ross Stephens again fired goalwayds from outside the box and this time found the back of the net despite Price's full length dive. Bangor responded with a fourth corner which Clayton Blackmore crossed from the right but again Andy Mulliner was equal to Chris Priest's low drive. City nearly regained the lead in unlikely fashion on the half hour as Mulliner scrambled to clear Andy Thomas' back pass, and then the former Port Vale 'keeper held Paul Roberts' low shot from the left. He was also equal to a well intended looping header from Carl Lamb after good approach play from Mike Walsh. On 35 mins though Caersws scored what proved to be the winner. Layton Maxwell lost possession on the left and the visitors were awarded a freekick which Ross Stephens lashed home from 22 yards for his seventh WP goal of the season. Shrewsbury fans claim the Llanidloes born midfielder was unlucky to when released from The Gay Meadow and on this form Bangor supporters would wish he was still there! There was time for Simon Jones to be shown the yellow card for a pull on Paul Roberts - was he last man - as the 100 goal striker raced on goal. |
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| HALF TIME 1-2 |
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The dominant wind was now with Bangor and the choking smoke from
a house at the Farrar End had cleared but Bangor seemed unsure as to
how to storm the Caersws castle. Busy defender Andy Thomas
marshalled veteran centrebacks Griffiths and Reynolds who gemerally
coped confidently with a series of high balls into the box. Ten minutes after the restart a sliced shot from Layton Maxwell was chased into the left hand corner flag by the willing Carl Lamb. His deep cross narrowly evaded Chris Priest at the back post. Caersws won a couple of corners which came to nothing before City defender Tommy Harrison shot well wide from twenty yards. On the hour Paul Roberts raced into the Caersws box but Andy Thomas stepped in to good effect, five minutes later Andy Mulliner caught the ball overhead from City's top scorer. On 72 mins Caersws made the first change with young striker Neil Mitchell was replaced by Ian Probert. Five minutes later Bangor sent on Mike Burke for midfielder Layton Maxwell. Caersws continued to counter with Mark Williams holding the ball up and bringing his midfileders into play. With ten minutes remaining Bangor won their fifth corner of the afternoon which resulted in Kieran Killackey crashing the ball out of the ground at the St Pauls' End. Five minutes later Paul O'Neill headed on for Paul Roberts but his fierce drive cleared the crossbar. On 85 mins - as Caersws leftback Simon Jones was harshly red carded - Carl Lamb was replaced by Mike Linnecar who went close with his first touch, but luck was not with the lanky student and the chance went. City hit the crossbar and forced a couple more corners but to no real effect. The final action came in the 95th minute when Paul O'Neill's long throw came to Chris Priest but he sliced wide and the final whistle blew. City had failed once again to get the better of an understrength Bluebirds side who had the game's three outstanding players, goalkeeper Andy Mulliner, defender Andy Thomas and two goal Ross Stephens. |
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| 28 |
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|
THE WELSH CUP |
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A Man of
The Match performance from Paul O'Neill saw City through to a Quarter
Final clash with Carmarthen Town despite falling behind to a dubious
first half penalty. Had the stand side linesman Mr JD Twigg been a touch more observant City might have had a penalty of their own in the opening minute. Paul Roberts had blasted a trademakr freekick low into the bottom right hand corner and former Queens Park goalkeeper John Rowley was at full stretch to palm away for a corner. This came from a first foul of the match from pedestrian Robins defender Adrian Moody. The corner came in short from the left and provoked a clear handball in the box by midfielder Alan Hooley but Mr Twigg refused to flag with Referee Dean John unsighted. When the cross came in Newtown defender Moody seemed interested in an early shirt swap with Paul O'Neill but again nothing was given. Newtown retaliated with a long range shot from the hard working Gareth Hughes but Andrew Price was able to watch as it curled wide of the post. This had all happened in the opening five minutes and there followed a lull in proceedings which ended abruptly on 20 minutes when the visitors won their first corner. Martin Giles delivered a telling cross which forced a brave block from O'Neill and ended in young Llanrhaedr striker Sam Pickup blasting over into the St Pauls End. Both teams enjoyed chances as Paul Roberts saw his shot deflected for a corner before Alan Hooley won a second corner for The Robins on the left. The cross cleared the back post and City fans were suddenly faced with a loud appeal for handball against Paul O'Neill which Referee John obliged. Dan Barton converted the penalty with ease and Bangor were undeservedly a goal down. On the half hour City won a third corner on the right which Layton Maxwell sent over and once again the official seemed unconcerned that Paul O'Neill was clearly having his shirt pulled by Moody. A fourth corner followed with Mark Allen now showing an interest in the shirt he once wore. Then on 35 mins City were level. A Layton Maxwell freekickfrom the left was headed home by Paul O'Neill as he rose above the visitors defence at the back post. In the closing five minutes goalscorer Dan Barton scuffed a twenty yarder wide and Mike Walsh fired over from close range after good combination play from Paul Roberts and Carl Lamb whose partnership is developing with each game. |
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| HALF TIME 1-1 |
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Bangor took the initiative from the break with Paul Roberts much
involved, winning an early corner and then forcing a great save from
John Rowley from a Carl Lamb header. On 55 mins the roles were
reversed but Lamb blazed over from Roberts' header on the right
following a pass forward from the industrious Chris Priest. On the hour midfield maestro Layton Maxwell set off on a mazey run on goal from the half way line which saw him sweep past four or five visiting defenders before Mark Allen slid in with a well time challenge on the edge of the six yard box. This produced City's seventh corner of the afternoon which was easily cleared. Clayton Blackmore, calm and composed as ever at right back, picked out Chris Priest on the edge of the Newtown box but he fired over. With twenty minutes remaining Bangor thought they had a penalty when Martin Beattie was fouled in the Newtown box but again Referee John waved play on. Newtown won a freekick which was curled into the Bangor box by leftback Martin Giles but Dan Barton headed off target. Carl Lamb shot on target but Rowley held comfortably. Newtown forced a couple of corners and City looked to the competitive defending of Paul O'Neill, Martin Beattie and Kyle Jones to keep the visitors out. Then on 74 minutes Bangor took the lead with the goal of the game. A throw infront of the mainstand from Kyle Jones set Martin Beattie lose on the left. His curling left foot cross invited the perfect header from Carl Lamb who sent the ball into the top left hand corner and beyond the despairing Rowley. Superb! The visitors fought back, Dan Desormeaux was denied by another brave block from Paul O'Neill who by now was playing on despite appearing injured. Desormeaux was then fortunate to be shown only yellow for a petulant kick on Kyle Jones by the Bangor dug out. With five minutes remaining Newtown replaced Sam Pickup with Andy Webb. In the closing minutes Craig Williams hit the target with a twenty yard strike but Andrew Price caught it cleanly enough and then Carl Lamb ran down the right to supply Clayton Blackmore but his shot was blocked. As the visitors pressed for a late equaliser O'Neill and Kyle Jones stood firm and finally - after a couple of minutes of injury time - Referee John blew to confirm City's place in the Quarter Finals and that date with Carmarthen Town. |
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| 27 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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| Bangor welcomed back Paul
O'Neill into the heart of the defence but it was Layton Maxwell but it
was Layton Maxwell ahead of him in midfield who carved open the Talbot
defence with a series of well directed passes. City showed early promise when Layton Maxwell ran through midfield to sent a 40 yard diagonal pass out to Carl Lamb on the right. His crashing drive was blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Neil Thomas. The former Cardiff City schemer repeated the pass minutes later, and for a third time when Mike Walsh squared the ball to Carl Lamb who scuffed his shot from eight yards. City kept on the pressure and a cross from Clayton Blackmore found Chris Priest but he too failed to make clean contact from close range. Neil Thomas was busy with Chris Priest forcing a save before Tommy Harrison lashed wide from beyond the left hand post after a corner from the right. With City on the attack Port Talbot nearly struck on the break as a long ball out of defence found Rhys Griffiths who got the better of Martin Beattie and Paul O'Neill to send a dipping volley on target but could not beat Andrew Price. Paul Roberts was denied by Thomas as he ran goalwards from the left along the touchline, wriggled past DeVulgt and Surman, but found the goalkeeper guarding his near post. A fould on Carl Lamb led to a freekick dispatched by midfield general Layton Maxwell but Paul O'Neill missed the header and shook his head in disbelief. On 40 mins though City finally had the lead. Paul Roberts won a freekick on the edge of the box, placed the ball and thrashed an unstoppable drive into the top right hand corner of the net for his 99th league goal (including 14 for Port). |
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| HALF TIME 0-1 |
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The second
half saw Bangor continue in control and extend their lead some
five minutes after the restart. City won a throw in on the
right which found Carl Lamb in the box. He ran at the defence,
got to the goalline and pulled the ball across. DeVulgt try
to deal with the danger with an extravagant flick which fell for Kieran
Killackey to side foot home into the
bottom corner with Thomas flatfooted on the line. Port Talbot carved out a chance for Rhys Griffiths who was close to getting a touch on a deep cross form the left from Craig Hanford but his may have been unsighted by Martin Beattie. Layton Maxwell was still a threat to the home side and his well weighted pass down the right released "lightening" Carl Lamb whose progress was stopped on the edge of the box by Matt Rees. But the big defender could only watch in hope when his clearance was headed towards goal by Paul Roberts. Unhappily for City's leading goalscorer his effort ran out for a goalkick. There was still time for referee Simon Jones, who had booked Paul Roberts in the first half, to add the name of hsi strike partner Carl Lamb to his notebook on 80 mins, but it failed to take the gloss of a well deserved win. The final whistle blew on City's first win under new manager Clayton Blackmore in his second game. All the more enjoyable for the Neath born defender that his first success should come just a few miles down the road from his home town in neighbouring Port Talbot. |
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| 26 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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With departures and injuries affecting preparation new manager
Clayton Blackmore introduced two new faces to the Bangor side which
faced TNS this afternoon. Left footer Tommy Harrison came off the
bench on the half hour but 20 year old midfielder Kieran Killackey
started in central midfield as a direct replacement for Paul Friel who
made his Porthmadog debut yesterday. Before the new players had time to settle City were two nil down and staring down the barrel of a high scoring defeat to the league's only full time club. Former Swansea striker Jamie Wood put the visitors in front from Nicky Ward's left wing cross on 3 minutes. On 5 mins things got worse as Steve Beck scored latched onto a misplaced clearance to drive beyond Andrew Price.. On ten minutes Bangor thought they had pulled one back when Paul Roberts caught TNS 'keeper Gerard Doherty off his line and sent a 40 yard chip into the unguarded net. But the Irish stopper flew backwards and tipped the ball over to complete a breathtaking save. Bangor refused to buckle and despite losing Kenny Burgess on the half hour - to allow debutant Harrison onto the field - managed to limit the visitors to one more goal before the interval. First though TNS were also forced into a change when Phil Baker was replaced by John Leah. The chance fell, with a sense of inevitability, to the ever popular Marc Lloyd Williams who turned in another Nicky Ward cross from close range and a sense of forboding swept the home fans. With Bangor under pressure the calming figure of Martin Beattie was central to City's defensive efforts. However the interval score remained at 3-0 with Bangor showing determination not to be overwhelmed by their full time visitors. |
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| HALF TIME 0-3 |
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Bangor came out for the second period with the words of new
manager Clayton Blackmore ringing in their ears. But it was the
visitors who sent early efforts goalwards in the form of Steve Evans
and Jamie Wood who forced saves from City goalkeeper Andrew Price.
Jamie Wood also fired over whilst midfielder Steve Beck rattled
the crossbar. Bangor finally retaliated just after the hour mark. A cross from Paul Roberts was headed home by tireless strike partner Carl Lamb to give the blues a sense of hope for a strike timed at 63 mins. Into the final ten minutes and new midfielder Kieran Killackey forced a full length save from Gerard Doherty with a thirty yard pile driver. Then with just two minutes remaining Bangor cut the deficit still further as Paul Roberts followed up after his first effort was blocked by Gerard Doherty's legs. City sent Mike Burke on for Carl Lamb who had run himself out. With time running out Bangor might have snatched a late equaliser their second half heroics merited but nineteen year old midfielder Mike Walsh fired wide after picking up Layton Maxwell's pass. TNS went close through sub Mike Wilde and Scott Ruscoe but the visitors - who brought on academy youngster Rob Williams in the closing minutes - took the three point to strengthen their near unassailable position at the top of the table. This second half performance gives Clayton something to build on, but he will be mindful that the side have now lost three in a row - and face a tough trip to Port Talbot next weekend. A word of credit to referee Morgan who officiated without showing a yellow card throughout, well done. |
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| 25 |
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|
WELSH PREMIER |
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| A reshuffled Bangor side
slipped
to a two nil defeat on a muddy Maesdre which offered little or no
opportunity for either team to play football. With Paul O'Neill injured and Kenny Burgess suspended Bangor opted for a 4-5-1 formation which saw Clayton Blackmore at rightback with Kyle Jones and Lee Martin in central defence. The lone striker was Paul Roberts with Layton Maxwell operating in a "half way house" position off the Criccieth man in preference to the pace of Alex Hay or Carl Lamb. City played down the hill in the first half and needed to make the most of this advantage. The first opening cam ewhen Ben Ogilvy crossed low to Paul Friel who sent a left footed curler towards the bottom corner but former Porthmadog goalkeeper Ged McGuigan palmed wide. On 17 mins Chris Priest was yellow carded by the curly haired official before Welshpool went close twice, the first a turn and shoot effort from Aden Shannon and then a clean header from former Bangor striker Ross Jefferies who has developed into a competent midfielder under Tomi Morgan. Paul Roberts chased a high bouncing ball into the 'Pool box but failed to control under pressure from Keegan. On 29 mins Shannon was yellow carded for deliberate handball in the Bangor box. Some five minutes from time a second Bangor corner was half cleared to Clayton Blackmore but his left footed drive was caught by McGuigan. There was still time for Paul Roberts to run on goal and fire low past McGuigan, but his low drive clipped the goalkeeper's heel and bounced to safety. The whistle blew on a largely disappointing first period with the home fans more confident of their team exploiting the slope in the second period. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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Ten minutes after the restart Bangor fans thought they had scored
when Paul Roberts latched onto a through ball from Layton
Maxwell but his lob cleared McGuigan and the crossbar, crashing back
off the hoardings. Moments later Brett Jefferies had to be alert
to deny Roberts again as he ran into the left hand side of the box. But on 58 mins the home side had the lead. A misplaced pass by Chris Priest was enough to see Ross Jefferies run down the right, pass infield to Shannon whose layoff invited a rising finish from Steve Rogers from the edge of the box. To some degree this was rough justice whilst also an object lesson in finishing. A minute later young Ben Ogilvy made way for substitute Carl Lamb and the formation changed to 4-4-2 with the pacey frontman lining up alongside Paul Roberts. On the hour Layton Maxwell was yellow carded, possibly for some contact on Jefferies or kicking the ball away. Welshpool forced a corner on the left which fell to Ross Jefferies but he was denied by a great save by Andrew Price. However the goalkeeper had no chance on 74 mins when Aden Shannon crashed home the second, decisive goal again from the edge of the Bangor box after picking up a pass from Justin Wickham. Lamb continued to win some headers around the edge of the box but generally the home side were quicker to react. And really that was about it. Despite the efforts of Chris Priest and some fiery contributions from Paul Friel, the Welshpool goal was seldom under threat. On 82 mins Bangor made a double change as midfileders Mike Walsh and Layton Maxwell making way for striking pair Alex Hay and Mike Burke but it made little difference. Referee Morgan saw fit to show Aden Shannon a second yellow for time wasting at a throw in and the Lilywhites spent the final five minutes with ten men. The depleted home side might have added a third into injury time but Andrew Price proved equal to a fine effort from Steve Rogers. Overall an afternoon to forget. |
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