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Bangor |
| 1999-00 |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
2002-03 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
JAN-MAY |
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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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BA 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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