| BANGOR
CITY MATCH REPORTS 2007-08 |
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| 51 |
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WELSH
CUP FINAL |
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Ten men
battled against the odds for 85 minutes and ended up victorious over
nine! Match referee Phil Southall found himself in the middle of
the controvesy but was
proved right on the three big decisions - for and against Bangor.It was just four minutes into the afternoon's activities when Peter Hoy rushed in, foot high, on Mark Jones who fell to the ground. Referee Southall saw red - so did Hoy - and City were down to ten men. The red welt down Jones' stomach - and the TV replays - proved the high challenge was worth a red. Far from being put off Bangor charged forward. Marc Limbert passed forward from deep inside his own half, Ashley Stott raced onto Les Davies' flick and seemed sure to score but the bulky Duncan Roberts saved well. Llanelli responded with a Matthew Jones' header which Paul Smith palmed over before Ashley Stott went close twice in close succession. Twice Roberts saved well, once with his feet, but the big stopper could only watch as Christian Seargeant lashed wide after his second save. Happily the goal - against the odds as so often before - came on 20 minutes. A long range shot from Lee Webber seemed to be speeding wide when Ashley Stott had the presence of mind to glance the ball back across Roberts and inside the 'keepers left post. With Dave Swanick and Lee Webber winning their headers and Michael Johnston first to everything, City stood firm as Llanelli failed to transform their numerical advantage into clear cut openings. However as half time drew closer the alert Rhys Griffiths slid in Craig Jones whose side footer was parried by Paul Smith to Mark Pritchard who was unable to convert the chance under pressure from the hard working Sion Edwards. So half time, the ten men leading one nil, and grounds for optimism. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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It all changed so quickly that City fans
could have been forgiven for thinking they were down and out. The first action saw Mike Walsh shoot at Roberts from eight yards, but on 48 minutes Dave Swanick put the ball into his own net under pressure from Rhys Griffiths who was struggling to get on the end of a Mark Pritchard cross from the right. A deep diagonal from Holloway found Rhys Griffiths on the left and his low finish got the better of Swanick and goal keeper Smith from a tight angle. Llanelli were in the lead and appeared well on top, with City having to defend for their lives and hope for a change of luck. Martin Beattie came on for Sion Edwards to shore up the left side of the blues defence moments later. It came on 66 minutes when Wyn Thomas' foul mouth tirade on Referee Southall was too loud to ignore. The self opinionated defender saw red and trudged off grinning to the Reds dressing room. On 73 mins a double change - a last roll of the dice - Lee Webber and Mike Walsh made way for Kieran Killackey and Kar Noon. The spring heeled Noon seeemd the ideal man to upset the leaden legged Reds defence. So it turned out as Legg was forced into a well timed last ditch tackle on the former Liverpool trainee. Then two minutes into the four added at the end of normal time, a break through. Duncan Roberts opted to punch when he might have caught, the ball ran to Christian Seargeant whose inch perfect chip hit the back of the net to the relief and delight of the huge Bangor following. In the moments that followed sanity disappeared, a pitch invasion and some theatrical diving from the giant goalkeeper. Police and stewards restored order but the remaining two minutes proved fruitless for both sides. Bangor seized the initiative in the first half of extra time and never gave it up. Ashley Stott ran into the left hand side of the box, Lee Phillips lunged and missed the ball, penalty. Up stepped captain Marc Limbert who sent Roberts the wrong way and put City ahead 3-2 seven minutes into extra time. Two minutes later it was all over. Kieran Killackey was far too fast and determined for Jones, he passed to Karl Noon who rushed at Roberts. The big goalkeeper blasted the ball against the fleet of foot striker - and could only watch as it rolled into his net! The second period of extra time was quite even, Mark Pritchard went close for Llanelli, but there was still more work for Referee Phil Southall who consulted his linesman before rightly red carding Rhys Griffiths for a callous elbow in the face of Martin Beattie. Happily the leftback was well enough to continue and pick up his medal - and join the celebrations as the final whistle blew. |
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| MiB Phil Southall |
The
early surprise red card departure of Peter Hoy, though controversial,
proved correct. Later he was brave enough to be equally firm with
the foul mouthed Wyn Thomas and the elbow wielding Rhys Griffiths who
looks no more than a small town bully. Also the extra time
penalty. This is not to say this was a flawless performance, but like any player - and quick to judge spectator - we all make mistakes. But Southall got the big decisions right and that is what counts in the end. |
| 50 |
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WELSH
PREMIER |
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The league season ended in a score draw
with visitors Neath just as it had begun at Newtown in August. In
a game dominated by roughhouse tactics from the visitors - aided and
abetted by a weak referee - Bangor would be pleased not to have
suffered further injury problems.With Lee Webber watching from the sidelines, Peter Hoy switched to central defence as Nev Powell opted for a rare five man midfield. But it was Neath who started the brighter and Matthew Rees should have opened the scoring inside three minutes when Paul Smith sliced his clearance. However the experienced stopper was able to throw himself in the way of the goalbound shot. On five minutes Chris Pridham flattened Mike Walsh - the first of many fouls from the former Afan Lido clogger - and moments later Craig Morris saved well from Marc Limbert who swept his shot goalwards after a fine deep cross from left winger Sion Edwards. Captain Limbert then tricked his way past Jenkins and crossed to Les Davies whose downwards header causes chaos but Bevan hacked clear. On 13 minutes Christian Seargeant was yellow carded for a foul on Jarrod Price which suggested that referee Adie might be imposing law and order on proceedings. On 24 minutes Bangor took the lead. Christian Seargeant set off an a mazey run into the box which he capped with a calm low finish past Morris. City built up a bit of pressure, won a couple of corners, and drew a wild challenge from Clayton Blackmore on Kieran Killackey just inside the Neath half. Christian Seargeant sent a deep, dipping strike over Morris but also just over the crossbar at the Farrar End. On the half hour the second yellow card of the afternoon as Dale Evans contested an obvious freekick awarded against Sean Cronin on half way. Seargeant went close again from 25 yards as City dominated the niggly visitors. Five minutes before the interval Ashley Stott unsettled the visitors defence with a determined run which yielded a fifth Bangor corner, but Neath cleared. Referee Adie whistled for half time with City deservedly ahead albeit by that single goal. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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In a carbon copy of the first half Bangor nearly leaked an early
goal but Rees sent his effort wide from the visitors first corner.
Pridham shot at Paul Smith either side of incidents or
clashes with Christian Seargeant which the match official seemed unable
to
prevent. Andrew Hill fired wide before Pridham finally saw yellow after yet another poorly timed clattering tackle. Moments later Hill was yellow carded for an elbow on Dave Swanick. Violent conduct? The Neath brains trust, equally apportioned between the mainstand and crowded dugout, sent on two substitutes on 65 mins with Clayton Blackmore amongst those taken off, to be replaced by Stephen Pockett. David Burrows made way for Carl Shaw. Bangor mounted a fresh challenge, Peter Hoy saw his close range effort cleared from a sixth corner, but it was the visitors who netted to the dismay of the 400 strong home support. Lee Bevan lashed home left footed from the left of the box to give Paul Smith no chance. City responded with a double substitution with Karl Noon and Craig Hutchinson coming on for Ashley Stott and Christian Seargeant. But in the minutes that followed Neath went close through Hill, Shaw and Price as City's goal led a charmed existence. Rees was yellow carded for a kick on Peter Hoy, Mel McGinness replaced Kieran Killackey who had worked hard in the midfield. City regained their composure and Mike Walsh rose to meet a deep cross from Marc Limbert but could not keep his header down. Five minutes from time further controvesy. Karl Noon raced clear on goal and was flattened by goalkeeper Morris just outside his box. With a red card expected - last man offence - referee Adie showed more leniency to confirm his poor afternoon. Morris was allowed to stay on and face the freekick which was headed clear by Cronin! Bangor forced a couple of injury time corners but could not find the net and with three added minutes played the final whislte blew. |
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| MiB Darren Adie |
Really
poor. Weak and wholly unprepared or unwilling to make the big
decisions. We now have the spectre of - initially at any rate - a ten club league. That could mean two visits from the likes of Neath. Mr Adie to ref them? To be perfectly fair he has not got a clue, a chance, of dealing with nasty spiteful players. He does seem a nice bloke, tries to let the game flow, tries to see the best in players. Which is fine when the players deserve it. Unfortunately Neath did nothing more than exploit this perceived weakness. You need strong refs to control some matches. |
| 49 |
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WELSH
PREMIER |
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Two second half goals from former
favourite Marc Lloyd Williams steered Rhyl to a 2-1 win
at Farrar Road on Tuesday night. This result leaves City fighting for fifth place against visitors Neath on Saturday, with the early departure of injury victim Lee Webber a further major concern. Bangor might have taken the lead on five minutes when Stuart Graves' back header went passed both eccentric goalkeeper Lee Kendall and the outside of his post. Minutes later Mike Walsh clipped the ball over the visitors defence but Les Davies fired wide from the edge of the box. Rhyl settled and left peg Chris Roberts went close before Marc Lloyd Williams watched as his attempted chip cleared Paul Smith's crossbar. Bangor suffered a major setback when Lee Webber limped off on the half hour to be replaced by Mel McGinness. This meant Peter Hoy moved into centre defence with the Holyhead youngster filling the leftback berth, with Lee Kendall's trademark clearances dropping deep inside the Bangor half. However it was Bangor who took the lead some five minutes before the interval. Marc Limbert crossed and former blues defender Paul O'Neill made a hash of his clearance and could onl watch as Mike Walsh pounced on the opening to beat Lee Kendall's despairing dive. Swansea referee Dean John blew for half time with Bangor a goal to the good and contemplating the prospect of a league double over the Lilywhites after their 2-1 success at Belle Vue in November. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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Unhappily Bangor failed to hang onto the lead for more than a
minute after the restart. A hopeful punt from Kiwi winger Michael White kicked up off the pitch, bounced over Peter Hoy, and dropped perfectly for the ever alert Marc Lloyd Williams to beat Paul Smith from ten yards. Ten minutes later the visitors went ahead when Chris Roberts miscued across goal for Marc Lloyd Williams to head home from close range. It could have got worse for Bangor but Mark Connolly's freekick flew just off target. Sion Edwards and Les Davies has half chances for City, but on 70 minutes Bangor boss Nev Powell made his first voluntary change when Karl Noon replaced Sion Edwards and his pacey runs did unsettle the Lilywhites defence. City pressed with Marc Limbert in the thick of the action but failed to create clear cut chances. However in the closing stages, with the visitors reduced to stopping play for three drawn out substitutions, City nearly grabbed the point their late rally deserved. City player and fans shouted for a penalty when Paul O'Neill appeared to push Mike Walsh over in the box, but referee John waved play on. Marc Limbert crossed but Kendall just about kept out the wildly bouncing ball, then Ashley Stott fired across goal but there was no one on hand to fire home. Into injury time Mark Connolly fired over from twenty yards but it was City who thought they had netted the all important goal when Peter Hoy's long throw fell to Ashley Stott who seemed to have scored from close range but somehow the visitors survived. So a disappointing defeat for Bangor and one made all the worse by the injury to Lee Webber coming so soon after Martin Beattie's. |
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| MiB Dean John |
Riddle
me this. Its a Tuesday night, not much going on in terms of other
games in North Wales other than one match at Connahs Quay. So
where do the powers that be look for a referee? Swansea. Now I am a firm believer in visibly neutral officials, so there are concerns about those who are too local to either team. But Swansea? Surely there is someone based in or around Wrexham? Llandudno? Apart from the Green Issue, just think about the expenses claim for a 330 mile round trip. |
| 48 |
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WELSH PREMIER |
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Local derby football with a cuptie feel - soon
to be a thing of the past now the ten clubs league is on the way -
warmly entertained a crowd of more than 700 at Talwrn Road on Friday
evening. Bangor won by a solitary strike from Peter Hoy, but for some impressive saves from Farai Jackson they would have more than doubled that tally. However Llangefni had chances of their own and contributed fully to a open game. As a sign of things to come both sides went close in the opening minutes. First Darren Thomas for the hosts and then Sion Edwards and Marc Limbert for City. England futsal international Farai Jackson has a reputation as a fine shot stopper and proved this inside ten minutes when Ashley Stott dribbled through the home defence before unleashing a powerful twenty yarder which Jackson pushed away for a corner. Bangor continued to dominate as Sion Edwards got the better of rightback Paul Roberts to set up Ashley Stott but his rising effort cleared the crossbar. However Llangefni seemed set to take the lead when Chris Jones found himself in space on the right but as he shot goalwards Sion Edwards and Peter Hoy flung themselves into the path of the ball. On 25 minutes Marc Limbert shot wide from the edge of the box, but Llangefni were more of an attacking force now and Paul Smith did well to smother the ball at the feet of Darren Thomas. Jackson was called upon to save Les Davies' twenty yarder before the impressive Stephen Kehoe saw his looping header bounce off the crossbar from his sides' first corner ten minutes before the interval. Bangor finished strongly with Christian Seargeant sending a 25 yarder on target, then a 4th Bangor corner saw both Peter Hoy and Les Davies go close. But not close enough to prevent referee Duncan from blowing time on a goalless if eventful first period. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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The second half started with Caerwyn Roberts on at left back for
Boardman. Within a minute of the restart both sides could have scored. Les Davies lofted over Mitchell and Hogg but Jackson saved well from Ashley Stott. Llangefni countered with Darren Thomas and Dylan Owen both going close. Referee Duncan earned the wrath of the visitors when he waved play on as Ashley Stott was felled on the edge of the box. City won a 5th corner of the evening on 55 minutes but Hogg cleared, then a setback for the home side as young centre forward Kevin Lloyd limped off to be replaced by Adie Jones. Caerwyn Roberts added attacking verve to the left side and gave the home side some impetus, but as the game progressed Mike Walsh tightened his grip on midfield. City got the goal they deserved on the hour when a clever back heel from Christian Seargeant released Sion Edwards on the left. His low cross found Peter Hoy bang in front of goal and the big defender made no mistake. Bangor won a seventh corner but Lee Webber headed over, then Ashley Stott found Les Davies but his shot sped narrowly wide. Llangefni needed to win and fought back bravely, forcing successive corners which culminated in Dave Swanick clearing off the line. As time ran out Sion Edwards made way for Kieran Killackey and minutes later Karl Noon came on for Ashley Stott. An 8th corner for City saw Christian Seargeant fire well over, before Craig Hogg was yellow carded on 90 mins for dissent. And that was about it, referee Duncan blew for time with the Bangor players and supporters celebrated a hard fought win. |
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| 47 |
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THE WELSH CUP |
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