| BANGOR CITY
MATCH REPORTS 2014-15 |
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| 26 April 2015 |
Bangor City 4 v 3 Rhyl |
Welsh Premier |
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 Bangor
fought back from 2-0 down at half time and then 3-1 soon after to stage
a late recovery which stunned the vocal visitors in the closing minutes.But it was Rhyl who started the brighter and dominated the opening stages as they attacked the Bangor end on a sunny Nantporth afternoon. Big Ryan Astles, reprieved after a ridiculous sending off the previous week, went close for the Lilywhites but his header was safely pouched by Connor Roberts. On ten minutes former blues target Ashley Ruane headed wide as the visitors threatened once more. Then Levi Mackin shot on target but goalkeeper Roberts was on hand to save. Bangor countered under Rhyl pressure and Sion Edwards fired cleanly on goal but stand in goalkeeper Mike Askew saved well before Ashley Ruane threatened again but Roberts denied him once more. Big Les Davies broke from his own half but Askew saved and once more the visitors pushed City back as Mackin fired low for the bottom corner but Connor Roberts saved well. Jack Kenny wasted a good chances but on 33 minutes the opening goal arrived as City contemplated a change with Leon Clowes clearly hampered by a hamstring problem. Greg Stones slid the ball through for Ashley Ruane to slide the below under goalkeeper Roberts who was finally beaten. Soon after the restart centre back Leon Clowes limped off to be replaced by Anthony Miley who took his place alongside Chris Roberts. Liam Dawson is booked as he concedes a freekick which in turn hits the wall. Five minutes later Roberts saved well from Kenny but this was to prove more than a temporary reprieve as a second goal arrived two minutes before the interval and ten after the opening strike. A through ball from Liam Dawson caught the blues defence napping and invited Jack Kenny to run on goal and he beat Connor Roberts in confident fashion to leave City trailing by two goals to nil as referee Bryn Markham Jones blew for half time. |
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| HALF TIME 0-2 |
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| No changes at the interval but Bangor did start with more purpose than the first. Within three minutes City had halved the deficit and given the home support cause for optimism. Bangor won a freekick on the right which was swung in by Sion Edwards, knocked back across goal by Anthony Miley and finished off by Callum Morris from close range. But the Lilywhites nearly restored their lead as goalscorer Ruane raced on goal, was denied by Connor Roberts and then smashed the rebound into the side netting.Rhyl sent big Aeron Bowen on for Tom Rowlands. Damien Allen may not score many but he thought he had done so moments later but Mike Askew pulled off a great save. But twenty minutes from time Damien Allen was adjuged to have fouled Jack Kenny who threw himself down drammatically. Referee Markham Jones pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped former blue Paul McManus to send Connor Roberts the wrong way for a 3-1 advantage. City responded once more with a cross which leftback Liam Dawson headed against his own crossbar. Liam Caddick came on for Ryan Edwards in a tactical switch and on 76 mins City again reduced the arrears. Bangor won a corner on the left which the towering Rhyl rearguard failed to clear. The ball ran along to Anthony Miley who controlled and picked out Les Davies whose low cross was turned home at the near post by Callum Morris. Three two to the visitors with around fifteen minutes plus injury time to go. Substitute Aeron Bowen, who has cut a peripheral figure in the Rhyl squad for the second part of the season, is withdrawn through injury and replaced by Carl Lamb. With three minutes left and both sets of fans in fine voice, Bangor sent on local lad Sam Faulkner in place of Chris Roberts. A minute laler on 88 minutes a foul on Les Davies by Ashley Ruane resulted in a freekick seven or eight yards outside, and directly in front of, the visitors box. Determined left peg Sam Hart contemplated his options before sending the ball beyond the diving Askew and inside the keepers lefthand upright. What seemed a very unlikely fightback was complete into added time as Chris Jones' run into the box from the right was halted by Liam Dawson who was shown a second yellow and then red card for his troubles. It does seem harsh when a penalty had been awarded but that is the rule. Penalty awarded and again it was Sam Hart who was entrusted with the spot kick. Hart never looked like missing and as his strike struck the back of the net the noisy blues fans behind the goal celebrated wildly as their black & white counterparts contemplated the journey home. Minutes later final whistle blew on the game and the season with City having completed the great escape and - on the day - a great fightback against their fierce local rivals. So the season signed off with a home win in unlikely circumstances and two goals apiece from midfield powerhouse Callum Morris and the ever versatile Sam Hart, two of the successes in what had been a difficult season.  |
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| FINAL SCORE 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 April 2015 |
Prestatyn Town 1 v 3 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| On
a bumpy, dry Bastion Gardens Bangor secured three all important points
that makes the final home game less of a health hazard. And in
reality this was a tale of two keepers. They say that revenge is a dish best served cold and - after a first half stalemate - City enjoyed their final Welsh Premier trip to Prestatyn more than Neil Gibson and his relegated crew. Playing towards the Social Club and into a stiff breeze City failed to gain much headway in the first half, and it was Prestatyn who could have gone in ahead at the interval.  
With Connor Roberts booked for booting the ball away Prestatyn won a
couple of corners, the second of which resulted from a fantastic save
from Connor Roberts and Jordan Davies looked to have scored. On ten minutes young Alex Jones clearly punched the ball goalwards and should have been booked but Lee Evans ignored that rule and simply talked the to the youthful little grafter. The chief threat for a very limited Prestatyn was Jack Lewis whose pacey flat long throws kept Leon Clowes and co on their toes. Something has to be said about the linesman alongside leftback Sam Hart. He was rarely in line with the last defender and, having warned goalkeeper Williams for carrying the ball out, he missed one when the young glovesman did so by three or four feet! Unpeturbed Bangor pushed forward and won a couple of corners of their own but Scott Williams was in charge and the danger passed. Prestatyn broke upfield and Dale Lee went close before a third Bangor corner came to nothing. The opening twenty minutes went by with little real incident other than that outstanding save by Roberts but a daft decision is never far away. So it proved. Prestatyn won a freekick which was lumped into the box. Dave Hayes fell over and as Gareth Wilson rushed after a ball he had lost Les Davies stood his ground and the little midfielder's unlikely cries for a penalty were answered by an arm pointing to the spot. Penalty. There was a lengthy delay as Hayes, clearly fighting serious injury, was treated in the box. Connor Roberts calmly told Michael Parker which way he would put the penalty. Finally the referee allowed the kick to be taken and Roberts dived to his left to push the ball to safety. What a roar of relief! Hayes then opted to rush back on the pitch without being signalled to do so. This is a bookable offence but neither official seemed bothered and he avoided sanction although he was told to wait. For once the annoying smirk disappeared from the home manager's face. He had enjoyed the opening half hour or so up to that point, baiting and whinging as the opportunity arose. Five minutes later Les Davies crossed from the right for Sam Hart to tee up Sion Edwards on the edge of the box, but he fired over. Liam Walsh was shown the yellow card for a trip on Sion Edwards. A freekick on the right was headed on by Les Davies to Chris Jones but he lifted the ball over the bar under pressure. City won a fourth corner but Scott Williams claimed confidently, the general frustration with corners mumbered around the blues fans, and after a fifth had come and gone Mr Evans blew for the interval with a blank scoreline marginally favouring Bangor. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the
interval with City now enjoying the wind at their backs as they attacked the open, green bank end. But there was a change of fortune imminent and clear signs that corners were now a weapon. Damien Allen took a quick short corner to Sion Edwards whose instant cross caught out Scott Williams whose attempted punch fell to Callum Morris. His shot was blocked but Chris Jones volleyed home from three yards to delight the majority of the 500 crowd.(City celebrate below) 
Worse was to come for the young glovesman. A second corner a minute
later crossed this time by Damien Allen provoked another wild attempt
at a punch or catch by Williams and this time Callum Morris was not to be denied. Two nil with 49 minutes gone. Both from corners.Prestayn pushed forwards with Mike Parker still trying to raise his despondent troops. A fifth corner of the afternoon arrived but lefback Jack Lewis headed over. On 57 minutes former Borras Albion striker Jordan Davies shot over from outside the box and the game stayed in the balance. Seven minutes later another flag kick for The Seasiders was cleared to Les Davies whose header sent Sion Edwards in on goal but he fired too close to Williams who pulled off a good save. But that save led to the third goal. A long throw from the left was headed on by Dale Lee for Les Davies to rifle home from pretty much the same point as the two previous goals. Three nil on 65 minutes and surely City were safe. By now Scott Williams was flapping like a wet hen and Gibson himself might have considered taking over in goal. The unfortunate Lee was then booked for another foul on Sion Edwards and moments later, on seventy minutes, Anthony Miley replaced Chris Roberts who limped off after a calm display at the heart of the blues defence alongside Leon Clowes. The danger had not passed though and a freekick drifted in which Lee crashed well over before Bangor countered and Damien Allen ran goalwards but shanked the ball wide from twenty yards. On 73 minutes a seventh Prestatyn corner headed over once more by Jack Lewis then a double change by the now very subdued manager Gibson as Lee Beattie and Jon Fisher Cooke replaced Dale Lee and Andy Parkinson. Five minutes later Connor Shackleton came on for Gareth Wilson. But seven minutes from time the game was illuminated by a wonderful strike which even hardened Bangor fans were moved to applaud. A Jack Lewis long throw from the right was headed away by Michael Johnston to Lee Beattie smashed the ball home left footed from outside the box in a style reminscent of Mark Hughes' many years ago. A tremendous goal which begged the question why the big frontman had not started. As normal time ebbed away Jack Lewis lashed over from long range from an eighth and final Prestatyn corner. On 88 minutes Liam Caddick replaced Sion Edwards who acknowledged a deserved ovation from the blues faithful. The fourth official indicated four minutes of added time which Bangor safely negotiated. Young Shaun Cavanagh trotted on for goalscorer Chris Jones and an eleventh corner came and went before Lee Evans blew for time. Bangor players and supporters celebrated the great escape, tax bills permitting, as a wave or relief swept around the ground. Revenge is a dish best served cold? Well there was a frosty look about the normally garrulous Gibson as he contemplated trips to Penycae and Llanidloes. Good luck. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-3 |
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| 12 April 2015 |
Bangor City 1 v 2 Connahs Quay |
Welsh Premier |
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Some plain daft defending cost Bangor the points against the Deeside
visitors who success owed much to their three high profile loanees -
and being handed two goals. Foremost amongst the loanee trio was Steve Evans whose aerial command at the back was crucial as City won an astonishing fourteen corners but failed to score from any of them. On a damp windy afternoon Bangor kicked off towards the Antelope End but it was Connahs Quay through Cortez Belle who forced the first chance but Leon Clowes moved smartly to block his shot on the edge of the box. Bangor responded as Les Davies found strike partner Lee Healey but his clean low strike was blocked by the feet of Terry McCormick who was his usual impressive self in the Nomads goal. Connahs Quay forced the first corner of the game which Fraughan crossed but Steve Evans skewed his header wide. Jack Riley then chopped down Ryan Edwards to give Bangor a freekick - no card shown - which Sion Edwards crashed high over the bar. The game continued in end to end fashion as Jamie Crowther and then Lee Healey went close before Terry McCormick caught a Bangor freekick on twenty minutes. For Bangor Damien Allen caught the eye with his deft passing and prompting whilst stumpy left footer Ryan Fraughan showed his technique and clever use of space. With City playing well enough, possibly edging things a daft penalty gave Connahs Quay a golden opportunity. A cross from the defensive left seemed bound for the head of Cortez Belle before Anthony Miley pushed it away with his arm. Blatant penalty. Ryan Fraughan stepped up to drive the ball into the bottom left hand corner as he looked despite the best effort of Connor Roberts. The only comfort for Bangor was that Miley did not see red for his intervention. The Nomads had the wind in their sails now and might have doubled their lead as Steve Evans headed just over from a second corner of the afternoon. Ten minutes from the break the Wrexham based stopper pulled off a well timed last ditch challenge to deny Damien Allen on the penalty spot. Two corners followed for Bangor but without troubling the visiting goalkeeper. Bangor pressed forward again and Les Davies found Callum Morris on the edge of the box but McCormick saved his low curler at full stretch. But the visitors responded with three close calls of their own, the first and third from Ryan Fraughan sandwiched around a comedic miskick from Sean Miller who looked pacey and bright in patches for The Deesiders. City survived those alarms and closed the half with a couple of late corners which towering loanees Cortez Belle and Steve Evans dealt with and when Leon Clowes blasted high and wide Referee Griffiths had seen enough and blew for half time. An evenly matched first half other than by the scoreline with plenty to talk about and all still to play for after the break. |
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| HALF TIME 0-1 |
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| No changes at the interval. Bangor pressed and won a sixth corner of the afternoon - which came to nothing - before midfielder Danny Harrison was shown the yellow card for a foul on Les Davies as he rumbled infield from the right. Big Les rose to the challenge with a couple more shots which also earned corners but again the visiting defence, marshalled by those tall loanees, stood firm. Cortez Belle went close but Leon Clowes blocked bravely but on 62 minutes it was 2-0 for the visitors. Clowes lost possession in his own half, the ball was brought forward by Ryan Fraughan whose low pass across the box invited a scuffed but well placed finish from Sean Miller. Within moments of the kick off Alan Bull was shown the yellow card for a kick on Ryan Edwards. On 67 minutes two more Bangor corners - the second of which was the tenth of the afternoon- but again no real threat. Moments later Chris Jones and Liam Caddick replaced Lee Healey and Ryan Edwards respectively. Both had worked hard with little reward. Within five minutes Sion Edwards forced another corner which again yielded no real threat, Ryan Fraughan was yellow carded and promptly replaced with his job done and perhaps his influence waning. On in his place came former blue Rob Jones. Bangor pushed forward again through Sion Edwards whose cross found Damien Allen but he shot wide. With twelve minutes left City halved the deficit. Damien Allen crossed from the right for Liam Caddick to head forwards and Chris Jones stooped to nod home from close range with the visitors defence appealing for offside. None given and game on. Moments later Bangor might have been awarded a penalty as Chris Jones shot goalwards and saw Riley handle ball but nothing doing. In fairness he had turned away and his arms were down. Three minutes from time young Phil Warrington came on for Michael Johnston and Marcus Giglio replaced Alan Bull who left the field with a V sign salute to the mainstand which seemed unnecessary. Again Bangor pushed forwards and as Chris Jones danced through the ball ran to Liam Caddick whose quick fire shot seemed goalbound before Terry McCormick pulled off an acrobatic stop. A twelth corner followed from the right, crossed deep and beyond the back post for Chris Jones to swivel and shoot goalwards but again McCormick saved. Bangor spirts rose as the fourth official showed five added minutes remained. Sion Edwards saw his shot deflected and pushed behind once again by McCormick or a fourteenth and final corner for Bangor which was cleared. There was still time for Jamie Crowther to foul Les Davies close to the home goal - professional foul - but this did not stop the big left footer from charging upfield and launching one last ditch effort, a low shot from 25 yards which span just wide of the righthand post. Game over, courtesy another instalment of time wasting from the bald glovesman, and the visitors bench celebrated their win despite the absence of much by way of black and white support amongst the sparse TV affected crowd. A setback for Bangor, but with two games to go its on to Prestatyn next week with a two point lead over Cefn Druids still intact. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 March 2015 |
Cefn Druids 0 v 2 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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Bangor
won this relegation scrap two nil and leapfrogged The Ancients out of the relegation zone wit h two matches to go.And as often before controvesy was never far away as Referee Huw Jones red carded lumbering centreback Chris Rimmer for two yellow card offences. The carpark was full and a lengthy queue filed back from the solitary turnstyle at ten past two as City fans from far and wide converged on The Rock. Gradually a second gate opened and the game kicked off in bright sunshine with most supporters inside and big Les Davies restored to the City front line as they played against the wind which gusted towards the carpark end. Cefn went close first on eight minutes when Neil Harvey headed over from a freekick. Bangor responded after Joe Culshaw fouled Sion Edwards who took the resulting freekick from the left but Lee Healey's attempt at turning the ball home saw it slide wide. Cefn won a couple of corners but from the second Bangor broke upfield via Lee Healey whose shot was saved by Louis Gray. When Cefn did threaten Anthony Miley and Leon Clowes stood firm in central defence, flanked by no nonesense fullbacks Michael Johnston and Sam Hart. On 27 minutes a significant booking for Chris Rimmer as he stopped Sion Edwards unfairly. The left winger crashed the freekick into the wall and as Cefn broke upfield Leon Clowes defended bravely on the right. Ryan Edwards then fired over from the edge of the box before former blue Jack Laird sent a low shot angling into the bottom corner but Connor Roberts saved well. On 34 minutes City had the lead. Joe Culshaw fouled Damien Allen and as Callum Morris lifted the freekick into the box Leon Clowes reacted first to head home despite the presence of the Druids' three centrebacks. What a time to score his first goal for the club! And fitting too that the former Wrexham centreback to should mark a fine individual perfromance with a goal against his former Racecourse team mate. A minute later, at the carpark end, a Cefn freekick which the short tempered Donegan spotted but fired over. Leon Clowes again did well to deny the impressive Neil Harvey. Then Bangor went upfield through Damien Allen who ran into the box from the left but fired high and wide. The final action of the first half was a yellow card for Donegan for a poor challenge on Lee Healey as he broke down the left. So a single goal advantage for Bangor who had seen more of the ball playing into the wind. |
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| HALF TIME 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the interval for either side. But with the wind at their backs could Bangor forge more chances and secure the all important win? The first chance of the second period saw Lee Healey set up Callum Morris but he fired wide. Cefn won a largely wasted a fourth corner of the afternoon before, just on the hour mark, a handball from Chris Rimmer saw his receive a second yellow c  ard
- and resulting red - from Mr Jones and a lonely walk for first use of
the showers. Harsh in some ways but when the home side players and
bench had set out to rile the referee they could hardly blame him for
enforcing the rules.Could Bangor capitalise on their misfortune? On 65 minutes Jamie Matthews replaced former blue Jack Laird as Cenf re-organised. Former Buckley midfielder Derek Taylor swept the ball out from left to right for Tom Donegan and he forced a good low save from Connor Roberts at the foot of his post. Sion Edwards and Les Davies - who went close twice in quick succession - might have increased the lead but didnt. Cefn were not about to give up with Mark McGregor barking out instructions from the back and Phil Marsh still a threat upfield. Bruno Fernandez was next into the referee's notebook as he tripped Damien Allen to check his progress down the right. B Persistent whining finally paid off for Cefn in some fashion or other as Referee Jones booked Les Davies and Lee Healey inside two minutes as the match ran into the final fifteen minutes. On 75 minutes Chris Jones came on for Ryan Edwards on the righthand side of midfield. Lee Healey and Sion Edwards combined to set up Les Davies on the left but he fired across goal. Then a reminder that one nil is a slender advantage as City were at full stretch to clear a Cefn corner. But clear it they did and from the counter Joe Culshaw did well to stop Sion Edwards on the left as Lee Healey ran free down the middle. Substitute Chris Jones pulled the ball back for Callum Morris but he could not finish and moments later, as the game slid into the final five minutes of the ninety, Lee Healey sliced wide. Bangor made a final change as Liam Caddick replaced Sion Edwards and Cefn sent on Mark Beech for Jon Breeze who had worked tirelessly in the home midfield. The fourth official indicated three added minutes as Les Davies gathered the ball on the left and fired home low across Gray and into the corner of the net for a decisive second of the afternoon. The relief was clear for all to see and hear and the defiance of the ten men was finally broken. As added time ran out Cefn won a freekick on the edge of the box but to no avail and as Referee Jones blew for time Bangor celebrated a vital win. Three points that lift City out of the bottom two with three games left to play. |
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| FINAL SCORE 0-2 |
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| 21 March 2015 |
Bangor City 1 v 0 Carmarthen Town |
Welsh Premier |
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| Bangor
edged a hard fought battle against Carmarthen on a sunny crisp
afternoon at Nantporth despite playing into the City end in the first
half. With Dec Walker and Les Davies ruled out there was a youthful look to the home bench whilst Michael Johnston and Sam Hart filled the fullback positions and Liam Caddick continued upfront. Carmartthen unleashed the formidable Cortez Belle into an attacking berth and it was the former Chester frontman whose presence disrupted the blues defence in the opening stages. Swept forward by an unlikely easterly wind into the Bridge End the visitors boomed the ball up to Belle at every opportunity forcing four early corners and bringing a great save out of Connor Roberts as Belle struck powerfully on goal from a rightwing cross. Moments later he used his height to reach the ball but header over Roberts' crossbar. It took fifteen minutes for a sluggish Bangor to get an effort on target as Sion Edwards' rasping drive was gathered by former blue Lee Idzi. The lively Kyle Bassett created another opening for Belle but he fired well wide. On twenty five minutes the best move of the game from Bangor to that point saw Lee Healey sprint down the left and cross for Liam Caddick whose header veered wide to Callum Morris but his shot was saved by Idzi. Within a minute Healey found himself in space on the left once again. This time he cut inside onto his right foot but sliced across goal. On the half hour mark Michael Johnston crossed from the right and the ball went beh  ind
for a first Bangor corner which was cleared. Play was halted then as
Paul Fowler trudged off to be replaced by Sacha Walters in the
Carmarthen midfield.City were now edging a largely uneventful first half. A second corner came and went before the dangerous Lee Healey ran to the right, got the better of Knott, but hit his shot well over the bar from a tight angle. On the stroke of half time a fifth and final corner of the first half for The Old Gold but Connor Roberts was in commanding form despite the presence of Belle and the danger passed. So a blank interval scoreline with City to have the wind at their backs in the second period. Spirits dampened by news that fellow strugglers Cefn Druids held a two nil interval lead over Connahs Quay. At half time one of the Bangor player's dads reassured me Bangor would win. Here's hoping... |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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No changes at the interval but City now had the wind as they attacked the Bridge or Antelope End. The first moment of entreprise in the first period saw Leon Clowes charge through from central defence but shoot wide from the edge of the box. Then Sion Edwards worked his way down the left but he too failed to hit the target. Carmarthen though game closest when Kyle Bassett chipped over the blues defence and chased through to shoot on goal but Connor Roberts raced out to smother the ball at his feet. 
By now Leon Clowes had won his personal duel with Cortez Belle as the
leviathan ran out of steam and Callum Morris and Ryan Edwards had the
edge in central midfield. Lee Healey was unsettling the Town defence
with his movement and eye for an opening.Bangor went close as Chris Roberts ran from half way to shoot on target but Lee Idzi saved well and the resulting corner came to nothing. On the hour mark another change for Carmarthen as Ceri Morgan came on for Chris Ham. Moments later and with nothing much to report Chris Jones came on for Liam Caddick. On 65 minutes the all important goal arrived. Chris Jones made inroads on the left, Damien Allen quickly fed Sion Edwards who crossed to Callum Morris who drove home low with the goal at his mercy. This was a small Nantporth crowd but they made enough noise as relief swept around the ground.  Town substitute Ceri Morgan shot low for the corner but Connor Roberts saved. The Maltese official had to book Cortez Belle and he finally did so on 73 minutes for either the handball or the foul which came in quick succession. The big number four can rightly claim to have been booked by two overseas officials at Nantporth this season after being cautioned by Ivar Kristjansson in the first phase fixture in October. Bangor pushed forward and won but soon wasted a fourth corner before Lewis Harling was yellow carded for a foul on Damien Allen. Ten minutes from time Lee Healey crossed but Ryan Edwards headed off target as City sought a conclusive second goal. It nearly came moments later as Lee Idzi dwelt on a backpass which Healey and Chris Jones chased down but the linesman rightly flagged for offside before the shaven headed striker netted. A bit of play acting from Lee Idzi got Sion Edwards booked for a genuine challenge before, with five minutes left, Danny Thomas came on for Bassett who had caused a few problems for the visitors. Upon the restart Sion Edwards saw his shot deflected for a corner which fell to Chris Jones but Idzi saved his shot. Two minutes from time Lee Healey ran in behind - the visitors shouting for offside - but crashed his low shot wide. In the final minute Anthony Miley replaced a weary Ryan Edwards and then in the three minutes of added time young Sam Faulkner (above) came on to make his Welsh Premier debut as a replacement for left winger Sion Edwards. The former Menai Bridge youngster nearly scored with his first touch but Lee Idzi back peddled to catch his goalbound chip in the nick of time. And that was about it. Bangor deserved winnners albeit by a slender margin and with news that next week's opponents Cefn won two nil, three important points gained ahead of the trip to The Rock next weekend. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 March 2015 |
Rhyl 1 v 1 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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The big match in North Wales saw hundreds of Bangor fans descend on
Belle Vue for another instalment of the do or die relegation battle.
And what they saw was an evenly contested match on a bobbly pitch, two
excellent goalkeepers and a referee who showed a genuine understanding
of the fierce rivalry that underpins these pitched battles. It was a still cool afternoon at Belle Vue with City attacking the turnstyle end and the blue contingent packed into the meccano stand to the left. Rhyl fired the first shot in anger through Mark Cadwallader but blues goalkeeper Connor Roberts was up to the task. Inside ten minutes Bangor went close as Sion Edwards fired low from thirty yards and the normally calm and collected Ramsay gathered at the second attempt. On thirteen minutes Rhyl won a corner but five minutes later Bangor made the breakthrough. Damien Allen found Sam Hart whose fierce twenty five yard piledriver crashed into the back of the net with Alex Ramsay well beaten. Bangor now took the upper hand with a series of corners at the old social club end, three in in quick succession and one a few moments later. That final one of the series - the fifth of the afternoon on 25 minutes - saw Dec Walker head cleanly on goal but Ramsay pushed the ball up onto the crossbar and Astles hacked clear. The enormous Astles, awkward and lumbering, nevertheless clobbered and clattered left footed clearances to good effect when danger threatened. Within a minute of this great save the home side drew level as Liam Dawson, sporting a bizarre beard, crossed for Danny Gossett to shoot low past Roberts from fifteen yards. Bethel lad Gossett had been on trial with City pre season after his release by Oldham Athletic. This turned the tide for a while as Rhyl pressed with Cadwallader impressing and Ashley Ruane causing problems for the blues defence. But with thirteen minutes left Bangor responded as Lee Healey saw his shot saved by Ramsay. Rhyl countered swiftly with Ashey Ruane through on goal but Connor Roberts was in defiant mood and smothered his close shot. Leon Clowes and Chris Roberts in central defence, Callum Morris in midfield and Lee Healey upfront caught the eye for Bangor in the opening half as well as the St Martins glovesman Connor Roberts. Ten minutes from time a seventh Bangor corner was cleared and passed to Sion Edwards whose long range effort flashed over the crossbar from the left wing. Moments later Lee Healey, who was working hard against the big Rhyl rearguard of Halewood and Astles, set up Sam Hart but his 25 yarder was too high. Healey then crossed low but Ryan Edwards had his shot blocked but Rhyl were ever dangerous on the break and Dec Walker pulled off a superb last ditch tackle on Carl "Legga" Lamb after his mistake had gifted the former blue possession. In the closing minutes Rhyl pressed once more with Connor Roberts again denying the impressive Ruane. A couple of corners kicks for the home side caused one or two anxious moments but the whistle blew at half time with the scores level at one all. No mention of Referee Lee Evans? Thats a good sign, he was in control but not in the limelight, well done. |
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| HALF TIME 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the interval for either side. City now attacking the far end, the gardens end. A well flighted through ball found Sion Edwards behind the Rhyl defence but he just failed to gather and Ramsay collected. Sion Edwards and Lee Healey combined to release Liam Caddick but he fired straight at Ramsay who rushed out to narrow the angle. Then a  worrying
period for Bangor as Danny Gossett played in Ashley Ruane whose
progress was brought to an abrupt end by Dec Walker at great expense.
The marauding rightback lay prone on the turf and after a lengthy delay
a stretcher was needed to carry him off. On 58 minutes Michael Johnston
took his place at right back.Dawson then fired wide from twenty yards before on 64 minutes Lee Healey sped down the left but fired over the bar and behind from a tight angle. Carl Lamb looked like he had tricked his way through the blues defence but Chris Roberts, reminscent of Phil Lunn in that centreback role, nipped in to halt his progress. His intervention led to a third Rhyl corner which Cadwallader, reportedly due to be deported to Australia, headed wide. Bangor fans were now agonising the value of the single point, score updates from Carmarthen suggested Cefn were also level at one all, and the game became more of a stop start affair. On 74 minutes Chris Jones replaced Liam Caddick and moments later another "off down under" Stefan Halewood was shown the yellow card for a foul on Sion Edwards. Rhyl then sent on Tom Rowlands for the bearded Dawson. After a great deal of deliberation an attacking long throw from the left lopped towards Cadwallader who header over. A clash on the sidelines brought yellow cards for Damien Allen and David Thompson on 82 minutes. Two minutes later an eighth Bangor corner was half cleared and crossed back in for Callum Morris but his header went just over. Morris then gathered the ball on the left and cut inside but sent his right footer high and wide. In the closing stages, which included five added minutes after the injury to Dec Walker, Rhyl won their fourth and Bangor their ninth and tenth corners but to little real effect. In the final moments Connor Roberts denied Mark Cadwallader with a fine save and the leviathan Astles headed well over in what turned out to be the final incident of the match. There was a yellow card for Danny Gossett and at the final whistle news came through that Cefn had lost 3-1 at Carmarthen which made the point one gained more than two lost. Good entertainment for the crowd of just under 700 with noisy support on both sides and a match played in good spirit - and well refereed by Mr Evans. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-1 |
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| 7 March 2015 |
Bangor City 1 v 2 Newtown |
The Welsh Cup |
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 Bangor bowed of out of the Welsh Cup in a game played in blustery windy conditions. To such a degree that a murmur of dismay swept around the ground as the visitors won the toss and played against the elements in the first period.This left Bangor to attack the Bangor End and make what use they could of the wind in the opening forty five minutes. One late goal from Callum Morris was simply not enough of a cushion. The team line up saw Damien Allen again ruled out so Michael Johnston played in central midfield, Chris Roberts alongside Leon Clowes and the ever versatile Sam Hart at left back. And it was Bangor who dominated the early exchanges three corners in the opening six minutes with Callum Morris and then Sion Edwards both going close. Newtown cleared their lines but City pushed them back as Les Davies saw his goalbound effort held by Dave Jones whose timewasting tactics, unpunished by referee Brian James, angered those behind the goal. On thirteen minutes Sion Edwards lashed a freekick off target from the right and then crossed for Ryan Edwards who instinctive first time effort flew just over from eight yards. The wind was strong and gusting, if not wholly end to end, roughly at a diagonal from the corner flag by the tea hut across the pitch towards Bangor end. I say this because it was the dominant factor on the pitch. 
On twenty minutes the yellow shirted Robins found their feet and Luke
Boundford header over from a corner from the left. Moments later a
fourth Bangor corner was overhit as City struggled to harness the
elements to their advantage.Against the odds Newtown might - probably should - have gone ahead. An amazing goalline scramble saw goalkeeper Roberts and Sam Hart deny former Rhyl striker Jason Oswell before the ball was hacked out of the six yard box to be greeted by a celebratory roar from the home fans. Two more Bangor corners followed which again yielded nothing of consequence. Credit must go to the bearded Sutton who marshalled Les Davies well and his stand in companion Tom Goodwin whose early nerves soon disappeared as he defended stoutly when called upon. Five minutes before the break former Manchester United reserve winger Sean Evans lashed well over from outside the box. Riddled by injury since his teens the left footer is skilful but too prone to dive, fiegn and moan. Where is George McGowan when you need him. Two minutes before the whistle Evans got himself booked for a challenge on the edge of the Bangor box and might have seen red given his attitude towards Mr James who at one point seemed to be tiring of the back chat. With a goalless period seeming inevitable Callum Morris collected the ball on the left, cut inside and sent a low curling shot beyond Jones into the bottom right hand corner of the net. A superb strike which raised the spirits of the home crowd as tea and burgers beckoned. Moments after the restart the whistle went. Referee James noted goalkeeper Jones' repeated timewasting but added just one minute. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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No changes at the interval other than the change of ends. The questions were would the single goal lead be enough,or would Newtown make better use the wind. The answers were soon upon us. Four minutes after the restart a cross from the right reached midfielder Matty Owen whose low strike beat the diving Roberts into the bottom corner. A dozen or so visiting fans celebrated happily as the majority of the ground stood silent. For a period of ten or fifteen minutes it became the Connor Roberts show as the former Everton trainee showed why he had caught the eye of the Goodison giants and Welsh national managers. First Matty Owen fired for a second but Roberts saved at full stretch. An injury to Sean Evans provided a brief respite. Could Bangor clear their heads? No was the short answer. Goalscorer Owen, once of Wrexham and then Cefn Druids, sliced his shot from eight yards and wrongfooted Roberts who did well to recover his balance and grab the goalbound shot. 
Matty Cook alongside Matty Owen now had a grip on proceedings with Stef
Edwards finding too much space on the left for home comfort.Another Newtown corner, a good effort from Luke Boundford again denied by Roberts with perhaps the pick of the saves so far. But he could do nothing when a third corner for the visitors fromMatty Owen on the right span in deep at the back post and needed last ditch goalline clearance which unluckily struck Tom Goodwin and cannoned into the net for a farcical goal timed at 67 minutes. Was goalkeeper Roberts fouled as the ball came in? Bangor rallied a little now, realising that they had to do something. Newtown opted for the goalkeepers big boot and kicked a few dead. The balance shifted but not decisively enough. Liam Caddick found space in front of goal but crashed his left footer wide. With twenty minutes left on the clock Chris Jones replace midfield anchorman Michael Johnston as City sought more attacking options. A seventh Bangor corner - but the first of the second half - came and went. Bangor tried to push forward, some crosses came in with Sion Edwards firing in low from the left, but either Jones gathered or no one anticipated. Either way the danger quickly passed and the ball was booted long and high upfield for Connor Roberts to try and gather and return. By now Leon Clowes had been pushed upfront as an emergency striker. Five minutes from time Gavin Cadwallader replaced right winger Hearsey and Newtown won a fourth corner which seemed to strike the post. In three minutes of added time another cross from the left found Chris Jones but before he could get a shot away Stef Edwards rushed in to clear and that was about that. A final change for Newtown as Sean Evans limped off to be replaced by another former Shrewsbury Town youngster Gareth Partridge. Moments later Referee James blew for time. A deserved win for the visitors as Bangor had failed to capitalise with the wind at their backs and struggled to pass the ball against it. A sad note in some ways at the final whistle as the dozen or so Newtown fans celebrated their applause drowned out by that from their players bench. It would be interesting to know what watching FAW President Trefor Lloyd Hughes thought of the paucity of visiting support. A once popular and proud NPL club could only find a dozen supporters to travel ninety miles to a Welsh Cup Quarter Final. Regardless, good luck to Newtown in the semi final. For Bangor time to concentrate on the league... |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 February 2015 |
Bangor City 4 v 0 Prestatyn Town |
Welsh Premier |
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| What a big win for Bangor on a cold windy night at Nantporth. After a frustrating first half when visting goalkeeper Scott Williams stood strong City overpowered fellow strugglers Prestatyn.. With Damien Allen absent ill manager Nev Powell drafted in Chris Roberts at centrehalf alongside Leon Clowes and pushed captain Michael Johnston forward into a central midfield role. And oe a chilly night on the banks of the Menai Straits this nearly paid off straight away as Dec Walker found Les Davies who slid the ball wide of visiting goalkeeper Scott Williams but James Stead rushed back to clear the danger. On the quarter hour mark a yellow card for Michael Johnston. With a strong wind at their backs Prestatyn must have hoped to build up a first half lead. on the quarter hour mark they wasted a chance to do so as James Stead fired high over the bar when well placed. Despite playing into the wind Bangor began to exert some control as Sion Edwards saw his long range freekick palmed away by goalkeeper Williams. Moments later another fierce strike from Sion Edwards pushed onto the crossbar by Williams with inrushing midfielder Ryan Edwards sending his follow up header at the keeper. Then a high cross was met by the head of Leon Clowes but his effort flew wide. The Bangor midfield, led by the powerful Callum Morris and the hard running Lee Healey upfront had the visitors on the back foot. On the halfhour mark Sion Edwards again fired cleanly but once more Williams was up to the task. Prestatyn were also making chances of their own with the lanky Michael Parker header and then left footer Jack Lewis seeing his goalbound effort blocked. Former Meliden striker Lee Beattie fired wide and when the visitors won a free kick James Stead again failed to hit the target. In one final opportunity as Les Davies shot and the hard working Sam Hart crashed the rebound against the post and away to safety with Williams for once unable to respond. So a blank first half for both but with the wind now at Bangor's backs every reason to feel positive as the teams disappeared for a half time cuppa. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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| At the interval Prestatyn sent on Liam Walsh for Lee Beattie and of course the wind now favoured Bangor. And although if anything the wind had strengthened it was the visitors who nearly stole a lead though and it took a tremendous save from Connor Roberts to deny former Kimnel Bay youngster Alex Jones after a telling pass from Michael Parker. City cleared their heads  and pushed forward with first Lee
Healey and then Sion Edwards having shots blocked as Dave Hayes and co again
stood firm although left footer Jack Lewis picked up a yellow card as
the blues built up a head of steam.But on 65 minutes the game swung decisively Bangor's way. Les Davies shot from well outside of the box and Lee Healey reacted first to the loose ball as Scott Wiliams could only palm the initial effort into the danger zone. One nil and immense relief all round Nantporth. If anyone has helped energise Bangor and spearhead the fightback since Christmas it is the shaven header former Druid. Three minutes later one nil became two. A Callum Morris corner ended up in the Prestatyn net with Dave Hayes clearly getting a touch. Arguments surround whose goal it might be - but none around the importance of a two nil lead in what was variously billed as a "must win" and "six pointer". Next on 71 minutes Bangor sent on Chris Jones for a weary Ryan Edwards. And on 72 minutes it was three nil and just about all over. Sion Edwards sending an inswinging corner over everyone and straight into the back of the net, no assistance needed! Three goals in a seven minute spell had transformed Bangor's fortunes and in reality all but condemned Prestatyn to relegation despite the best efforts of their young charges. Shortly after though a setback as Les Davies was harshly yellow carded by Mr Stewart and will now miss two of the remaining fixtures. City right back Dec Walker fired over as the blues sought a fourth goal to boost their goal difference. Bangor had a comfortable cushion with the winds at their backs and time running out. This became all the more emphatic on 88 minutes when the visibly unsettled Scott Williams failed to hold a low twenty five yarder from Liam Caddick and three nil became four. And that was about it as City ran out clear winners and - with Rhyl winning at Cefn Druids - the bottom of the table escape hatch looks a lot more open than it had a month ago. (photo with thanks to Einion Williams) Both in terms of points and goal difference. Its all to play for still. |
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| FINAL SCORE 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 February 2015 |
Connahs Quay 1 v 1 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| Bangor finally
scored against Connahs Quay and gained a point on a dreadful sodden
surface that had players slipping and sliding from start to finish. Having said that it was the same for both teams and match referee Kevin Parry showed commonsense in the application of the laws. But City suffered a setback just before kick off as Leon Clowes, handicapped by a chest infection, was replaced by Chris Roberts minutes before kick off. As ever the dependable Roberts gave a solid display in the heart of the blues defence. Attacking the Dee End City made the brighter start as Sion Edwards crossed from the left and Lee Healey shot on goal but McCormick gathered comfortably. City won a corner which was half cleared to left winger Edwards but his shot was held by McCormick once more. On twenty minutes a foul on Les Davies gave Bangor a freekick which Callum Morris sent arching towards the top right corner but again the Nomads glovesman held confidently. In truth the shot lacked real pace and menace. The blues midfield with Callum Morris strong in the tackle, Ryan Edwards busy and tireless and Damien Allen seeming to float across the newly sown potatoes, had the upper hand. The pitch was slowly worsening but not to endanger the match being completed. Bangor continued to make the running anda low cross from the right saw Lee Healey slide into the six yard box but McCormick clutched anxiously at the slippery ball. A first shot in anger for the home side as Sean Miller, who struggled on the heavy pitch, fired over from outside the box. Ryan Edwards went close and just after the half hour Callum Morris ran through midfield but his low shot was again held by McCormick. And so inevitably Connahs Quay took the lead. Having scarcely threatened they were awarded a soft freekick on the right which Ryan Fraughan moved forwards ten yards before swinging into the box. Les Davies headed clear but form  er blue Rob Jones lifted a superb shot over the blues defence and goalkeeper Connor Roberts and into the roof of the net.The final action of the first half - just into added time - was a freekick to Bangor which Sam Hart fired goalwards but yet again McCormick saved and the flag happy being on the far side indicated an offside and the moment passed. That said there had been a lengthy delay as George Horan received treatment in heavy rain for an injury suffered as the freekick was conceded. So an underserved lead for Connahs Quay, harsh in the extreme on Bangor, but still every reason to hope for better to come after the half time break. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One change at the
interval as George Horan limped off to be replaced by Marcus Giglio. Bangor now attac  king the open
end into a low sun and a now clear sky but it was Danny Harrison who
have City an early scare with a low shot which Connor Roberts saved at
his post. By now the pitch was tricky and boggy in the middle yet
surpringly green on the wings.A horrible mistake by the half time substitute Marcus Giglio let in Ryan Edwards who fed Lee Healey who quickly released Sion Edwards but again McCormick saved well. The ball ran out to the left and was returned to the six yard box but Les Davies header was also saved. Bangor were on top and in search of an equaliser as Referee Parry booked Rob Jones for a poor midfield challenge. But a break down the left won the home side a corner which Steve Evans headed just over from six yards. The hour mark had just passed when Bangor drew level with a superb long range strike. Leftback Sam Hart gathered the ball on the left close to the dugout and unleashed a fantastic dipping volley which even McCormick could not keep out. The celebrations were worthy of the strike which was a contender for goal of the season. Then 18 year old Liverpudlian Kieran Gaul replaced TNS loanee Ryan Fraughan. Bangor kept pushing for the winner with Les Davies releasing Sion Edwards with a booming left footer which beat the home defence. Sion Edwards smashed a rising missile against the underside of the crossbar which beat McCormick all ends up but somehow ended up going out for a corner! Except TV replays showed a clear handball by a Nomads defender which diverted the ball onto the bar! Red card and penalty due but nothing given. City freshened things up on 73 minutes as Liam Caddick replaced the exhausted Lee Healey. Moments later former blue Alan Bull came on for former Rhyl striker Dave Forbes. A yellow card next for Kieran Gaul who chopped down Callum Morris who caught the eye in midfield. With seven minutes left Chris Jones came on for Damien Allen who had worked hard in the mudbath. Connahs Quay were dangerous on the break with young Sean Miller rushing through and Connor Roberts saving at his feet as danger threatened. A yellow card for Sion Edwards (not sure why) and then a clear opening that could have brought the win. Chris Jones on the right found Liam Caddick whose powerful strike was saved yet again by Terry McCormick. Three added minutes were shown by the fourth official and the home side might have stolen the points as Rob Jones barged through but again Connor Roberts dived at his feet and smothered the danger. So a point apiece on the slithery surface which had served up an exciting game and one which only grass, mud and rain could do. And 420 watching on a Saturday afternoon, local kids singing and beating a drum. Good news allround. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-1 |
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| 13 February 2015 |
Bangor City 5 v 3 Cefn Druids |
Welsh Premier |
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| Neville
Powell's side completed back-to-back wins for the first time this term and are
now unbeaten in four. Hardly world-beating statistics perhaps, but nonetheless it represents progress and more importantly much-needed hope for the loyal Bangor fans left bemused by their team's alarming dip in form over the past six months. The victory edged them to within five points of safety in the bottom two, still badly in need of several more wins to concoct a escape act, but at least on the right track. Yet for the first 40 minutes at Nantporth on Friday, City left their supporters with more of the type of frustration which has clouded this campaign. Trailing 2-0 and looking destined for defeat, the hosts suddenly scored two within a minute to go in level at half time, and then never looked back. Cefn took a 15th minute lead when a bad error from Michael Johnston left Phil Marsh in on goal and the former Manchester United prospect drilled a low shot past the diving Connor Roberts. Bangor huffed and puffed, but struggled to break down the away defence, while John Keegan's side looked slicker and more threatening on the counter. In the 28th minute the visiting score was doubled when no-one tracked the run of Derek Taylor, who showed smart skill to trick his way into the box and slot low under Roberts. Finally, Bangor began to threaten. Former Druid Lee Healey twice tested Cefn keeper Louis Gray before Declan Walker blasted over from close range after a Callum Morris free kick was deflected into his path. The hosts opened their account in the 42nd minute after a Druids attack broke down. A swift counter saw Damien Allen feed Sion Edwards, who burst forward and hit a 20-yard cracker on the run past Gray. Urged on by the vociferous home support, City were level within 60 seconds when Healey's effort was saved by Gray, but Ryan Edwards lashed in the loose ball from the edge of the penalty area. |
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| HALF TIME 2-2 |
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| No changes at the interval for either side. It was a well-poised game at the start of the second half, but the next 45 minutes saw a fired-up Bangor totally dominate as Druids wilted like a rose in the desert. Midfielder Callum Morris was inches away from making it 3-2 before Bangor took the lead on the hour with a wonderful goal. Play switched from the left to the middle with some neat passing before Ryan Edwards and Les Davies combined to find Sion Edwards, whose left-foot screamer proved too powerful for Gray to keep out. Sion Edwards lashed across the face of goal, Dec Walker volleyed wide from a corner - it was all Bangor now. It was no surprise when in the 76th minute Healey broke into the box from the right and fed Ryan Edwards, who was urged to shoot with his right foot, but worked the ball onto his left and scored with a lovely finish. The powerful Morris had a magnificent curling effort tipped over by Louis Gray before City added a fifth in injury time. Fullback Sam Hart, who was very impressive down the left, sent a ball into the box which evaded everyone and crept inside the right-hand post. The home fans were now in joyous mood, so much so they even cheered when former Buckley schemer Derek Taylor pulled back a goal of little consequence for Druids in the fourth of the five added minutes. Make no mistake this was a big result for Bangor, not just in terms of the five goals or three points, but the sense of optimism which has begun to grow within the club. The great escape is alive! |
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| FINAL SCORE 5-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 February 2015 |
Bangor City 3 v 0 Conwy Borough |
The Welsh Cup |
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Bangor eased through to the Quarter Finals of the Welsh Cup after overcoming an uneasy start against visitors Conwy Borough. To set the scene this was a still, cloudy and chilly afternoon at Nantporth with the pitch a touch soft and the visitors bolstered by a dozen or so noisy youngsters set on distracting Connor Roberts in the Bangor goal. Good luck with that. 
Certainly Conwy started the brighter with Aeron Rey dragging across
goal from the right. Then a couple of corners swung in by Phil Doran
which tested the blues defence with the towering Teddy Whelan an
evident threat and Rey lifting well over from ten yards.Attacking the Antelope End Bangor threatened but Gareth Sudlow relieved the danger with a laughable dive to gain a freekick inside his own penalty area. Conwy threatened again as Aeron Rey turned on the edge of the blues box only to send his right footed curler just wide of the far post. And then, on the quarter hour mark, the balance shifted in Bangor's favour. First Sion Edwards had shot blocked, chased and the rebound to the left and crossed for Liam Caddick but he headed wide of the target. Then the former Burscough marksman ran into the box but was halted by some dubious grappling which Mr Pratt deemed not worthy of a penalty. City forced a corner on the right but Sion Edwards put too much inswing on the centre and it landed on the roof of the net. By now the pattern was settled with the three man Borough defence marshalled by young Luke Douglas with Teddy Whelan marking Les Davies and the one paced Gareth Sudlow struggling to come to grips with Liam Caddick. But all this did not rule out the risk of counter attacks and that is what Conwy did on 25 minutes when Andy Brown rushed forward on the left but walloped his effort high and wide. On the half hour a telling pass from Leon Clowes to Liam Caddick who transferred the ball quickly to Les Davies whose low drive produced a good save from Louis Mackin. Then a second Bangor corner brought shouts for a handball against a Chris Rowntree, again waved away by Mr Pratt and in fairness no great complaints from the home players. The first piece of real quality involving Les Davies and Liam Caddick next as the big left footer crossed from the right and Caddick dived in but sent his touch just wide at the near post. Then Dec Walker delivered a freekick from the left but Sion Edwards could not quite apply the telling touch. Right wing back Jack Graham fired across goal as the visitors again threatened on the break. With the first sign of a queue at the tea hut the breakthrough goal came, with three minutes left before the interval. Damien Allen dribbled along and then crossed from the left and up popped big Les Davies at the back post to head home firmly beyond the exposed Mackin. This brought a mixture of relief and celebration from all concerned. The perfect time to score perhaps as the half time whistle blew soon after the restart with Bangor holding a slender lead and Conwy knowing they were still in the game albeit with something to do to redress the balance. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 |
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| No changes at the interval with City now attacking the Bangor end. Half time discussion had suggested Conwy might wilt after the break - which they didnt - and that Bangor might play with more confidence - which they did. But all this might have been different had Teddy Whelan hit the target with his header inside the opening three minutes of the second half. A purposeful run down the left by the impressive Sam Hart yielded a chance for Dec Walker but he fired over from twenty yards suggested as much. Hart has lost his aimless anger and now fills the left back role with purpose and assurance.  On 51 minutes it was two nil to Bangor. Midfielder Callum Morris
gathered the ball on the left, stepped inside and unleashed a low
skiddy shot which bounced through Louis Mackin into the bottom
righthand corner. Seven minutes later it was three nil and to a large degree game over. A third Bangor corner was palmed away by Louis Mackin but only as far as the lurking Damien Allen who invited Les Davies to plant the ball home from six yards. Which he did. Bangor were now in full flow as Damien Allen saw his shot blocked and Dec Walker blast the follow up over the bar from twenty yards. On the hour mark Conwy replaced midfield shield Steve Cunnigham with former Barnton striker Leon Williams. This worked in as much as a corner was won but promptly cleared by Les Davies. With twenty minutes left Matty Holt replaced a tired looking Teddy Whelan in the Borough defence. For a huge man Whelan is never dirty or devious and had stuck to his task of marking the Maesgeirchen marauder with honest determination. The game petered out now with Bangor also ringing the changes. On 72 minutes Chris Jones replaced Sion Edwards but five minutes later it sprang back into life as Les Davies just failed to get a touch to Dec Walker's inviting cross. Then Liam Caddick saw his shot blocked by Luke Douglas whose dogged persistence and positional sense had done much to stem the tide when City were at their most persuasive. With seven minutes left two more changes saw Mike Thompson replace Aeron Rey and Chris Roberts come on for Liam Caddick. Conwy pushed for what would probably have been a consolation goal with a couple of later corners before Bangor won a flag kick of their own and Chris Roberts lobbed over from twenty yards. The final act was a long range shot from Luke Douglas which failed to trouble the scorers and after just two minutes of added time it was all over with City taking their place in what looks likely to be an all Welsh Premier Quarter Final line up. |
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| FINAL SCORE 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 January 2015 |
Carmarthen Town 3 v 3 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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 Kick off was delayed by fifteen minutes as the Richmond Park grounstaff dealt with some surface water deposited by a heavy shower moments before the scheduled start.City drafted Leon Clowes back into the starting line up alongside Michael Johnston who had also earned a recall with Anthony Miley droping to the bench. Carmarthen went close when Jeff White headed over in the opening minutes. Bangor took the lead inside four minutes when Sam Hart lofted forward and Cortez Belle misread the bounce for Les Davies to cut inside to fire a low shot beyond Lee Idzi. As Carmarthen tried to respond Leon Clowes and Sam Hart stood firm and repelled the immediate danger. City forced another opening on twelve minutes as Lee Healey chased into the box but Idzi gathered. Storm clouds gathered with the treat of more rain as Bangor continued to enjoy a good spell of possession. But the home side threatened as Michael Johnston picked up a yellow card when conceding a freekick just outside the box. The threat nearly became reality as Craig Hanford freekick beat the wall but hit the post with goalkeeper Roberts beaten. City bounced back through Sion Edwards whose clean strike was saved by Lee Idzi with the ball then scrambled to safety. Heavy rain was now unleashed as Lee Healey saw his shot blocked before Callum Morris blasted over on the slippery Richmond Park surface. Rain had turned to sleet when Sion Edwards won a couple of throws down the left which eventually led to a first Bangor corner of the match delivered by Damien Allen and headed just wide by Dec Walker. Sion Edwards combined with Les Davies to shoot on target but Lee Idzi was up to the challenge. But seconds later a defensive slp by the blues rearguard let in Chris Hartland who netted from close range to level the scores in the 26th minute. City went close moments after that as a Sion Edwards freekick crashed into the side netting with Idzi possibly beaten. Some four minutes from time the pattern of misfortune which has dogged Bangor all season continued as Chris Hartlandshot from the left for his second of the afternoon for The Old Gold. Bangor so nearly drew level when Les Davies' cross from the right struck Craig Hanford at the back post which the ball then struck before rolling along the line to the grateful Idzi. The fourth official indicated one minute of added time which turn yielded little of consequence for either side and the half time score stood at two one to the home side who had fought back from that early Les Davies strike. Still much to play for despite the wet and slippery conditions. |
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| HALF TIME 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the interval which had seen the pitch worsened by a hail shower. The second half got underway with Bangor fans knowing a defeat would deepen their relegation plight. Could the blues respond? Both keeper were busy at the start of the second period with chances at either end being denied. Carmarthen thought Lewis Harling had put them further ahead but the linesman's flag cut short the celebrations. Chris Hartland and Liam Thomas went close and kept Connor Roberts on his toes. On the hour both sides made changes with Luke Prosser coming on for Jeff White and Liam Caddick replacing Damien Allen. Immediately Prosser went close to making it three one but blues keeper Connor Roberts was up to the task. Callum Morris fired on target but Lee Idzi pulled off a smart save. Then Les Davies went close for Bangor with a trademark thirty yarder but his former team mate Lee Idzi pulled off a good save and tipped the ball away. The Bangor midfield was working ovetime with Callum Morris again impressing alongside the mud loving Ryan Edwards. The largely soft and sodden pitch was also causing concern with its ability to produce a surprise bounce when least expected. With 76 minutes gone, and for the second week in succession, midfield powerhouse Callum Morris equalised for City when they needed it most driving home from Sion Edwards' freekick. The home side replaced Ceri Morgan and Lewis Harling with Sacha Walters and Paul Fowler. But the joy - or relief - for Bangor fans was shortlived. Former blues defender Kris Thoms found Chris Hartland who grabbed his hatrick three minutes later to put the West Wales side 3-2 ahead despite a suspicion of handball. On 83 minutes Chris Jones replaced defender Michael Johnston as City opted for all out attack to try and take something from the long journey south. Three minutes later Carmarthen fullback Luke Cummings was shown the yellow card. Into four minutes of added time as Lee Idzi pushes the ball over the crossbar for a Bangor corner. Sion Edwards crossed and as the home side failed to clear the chance was seized upon by Liam Caddick scored his first goal in a Bangor shirt to draw the scores level at three all. And that was how it finished with City picking up another vital away point on their travels, and once more scoring late on to do so. The spirit is back, the fight goes on. |
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| FINAL SCORE 3-3 |
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| 24 January 2015 |
Cefn Druids 2 v 2 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| Bangor
took the lead but had to rely on an injury time equaliser to grab
a share of the spoils as time ran out at The Rock. Both sides showed several changes from the line ups which took the field at Nantporth with The Druids defence virtually unrecognisable in front of teenage goalkeeper Louis Gray. Ahead of them a new look attack led by former Manvchester United youngster Phil Marsh. City kicked off attacking the carpark end with a low sun at their backs on a crisp clear afternoon. Bangor carved the better chances of the first half where the crowd of some 300 boasted more Blues than Ancients. But new signing Phil Marsh charged through in the opening minute and forced Connor Roberts to race out to tackle him. Any mistake here and the big glovesman would have been off. Bangor pressed as powerful Callum Morris broke through the midfield, won a freekick some thirty yards out, but Dec Walker fired wide. 
Sam Hart and then Les Davies went close before the big
centreforward released Lee Healey who scuffed his hot from fifteen
yards. On twenty minutes Les Davies headed down and Gray saved as the
linesman flagged for a follow up offside. TNS loanee Ryan Edwards fired
on target but brave Dec Walker with his heart firmly on his sleeve as ever,
headed out for a corner. This flag kick was cleared away but moments
later a second arrived which the towering Bruno Fernandes headed
goalwards but Connor Roberts saved.Bangor won a freekick and a couple of corners before the breakthrough came. Lee Healey anticipated Les Davies' cross to head beyond Gray and into the net to the delight of the travelling blue horde on twenty five minutes. Bangor won a third corner but Fernandes cleared and six minutes later the home side drew level. New signing and Barbados International Neil Harvey ran into the box and somehow managed the chip goalkeeper Roberts from six yards. A great piece of skill in difficult circumstances given the heavy nature of the pitch. The game was by now quite open and the goal seemed to add conviction to the Druids and sent some anxiety through the Bangor support. Bangor tried to respond through Les Davies who passed to Ryan Edwards who threaded pass released Lee Healey but Gray pulled off a superb one handed save to deny the Ancients leading goalscorer from adding a second agains his former team mates. Cefn responded with headers from Fernandes and a glancing effort from Neil Harvey but neither troubled the scorers. Finally home midfielder Ryan Edwards' deflected shot was saved at point blank range Connor Roberts. A battling display by Bangor with Callum Morris and Ryan Edwards in the thick of the action and Lee Healey enjoying a goal against his former club, and at the scoreline suggests, all to play for still in the second period. |
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| HALF TIME 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One change at the
interval as former Connahs Quay midfielder Craig Jones replaced pacey winger Matthews. This seemed an odd decision by the home side, to replace a winger with a defensive midfielder, but Jones is a reliable "steady eddie" infront of the defence which at times seemed unsure and uncertain. The first action of the half was a yellow card by the inept Mr Hames issued to McGregor for a trip on Lee Healey on half way. Nothing wrong with that decision in fairness and moments later from the freekick Les Davies dragged his shot wide from the left. Cefn won their third corner of the afternoon which by now had become chilly enough as the sun disappeared behind some low cloud. 
Bangor pushed forward again, Callum Morris and Ryan Edwards
again to the fore, but Lee Healey saw his shot blocked on the edge of
the box. Then a mazey run into the box from the left by Damien Allen
but after beating three or four defenders he lost possession and the
danger passed. A trademark Bangor move next as Les Davies found Sion
Edwards on the left and got his head to the inevitable cross but could
not hit the target. Then Damien Allen shot wide from the 25 yards as
City continued to push for the lead.Behind all this a strong tackling performance from Dec Walker on the right and Sam Hart on the left, both determined from start to finish. Hart has improved as the season has gone on despite his versatility making a regular starting position difficult to nail down. Another Lee Healey shot was blocked before the aged McGregor launched himself into a pantomime dive which only the officials bought into and awarded the home side a freekick. Then a rare direct move from Bangor as a high ball was controlled by Les Davies who played Lee Healey in but the shaven headed front man skimmed the crossbar with his rasping drive. Moments later a warning side as Phil Marsh volleyed over in a rare Cefn attack. With some seventeen minutes left a couple of changes as Jon Breeze replaced Tom Donegan and then Liam Caddick came on for Sion Edwards.With ten to go Les Davies found Damien Allen but he fired wide. A fourth Bangor corner ironically signalled the second Cefn goal as Derek Taylor led a breakaway and fed the ball out to the right where Phil Marsh netted from a tight angle with City defenders unable to get back on the line to clear. The home fans celebrated what looked like the winner and Bangor hearts sank. No sooner had he scored than Marsh was replaced by former blue Jack Laird. But on the field the City side did not falter. Instead the laid seige to the Druids goal. First up Bruno Fernandes fouled Ryan Edwards on the edge of the box - clear yellow card but nothing given - and Les Davies lofted the freekick over. Then a couple of late changes as Chris Jones and Jamie Petrie came on for Ryan Edwards and Chris Roberts. Time seemed to have run out but the fourth official indicated four minutes of added time and the siege continued with a flurry of late corners which saw Callum Morris cap a fine performance with a close range headed finish after his first effort had been blocked. There was time for another close shave as Les Davies saw his firm low strike pushed away by Wrexham loanee Gray who had impressed in goal for the home side. And that was it. A late equaliser that earned a deserved point for Bangor and a sigh of relief from the Rock regulars whose side had got out of jail in those closing minutes despite the order of scoring. |
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| FINAL SCORE 2-2 |
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| 14 January 2015 |
Bala Town 3 v 0 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| With Maes Tegid waterlogged this match was switched to Belle Vue, Rhyl. But the outcome was identical to the one at Nantporth a week or so earlier with former blues striker Lee Hunt again scoring twice as the Lakesiders won three nil. This time there was some controvesy though as Bangor had two first half "goals" disallowed by the linesman. Either of which would have seen City going in level at the interval. With strong wind and rain at their backs in the first half Bangor had to make the advantage pay and they thought they had in the opening minutes but Les Davies shot narrowly wide of the target. But after failing to take their chances City paid a high price on twelve minutes as Lee Hunt latched onto Mark Connolly's lofted cross from the right to turn the ball past blues keeper Connor Roberts from the edge of the box. Bangor defenders appealed for offside but the goal stood. City came close to an equaliser not long after when Chris Roberts' long clearance got the better of hesitant Bala defender Will Bell but Lee Healey steered his low shot just wide of the left upright from the right. Bala broke against the wind and Mark Jones saw his shot blocked before Ashley Morris saved from blues winger Sion Edwards. Bangor won a corner on the left which was half cleared to Sion Edwards whose cross invited a near post header from Anthony Miley which unfortunately looped over the crossbar. Some ten minutes from time Mark Jones crossed to Ian Sheridan but his effort was cleared. Then another moment of controvesy as grafting midfielder Ryan Edwards netted but the linesman quickly flagged for offside. By now the normally dry and bouncy Belle Vue pitch was becomingly increasingly heavy, saturated by the non stop rain. Heaven knows what the Bala pitch would have been like. New signing Lee Healey went close for Bangor who went closer still a few minutes later and thought they had drawn level. City won a freekick on the left which Dec Walker crossed right footed. Sion Edwards was the first to react with a stooping near post header which beat the diving Ashley Morris all ends up. But celebrations were cut short by - yes you've guessed - the linesman's flag. Which most present agreed was a poor decision largely because Sion wasn't offside. So City trudged off a goal down and with the prospect of playing into the teeth of the wind and rain for the remaining fourty five minutes. |
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| HALF TIME 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the
interval although the wind which now backed Bala had strengthened! Bala pushed forward immediately with an early corner which Mark Jones guided goalwards but Chris Roberts cleared. Then Mark Connolly sent a high swirling freekick over from the right but Lee Hunt crashed his header wide. Manager Colin Caton then made his first change as winger Kieran Smith came on for former Connahs Quay striker Mike Hayes. Soon after - before the hour mark - it was two nil in near farcical circumstances. Ian Sheridan gathered the ball on half way and passed to Kieran Smith who ran at goal before releasing Lee Hunt to the right. He ran into the box and cut inside Chris Roberts but Anthony Miley appeared to have cleared the danger in his six yard box only to see the ball hit the kneeling Hunt in the face and roll across goal to Ian Sheridan who netted with ease. When you are down a the bottom this is the sort of luck you get. On 65 minutes Bangor sent on Jamie Petrie for Liam Caddick in conditions which were scarcely ideal for either. Ten minutes later it was three nil to Bala. A foul on Sean Smith on the Bangor right yielded a freekick delivered by Mark Connolly inswinging and inviting for tormentor in cheif Lee Hunt to head home at the near post for his second of the evening. Immediately the industrious Ryan Edwards was taken off with Michael Johnston defying injury to take his place. In the closing minutes Sion Edwards fired the ball up to Les Davies who took advantage of a slip from Ryan Valentine to release Lee Healey on the left. He took the ball in his stride and unleashed a fierce drive but Morris was equal to the task and did well to push the ball away. And that was about it. A dreadful windswept night braved by perhaps 150 hardy souls who might have wished they were somewhere else. Well not Balal perhaps. Either way another defeat for City who face just one more opening phase game before the nonesense of the final ten repeat matches are upon us. All to play for. |
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| FINAL SCORE 3-0 |
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| 10 January 2015 |
Bangor City 2 v 1 Port Talbot Town |
Welsh Premier |
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Bangor gained that elusive first home win as a reshaped side, the new
and old, worked well together to fashion a deserved three point haul. All the new players impr  essed
on debut but perhaps more importantly the ten at the club a lot longer
raised their game, clearly buoyed by the new signings. But it could
have gone badly wrong for Bangor when Michael Johnston mistimed a
challenge on Corey Thomas and was relieved to see a yellow card in
Referee Jones hand.On ten minutes Ryan Edwards burst into the box was checked by a Port Talbot defender and the crowd at the Antelope End roared for a penalty but nothing doing. On twenty minutes Bangor won a corner but it came to nothing before Luke Bowen struck a clean shot on goal but Connor Roberts was clearly up to the task. Bangor responded through Sion Edwards who won the ball on the left wing but Lee Healey did not anticipate the through ball. The shaven headed striker got into his stride minutes later though. Les Davies passed to Ryan Edwards who split the visitors defence for Lee Healey to run to the left but his shot crashed into the side netting. Port Talbot, led by Bowen and Rose, put Bangor under some pressure but the centreback pairing of Anthony Miley and Chris Roberts stood strong, ably shield by captain Michael Johnston. Then a breakthrough for City when Callum Morris delivered a corner from the left which was half cleared to Ryan Edwards whose low shot from the edge of the box beat Steven Cann into the corner of the net via a slight deflection on 29 minutes. There were loud celebrations but before these had died down the visitors drew level. Bangor attacked down the right, Les Davies and Ryan Edwards set up Callum Morris but Cann saved. The erratic keeper then boomed a clearance which December WP Player of The Month Luke Bowen controlled on the right and lifted the over debutant goalkeeper Roberts into the far corner of the net. Time now for the vocal band of Port Talbot followers to raise their voices in celebration in the family stand. Bangor went close through Lee Healey before goalscorer Bowen nearly repeated the effort but this time the ball bounced to safety. A late corner for the visitors brought a loud shout and confident claim from the composed Connor Roberts who had done everything asked of him before Referee Ashley Jones blew for the interval just about everyone on and off the pitch contemplated a warming drink on a blustery and bitterly cold day. The queue to the tea hut stretched back close to the goalpost at the Antelope End. So one all at half time and much to play for at both ends of the table. |
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| HALF TIME 1-1 |
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| One change at the interval as Liam Caddick came on for Michael Johnston. This saw a change in shape as Caddick took over a right wing berth and the midfield three now became two with Callum Morris and Ryan Edwards up to the challenge. This certainly suited Morris who got stuck in throughout and is of course meat and drink to the tireless Edwards. Bangor looked more purposeful with this shape as Lee Healey continued to impress with a firm strike into the sidenetti  ng
before Liam Caddick tested Cann with a low shot. A third Port Talbot
corner some eight minutes after the restart and another confident claim
from Connor Roberts. There were signs of understanding developing as
Liam Caddick teed up Les Davies who turned and fired goalwards but Cann
gathered.A yellow card next for Callum Morris as he stopped a Port Talbot break with a purposeful trip. Bangor responded through Sam Hart who tricked and dribbled his way down the left, into the box but then hesitated and Thomas cleared. Another promising sign for City as Les Davies flicked on for Lee Healey who ran to the right but fired over. Training is one thing but matches develop understanding between players. On 65 minutes promise fulfilled as Sion Edwards released Les Davies who crossed from the left for Lee Healey to steer a low shot beyond Cann into the Port Talbot net. Just reward for the Druids top scorer and indeed for the whole team who celebrated wildly infront of the home dugout. Ashley Evans was shown the yellow card for a foul before the visitors pushed Bangor back with a series of three successive corners, each cleared to some degree by Les Davies, and finally snuffed out by keeper Roberts who caught Martin Rose's twenty yard effort. With thirteen minutes left a change for Port Talbot as Kieran Lewis came on for Corey Thomas. Five minutes later a similar series of three flag kicks for Bangor relieved some pressure and eased home nerves but Ashley Evans broke forward to fire narrowly wide as the visitors looked for an equaliser. With a seventh Port Talbot corner awarded on ninety minutes Jamie Petrie came on for left winger Sion Edwards who had worked hard. Three added minutes became four as Bangor then sent on Chris Jones for goalscorer Healey who left to a rousing reception from the mainstand. His goal capped a fine debut which involved plenty of hard work and running off the ball. A mention too for Callum Morris whose presence in centre midfield augurs well for the rest of the season. And finally the final whistle which meant so much, a first home win of the season, three points and a step off the bottom of the Welsh Premier at the expense of fellow strugglers Prestatyn, defeated on the day by TNS. |
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| FINAL SCORE 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 January 2015 |
Bangor City 0 v 3 Bala Town |
Welsh Premier |
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| Because the match at Bala was abandoned Bangor were again forced to rule out centre forward Les Davies. And in his absence former favourite Lee Hunt nabbed a brace which sank City in a second half horror show. All this after a goalless and evenly contested first half on a dry but chilly evening on the banks of the Menai Straits. But it was visitors Bala who settled first and created a couple of early openings for Kieran Smith who shot wide and young midfielder Rob Pearson whose effort was saved by Jack Cudworth. The hardworking Sion Edwards picked up an early yellow card for a foul on the spring heeled Smith as they battled down the Bangor left. Referee Stewart opted to take no action when Bala midfielder Conal Murtagh appeared to push his head at Damien Allen as the temperature rose in a heated midfield exchange. Mark Connolly saw his freekick pushed for a corner by Jack Cudworth and moments later the glovesman failed to hold onto Kieran Smith's corner but Bangor managed to clear the danger. Bangor were enjoying a good share of the game with Damien Allen again showing well and Ryan Edwards as ever in the thick of the action. Former Wrexham veteran Ryan Valentine was shown the yellow card by Mr Stewart. On the stroke of half time City win a corner which Chris Jones delivers and causes some problems as Will Bell nearly turns the goal into his own net. Bala survive and moments later the referee blows for the interval with both sides still very much in the game. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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| No changes at the interval for either side. Bangor fashioned the first chance of the second period as Michael Johnston ran through midfield to unleash a long range drive which took a deflection and needed to be pushed over by Bala custodian Ashley Morris. Minutes later though a blow for Bangor as Damien Allen was forced off with what looked like a calf injury to be replaced by Rob Jones. Substitute Jones was quickly into the action though with a rising drive that flew over the bar. Moments earlier a change for Bala as Mark Jones camer on in midfield for Kieran Smith. Midfield dynamo Ryan Edwards then went close for Bangor with a shot from the edge of the box but as has been the habit this season shots tend to fly over rather than under the crossbar. Then on 62 minutes a first goal of the evening. Ryan Valentine set up Mark Connolly whose inviting cross was headed home by Lee Hunt to silence the home crowd. With fifteen minutes left to go Shaun Cavanagh replaced Jamie Petrie. But on 77 minutes it was all over bar the shouting as Jack Cudworth totally missed his clearance and Lee Hunt ran on goal to tap home for a two nil advantage which was harsh in the exteme on the home side. Bangor pressed for a goal which would halve the deficit but a goalbound effort was deflected away from danger. Young Phil Warrington replaced a weary Sion Edwards and a double change for Bala as Mike Hayes and Kenny Lunt came on for Lee Hunt and Mark Connolly into aded time. And it was in the time added on that Bala notched their third as substitute Kenny Lunt capitalised on another mistaker by goalkeeper Cudworth who misjudged a deep cross and offered a simple tap in to the experienced midfielder. So a three nil humbling for Bangor after ninety minutes which they had competed in throughout but paid a heavy price for individual errors. |
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| FINAL SCORE 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 December 2014 |
Prestatyn Town 1 v 2 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| Bangor had two men sent off on the Bastion Gardens mud but battled to a 2-1 win that keeps alives hopes of the great escape. This game was dominated by a strong wind which blew from the open end into the clubhouse and boosted Bangor in the first period. With that at their backs City dominated for long periods and would have been disappointed with only one goal to show for their efforts. The nervous Scott Williams, one of a number of home players sporting pantomime beards, unsettled his defence with some uncertain goalkeeping. The first being a diving save for a Sion Edwards shot that was going well wide. City forced three early corners before Dec Walker and Michael Johnston had shots blocked by Dave Hayes and co then Les Davies set up Ryan Edwards but Hayes was again in the line of fire. Prestatyn managed to break upfield through the veteran Parkinson but Anthony Miley defended well. Midfielder Michael Johnston shot low but wide as Prestatyn struggled to clear, scarcely helped by the bearded goalkeeper who couldnt kick to save his life. But on 13 minutes Parkinson sprung into action again with a pacey run down the left and rising shot which Jack Cudworth pushed over acrobatically. From the resulting swirling corner Anthony Miley rose highest to head the danger away. On 15 minutes Bangor had the all important lead. A long booted clearance by Jack Cudworth was foolishly allowed to bounce by the home defence and allowed the alert Les Davies to slip the chance low wide of Williams to the delight of the blue horde. A minute later Chris Jones appeared to have added a second under similar circumstances but the linesman wrongly flagged for offside. On 18 mins Chris Jones crossed but Sion Edwards headed off target. Then Les Davies saw his shot blocked but deflected to Sion Edwards who hesitated and was closed down. On 20 minutes Les Davies headed over before City had loud shouts for a penalty - the ball certainly struck the defender's arm. Seen them given but not today by Huw Jones. A fifth corner for Bangor caused chaos in the Prestatyn box but as Ben Maher disgraced himself with a laughable dive referee Jones showed Leon Clowes the red card for minimal contact on the tiny fullback. How players, people can feign injury like this is beyond me. Could Bangor compete with ten men? The answer was yes as Michael Johnston dropped into central defence and Ryan Edwards and Damien Allen worked overtime for the remaining hour. On the half hour Jack Cudworth saved well from Ross Stephens and Prestatyn won their second corner. As the first half drew to a close neither side seemed entirely sure how to proceed but Bangor still had the wind and the home side duly droppd back. A sixth Bangor corner came and went , then a seventh, before Sion Edwards went perilously close with a left footed curler that bemused the unhappy Williams. There was still one piece of drama at Sam Hart shot from well out on the left and could so nearly have doubled the lead as Williams watched the ball drift just wide of the lefthand upright. So a slender advantage for Bangor who now faced the second period with ten men - and against the wind. |
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| HALF TIME 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the
interval but Prestatyn had the wind at their backs and Bangor a tough half ahead. But rather than drop back and defend deep Bangor opted to test the home defence with Sion Edwards and the outstanding Damien Allen shaping an early chance with an eighth City corner following moments later. Five minutes after the restart a third corner for Prestatyn saw Jack Cudworth save comfortably from make shift centrehalf Mike Parker who spent most of the afternoon grappling with Les Davies without being punished. City won a freekick on the edge of the Prestatyn box but Sion Edwards curled his shot too close to Williams. The home side tested Jack Cudworth with a couple of long range efforts from Ross Stephens and then Jordan Davies but both lacked power. On the hour Les Davies broke and won another corner but minutes later a long throw from Jack Lewis was headed narrowly wide by Dave Hayes. 
On 64 minutes Bangor doubled the lead against the odds. A freekick from the right as Jack Lewis fouled Chris Jones. The cross ran to Chris Jones whose shot took a deflection off Jack Lewis and looped over goalkeeper Williams and into the home net. Now City surely had a real chance of winning despite the wind and numerical disadvantage. It might have got even better for Bangor as Les Davies latched onto a weak clearance to bustle on goal but Dave Hayes cleared his right footer off the line. With twenty minutes left Gareth Wilson replaced Rhys Lewis before Andy Parkinson forced a decent save out of Jack Cudworth. Then James Stead replaced promising young striker Zyaac Edwards and Sam Hart did well to deny Mike Pritchard. But with twelve minutes left disaster struck for Bangor as a high bouncing ball tempted Les Davies to lift his foot and catch Dave Hayes high on his body. Second yellow and red for Les and a body blow for City who were now down to nine men. Technically a correct decision perhaps but hard for the blue support to accept. Two minutes later the Prestatyn bench jumped for joy as Andy Parkinson crossed from the right and Jordan Davies slotted home from ten yards out. The home side and support now had some belief as Jack Cudworth and Anthony Miley were shown the yellow card for protesting too long and loud that the bald veteran was well offside. On 82 minutes a final crop of substitutions. Podgy Neil Gibson for drama queen Ben Maher, then Jamie Petrie and Rob Jones for Sion Edwards and Chris Jones. Jack Lewis shot on target from long range before Dave Hayes lofted well over from just outside the box. With two mins to go Neil Gibson flopped over on the attacking left and tried to cover his blushes with an embarrassed smile. The embarrassment could be felt all the way to Neptune Court and in the Sgorio studio. Pantomime season indeed. A grubby ground, a terrible playing surface and now a blubbery sub in a tight shirt? Fourth official Mr Petch indicated three minutes of added time which saw Corey Jones replace the exhausted Ryan Edwards who had put in a tremendous shift of nonstop effort and application on a soggy pit of a pitch. There was no real goalmouth action, only a yellow card for Stead for a cynical clip on Jamie Petrie as he broke down the left. Eventually the final whistle blew and Bangor had the all important win, three points and perhaps some belief. Nine men for the closing stages? Seen it all before, Caersws a few years a go, a match remembered in his post match interview by a relieved Nev Powell. More importantly now the gap closed on those immediately above, including today's hosts. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-2 |
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| 14 December 2014 |
Bangor City 0 v 0 Rhyl |
Welsh Premier |
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Bangor and Rhyl slogged out a goalless draw at Nantporth in a game
which might not have gone ahead but for the expectant Sgorio cameras. And as before Rhyl goalkeeper Alex Ramsay was the clear choice of Man of The Match as he defied Bangor with a string of fine saves. Heavy rain left the Nantporth pitch sodden despite being swept by a stiff breeze blowing from the Antelope End. In the first half this favoured Rhyl and they had the better of the chances. But it was Bangor who carved the first opening inside fourty seconds as Les Davies boomed out a left footed diagonal to Sion Edwards who ran on goal before unleashing a fierce drive which Alex Ramsay saved well before the winger sliced the rebound wide. A minute later Mark Cadwallader - one of five Lilywhites with a Bangor past - drilled on target but Jack Cudworth saved comfortably. Then another former blue Ashley Stott saw his shot blocked by Sam Hart. After that City won and largely wasted a corner Rhyl pushed forward again with Cadwallader again in the action but this time he fired over. The Lilywhites now seized the initiative with Levi Mackin and then Aaron Bowen going close before City retaliated with Dec Walker's cross from the right headed over by Chris Jones. Rhyl threatened twice more and on both occasions Dec Walker was alert to the danger. On 18 minutes a yellow card for rightback Liam Benson - more of him later - for a trip on Sion Edwards. Five minutes later Aaron Bowen got the better of Anthony Miley on the left but his shot flew across goal. City were being forced to defend with Leon Clowes and Sam Hart prominent as Bethel youngster Danny Gossett crafted openings for the visitors. But on the half hour Bangor bounced back as Sion Edwards latched onto a through ball from Les Davies but again Alex Ramsay, so often man of the match for the Lilywhites against Bangor, saved at his near post. Two minutes later the Llanfyllin glovesman saved well from Dec Walker and then kept out the rebound effort from Damien Allen. Referee Markham Jones might have punished Rhyl striker Bowen for an out of control slide on Sam Hart but perhaps took the conditions into consideration in deciding to take no action. As time ran out Danny Gossett tested the blues defence with a corner and then freekick from the left which Anthony Miley did well to repel before the clumsy Dave Thompson clearly fouled Jamie Petrie on the edge of the Rhyl box. Corner! Sion Edwards delivered the flag kick which Ramsay flapped at but Leon Clowes guided his instinctive header wide at the back post. And that was about it as the whistle blew for the break with the game evenly poised and just about everyone soaked. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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| No changes at the interval although now Bangor had the wind and rain at their backs. Seven minutes after the restart a fourth corner of the afternoon for Bangor again surprisingly flapped at by Ramsay but without any cost. Then Ashley Stott sliced wide from outside the box as Bangor backed off. On 55 minutes the save of the day from Ramsay as Les Davies appeared to have guided Jamie Petrie's inviting cross into the bottom corner. The Swansea coach had other ideas and blocked with his feet. Moments later Les Davies crossed and Jamie Petrie thought he had scored but again Ramsay was on able to save with his feet. On the hour mark a sixth Rhyl corner from the right - perfect delivery from Gossett - was headed over by the lumbering Astles from six yards. Then Levi Mackin fired high and wide from outside the box to the relief of the blues defence. Midway through the half Bangor pushed the visitors back as Ryan Edwards saw his shot blocked by Liam Benson before Jamie Petrie missed the target after Chris Jones had set him up. On 71 mins the inevitable controvesy as Liam Benson clattered Sam Hart. No card. This was a clear (second) yellow offence but Mr Markham decided not. Would it have made a difference, eleven against ten, for the final twenty minutes? We will never know. Ryan Edwards must have eaten three or four shredded wheat before this game. His all action display was central to everything Bangor did from start to finish despite the treacherous conditions. With fifteen minutes left Rob Hughes replaced Danny Gossett and then Michael Johnston came on for Jamie Petrie. A sixth Bangor corner came off big Astles, again Ramsay flapped, but again no one around to punish him. Sam Hart then unleashed a long range thunderbolt which Matty Woodward chested wide with his goalkeeper flatfooted. A seventh corner but headed over by Les Davies. Young left footer Hughes showed his intentions with a blatant dive as Rhyl attacked before big Aaron Bowen - who looked like he wished he was somewhere else for most of the afternoon - was replaced by Jack Kenny. Hughes is clearly talented if lightweight but he needs to cut this out. And that was about it. Very little to report from the two minutes of added time and the whistle blew on some very tired and wet players and supporters looking forward to getting dry. A point which doubtless suited Rhyl better than Bangor but a point nonetheless. |
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| FINAL SCORE 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 December 2014 |
Airbus UK 5 v 1 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| On
the Welsh rump of a small English border City a French owned
multinational builds the wings for its colossul aeroplanes. In the
shadow of the hulking factory the works football team, funded by the
generosity of their suppliers, laid three acres of plastic matting as
they pursue second place in the national League of Wales. And pretty soon after taking the field Bangor must have felt they had the carpet whipped from under their feet as the Planemakers ran them ragged. The home side pushed both fullbacks upfield, flooded midfield and over ran City who simply could not cope. Having said that Les Davies went close in the opening minutes as Johnny Spittle blocked his effort but within no time Airbus had forced a couple of corners and Jamie Owen had a shot blocked before Lewis Short fired over from the left. Bangor held out until the 22nd minute when Anthony Miley tripped tricky Ryan Wignall and home captain Tom Field converted the resultant penalty. No arguments there with Mr Whitby who was well positioned. Airbus were effectively outnumbering Iolo Hughes who was playing right back and from one Ryan Wignall cross big Chris Budrys headed just over. The home side were in control but City had the odd half chance as Les Davies and then Jamie Petrie cross from wide positions but no one was on hand to convert and the chances went begging. But on 40 minutes Airbus doubled their lead as Wignall crossed to Ellis Healing who headed home confidently from six yards. It might have been three for the home side but Jack Cudworth did well to deny Glenn Rule and were glad to hear Mr Whitby's whistle for half time with the game - on paper at least - still in the balance. |
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| HALF TIME 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One change at the
interval saw Chris Jones replace Iolo Hughes with Ryan Edwards slotting in at rightback. And the change made a difference for the opening few minutes as City forced a couple of corners and James Coates did well to deny Damien Allen's clean ten yard strike. Bangor went close again as Leon Clowes headed over from Damien Allen's freekick from the left. 
But that was about as good as it got. Although Les Davies nearly
created a chance for Jamie Petrie it was Airbus who - moments after
forcing their eighth corner of the afternoon - won a penalty as Chris
Roberts handled as Glenn Rule ran through. Leon Clowes was yellow
carded for disputing the award.Up stepped Tom Field once again with the same net result and an emphatic three nil advantage. Jack Cudworth did well to deny Glenn Rule's header but in reality he could do nothing to keep out the 67th minute fourth goal. Ellis Healing crossed for unmarked former Conwy Borough winger Ryan Wignall to tap in from close range. City then brought on young Shaun Cavanagh in place of Jamie Petrie. Bangor showed some spirit to win a couple of corners and with fifteen minutes left Anthony Miley headed home from close range to give the subdued visiting contingent something to cheer. The goal of the game was still to come as former Llandudno striker Ellis Healing found time and space on the edge of the box to unleash a superb strike which left Jack Cudworth with no hope as it flashed beyond him for a five one scoreline on 78 minutes. Bangor by now had taken one punch too many and were glad to hear the final whistle. The regular reader might be surprised that in a game when the official awarded two penalties against City that he is not the subject of some caustic comment. Not in this case to be fair, a measured performance by Mr Whitby. Bangor's problems lie elsewhere thesedays. And the works team? Whether they play on plastic or grass a big budget will guarantee a top two or three finish. Sadly though most people visit Broughton for the popular retail park and polite applause from the commitee men, ground hoppers and neutrals is about as good as it gets. |
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| FINAL SCORE 5-1 |
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| 29 November 2014 |
Bangor City 1 v 0 Garden Village |
The Welsh Cup |
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| This
was as close a battle as the scoreline suggested as gutsy Garden
Village competed from start to finish. In the end it took a second half
penalty converted by Sam Hart to settle things, home nerves included.
The first half was a sterile affair of few chances as the visitors
readily snuffed out what attacks City could muster with midfielder Gary
Taylor shielding his defence well. Bangor's first chance came on seven
minutes when Les Davies latched onto the ball on the edge of the D but
centreback Matt Harding blocked his fierce drive. Minutes later another similar
chance but this time the ball struck a Village defender and bounced to
safety. The Gorseinion side had set up to counter and they did so to good effect when Chris Allen broke down the left before the ball broke to Neme Barria who fired on target from twenty yards and forced a good save from blues keeper Jack Cudworth. Bangor threatened again as Sion Edwards saw his shot blocked as did Les Davies had shots turned away by Luke Fleming in the Village goal. But this should not suggest Bangor were overwhelming the Welsh League side. On the contrary they were isolated chances as City shuffled the ball often from side to side without much real penetration or threat. The visitors still threatened on the counter as Garden Village rightback Frank Tobin fired a long range shot wide as the visitors threatened. Another effort from distance when Ryan Edwards passed to Chris Jones who cut in from the right to shoot goalwards left footed but the ball was pushed over for a third home corner of the afternoon quickly followed by a fourth as half time approached. But despite all this possession it was Garden Village who went closest in added time. A corner from the right sailed deep to Chris Allen at the back post but he directed his header downwards and Jack Cudworth pounced to save. Moments later Referee Iwan Griffiths blew for the break and it was Bangor who were relieved despite having had the majority of the ball. As the supporters variously migrated towards the Bangor end and visited the tea hut the conversations centred around City raising the tempo and putting the visitors under more strain after the restart. Good plan. |
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| HALF TIME 0-0 |
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| One change at the interval as Jack Laird replaced Chris Jones. And to be fair Bangor took up the challenge of playing at greater pace and tempo and soon pushed the visitors back into periods of non stop defence. But this all came after an early chance from a first minute corner which resulted in a freekick for the visitors on the edge of the box which Colin Harris sent crashing into the Bangor wall but the ball bounced to safety. Ten minutes into the second period Damien Allen picked out Les Davies on the edge of the box. He weaved his way through two or three challenges only to lift his shot well over from eight yards or less. Then Jack Laird found Sion Edwards but he fired wide from the left. Now Bangor were in control, pushing forward with more pace and movement with Damien Allen and Sam Hart prominent. But the scoreline remained blank although a shout from a blues defender "keep going it will come" had more conviction now than it might have held before. 
On the hour though a third corner for Garden Village which drew
loud shouts for a penalty from the visiting camp, but nothing doing from Mr Griffiths.City charged forward down the left through Sion Edwards and Les Davies who opened the defence but Sam Hart could not keep his effort down. Next big Leon Clowes rumbled forwards to slip the ball to Sion Edwards but he too fired off target. City won a fifth corner from which Jack Laird also shot over before Michael Johnston set up Sion Edwards on the left of the box but he shot off target. On 67 mins a second substitution for City as Rob Jones replaced Michael Johnston in midfield. Corners eight and nine followed as City pressed for that all important goal. Les Davies thought he had headed Bangor in front but the referee ruled he had fouled the diminutive Fleming. Moments later a first change for the visitors as Ashley Thomas came on for Tom Grey. With fifteen minutes left on the clock City threw caution to the wind as Jamie Petrie replaced Dec Walker and it worked! Within a minute the ball bounced around in the visitors box, clearly struck Colin Harris' arm and prompted loud handball shouts which this time got the vital nod from referee Iwan Griffiths. Penalty and up stepped leftpeg Sam Hart to calmly place the ball wide of Fleming for a crucial lead. With ten minutes to go frustration got the better of Gary Taylor who flattened Sion Edwards on half way. Bangor won a tenth corner after Sion Edwards saw his shot blocked but with three minutes left Chris Allen had a double chance for Garden Village at the near post from a right wing cross. The first was blocked the second he ballooned over. That was close and this time Rob Jones was cautioned for a poor tackle as the visitors looked to break. Four minutes of added time were signalled and both Jack Laird and then Damien Allen broke clear on the right but both fired wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. So it stayed one nil and a slender but welcome win for Bangor whose second half performance had just done enough. Full credit to the visitors who left the field with heads held high after a wholehearted and composed performance. |
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| FINAL SCORE 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 November 2014 |
Bangor City 2 v 2 Aberystwyth Town |
Welsh Premier |
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| The
better team for much of the ninety minutes Bangor were denied all three
points thanks to a cruel own goal in added time. But there was plenty
for the home crowd to cheer in what was a much improved performances by
the blues. City fielded Michael Johnston in a deeper midfield role which served well to protect the back four and add a bit of aerial competion in that area of the pitch. Bangor started well enough but Aber forced an early corner before Jack Cudworth had to be alert to pouch a Craig Williams freekick. There were yellow cards for Michael Johnston - for a heavy challenge on Antonio Corbisiero - and Chris Davies either side of the ten minute mark and moments later Antonio Corbisiero fired over the Bangor bar. City were looking dangerous in attack though and Sion Edwards found big Les Davies who forced a fine save from Mike Lewis before on seventeen minutes City had the lead. Leon Clowes long pass down the left found leading goalscorer Sion Edwards who broke the offside trap to slot the ball beyond Lewis for a well deserved opener and his sixth goal of the season. The blues faithful now found full voice and as City pressed for a second they roared the side on. Bangor held the lead until just after the half hour mark when the alert Geoff Kellaway equalised when City failed to clear a hopeful cross from the left by Cledan Davies which dropped fifteen yards out. City regathered themselves and on the stroke of half time might have regained the lead but Les Davies saw his header fly just over and seconds later the whistle blew. A good first half from Bangor but an even scoreline with all still to play for after the interval. |
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| HALF TIME1-1 |
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| One change at the interval as Luke Sherborn defied reports of his hospitalisation to replace Antonio Corbisiero. Bangor pushed forward from the start with Chris Jones and Sion Edwards linking well before Aber pressed and Anthony Miley was shown the yellow card by referee Ashley Jones. Chris Venables hits a clean strike but it veered across the face of goal and out for a goalkick. Ten minujtes into the second period City went down to ten men briefly as Sion Edwards suffered a hand injury which had to be treated and taped up before he could return to action. Once action got underway once more Les Davies headed just over and then fired narrowly wide from distance as the all important second goal proved elusive. Geoff Kellaway went close for Aber but he dragged his shot off target. With thirteen minutes left on the clock Bangor made a double change with striking pair Jamie Petrie and Jack Laird coming on for Sion Edwards and Chris Jones respectively. And it worked within three minutes! Damien Allen's pass found Les Davies who rifled home from distance with goalkeeper Lewis unable to respond in time. Minutes later Bangor went close to making it three in a goalmouth scramble that Aber did well to survive. But survive they did and with time slipping into what the referee adds, they drew level. Aberystwyth won a corner which Stuart Jones headed for goal but the ball was headed into his own net by Bangor talisman Les Davies. The only luck you get when you are at the foot of the table is bad luck. There were still four minutes of added time but despite Steffan Williams coming on for Geoff Kellaway (yes Ian Hughes has his FAW Badges) there was a great save by Lewis from substitute Jack Laird as Bangor were cruelly denied a deserved home win. Nonetheless a much improved performance and one which augurs well for the weeks and months to come. |
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| FINAL SCORE 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 November 2014 |
Newtown 2 v 1 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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| Bangor lost again by a single goal, this time in the pouring rain on the plastic pitch that is Latham Park. Or of course you could say Newtown won and did so by virtue of taking their chances whilst all too often City fluffed theres. This was brought into sharp focus when Shane Sutton was at full stretch to repel purposeful Bangor before, on four minutes, his Robins side took the lead. Matt Hearsey fed the overlapping Stef Edwards whose deep cross from the left was headed home at the back post by Luke Boundford. With the wind in their sails the home side might have scored again as Tom Goodwin went close twice in quick succession. Bangor responded through new captain Les Davies but his shot on the turn was too close to Dave Jones. On twelve minutes Neil Mitchell fouled Ryan Edwards thirty yards out but left winger Sion Edwards fired over. On the quarter hour Bangor forced a couple of corners which culminated in cross from Leon Clowes which centre back partner Anthony Miley headed over. Sion Edwards fired at Dave Jones before Oswell headed over as the game became end to end. City won a couple more corners which seemed to either be headed away by the bearded Sutton or cause chaos. Jones badly misjudged one but got out of jail with a wild flap which was cleared. Newtown broke down the left but Leon Clowes snuffed out the danger. Midway through the half Sion Edwards chased a deep cross and saw his volley crash into the side netting before the winger turned provider for Chris Jones but he could not make clean contact. Moments later former Cefn midfielder Matty Owen headed wide for the home side. Neither team had real control of the midfield but despite trailing Bangor had more of the ball and played in Newtown's half. On the half hour a sixth Bangor corner came after Leon Clowes saw his powerful long range shot fly just over. Dec Walker boomed a 50 yard crossfield diagonal to Sion Edwards who won a seventh corner but seconds later on 37 minutes it was 2-0 as Jason Oswell found time to control Hearsey's cross and prod the ball through Dec Walker's legs and beyond Jack Cudworth into the bottom corner. And that was the half time score, a two goal lead for Newtown who had spent more of the fourty five minues in defence than attack but - and all credit to them - had taken their chances better than Bangor. |
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| HALF TIME 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No changes at the
interval. From the off Bangor set to redress the balance and two minutes after the restart they halved the deficit in style. Chris Roberts played the ball into Chris Jones on the edge of the box, he angled a pass into the feet of Ryan Edwards whose control and instant left footed finish left Dave Jones beaten. A well taken goal by the gutsy little midfielder. Game on. On the hour a yellow card for Dec Walker for a block on Matty Hearsey on half way and five minutes later a wild challenge by Shane Sutton brought Chris Jones' progress down the right to an abrupt end and also received a yellow card. By now the home side were using up as much time as possible for every throw and kick - is this was FAW Coaching Badges are built on - and the game at times almost stalled. There were loud shouts for a penalty against Chris Roberts, certainly seen them given, but waved away by Dean John. With twenty minutes to go former Manchester United reserve winger Sean Evans came on for former Caersws winger Neil Mitchell and two minutes later Les Davies was penalised for the lightest of challenges on lanky defender Mills Evans. Substitute Evans nearly put the game to bed with a crisp left footer which crashed off the blues upright with Jack Cudworth well beaten. With fifteen minutes to go Bangor sent on Jack Laird for Chris Jones and three minutes beyond that Chris Roberts was carded for an attempted trip on Matty Owen which seemed a curious decision. Seconds later a final change for Bangor as Jamie Petrie replaced midfielder Sam Hart. But it was Newtown who might have scored as Luke Boundford shot on target but Jack Cudworth saved comfortably. Finally a clear cut chance for Bangor. Sion Edwards won the ball in central midfield and drilled a low ball into the path of Jack Laird on the right. He ran on goal and sent a low shot wide of goalkeeper Jones but unfortunately wide of the far post too. Moments later Damien Allen passed to Sion Edwards whose inviting cross was headed just over by Jamie Petrie. The referee indicated four minutes of added time which began with Sion Edwards' shot hitting a Newtown defender but - in fairness - his arm was by his side and handball appeals were hopeful rather than sincere. There was time for Jack Laird to get booked for a foul and one last chance to come the way of Damien Allen but despite the official adding a further minute there was to be no late salvation. One for that FAW Coaching Manual though as The Robins brought on young Dave Easthope in the fourth minute of added time - blatant and inventive timewasting. None theless the important whistle blew - who one earth cuts Dean John's hair - and that was that. A decent performance by the little South Walian and more points lost by poor defending and failing to take chances by Bangor. time |
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| FINAL SCORE 2-1 |
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| 12 November 2014 |
Connahs Quay 1 v 0 Bangor City |
Welsh Premier |
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