As you will have known the club shop was selling copies of our club medic’s all-new book “Don’t Call me Doc” before today’s match. Your humble narrator is not given to hyperbole but the match you are about to read about produced a short story that could be considered as compelling, or stupefying, as anything from the annals of literary history.

The match began under the first azure sky of deepest Spring that we’d seen since last Autumn. Within a couple of minutes Saltney had the match’s first prominent attack because Huw Shaw was penalised for handling the ball outside of the penalty area. Saltney's dangerous free kick soon became a corner.

This prompted 1876 to attack in earnest. They gained a reward in the 10th minute when Corrig McGongle received a pass from midfield and calmly stroked the ball past Swindell in the visitors’ goal. The blues kept attacking in the following minutes with sharp passing and movement, Liam Morris featured prominently.

The 1876 pressure continued as the 15 minute mark passed. One particular opportunity came from a Joe Culshaw free kick that Corey Jones headed over, other opportunities came from corner kicks that caused enough confusion to allow another 1876 goal. Not only did Saltney’s defence hold firm but their attack created decent opportunities, for example a free kick in the 22nd minute hit an 1876 post.

The next notable attack for the home side came in the 27th minute when a nice flowing move led to a floated pass that found Kian Owen on the left wing , sadly for blue fans Owen’s cross was cleared by the visitors’ defence. The home faithful will have felt optimistic at this point of the match; their attackers looked sharp and the attacking pressure was starting to build. Although Saltney still looked dangerous when they attacked.

The 38th minute saw the blues increase their advantage as Joe Culshaw scored with a shot from 20 yards that flew with an arrow-esque trajectory into the lower part of the goal. The half ended without further goals.

HALF TIME – Bangor 1876 2 Saltney Town 0

The blues began the second half strongly as their application of pressure lead to a brace of corners. The corners may not have created another goal but the blue fans felt the joy of a third goal in the 50th minute when Morris half-volleyed the ball home from the edge of the area.

Saltney then showed the danger in relaxed contentment when their passing move created a chance that Sam Reynolds planted wide of Huw Shaw, Saltney's deficit was now reduced. At first the blues appeared to have taken the setback in their stride because a deep corner kick allowed McGonigle to score with a firm curling header. The home side’s three goal lead had been restored.

The eleven minutes between the 60th and 71st produced the short of beguiling action that draws people towards football. In short, the visitors from the Borderlands completely erased the home’s three goal lead with an astute display of attacking football.

The 60th minute saw a move down the left wing that propelled the ball into the area. Huw Shaw was able to deny the first goalbound attempt but Leon Flatman gained control of the ball and propelled it across the goal line. Ten minutes later Shay Davies took advantage of Shaw’s slight misjudgement to score Saltney’s third goal of the afternoon. A minute later the comeback was complete when another move down the left wing created a chance that allowed George Davies to equalise from close range.

When the shock of the stark reminder of football’s capacity to be inexplicable subsided 1876 tried to change the flow of the match.

A drop ball almost allowed McGongile to score but his shot was a little too high to trouble Swindell. 1876 then gained a trio of corners but a crowded area and a smart Swindell save prevented another blue goal. A longer range effort from Morris also failed due to its height.

The 79th minute saw substitute Sion Edwards dribble the ball into the area and calmly place it past Swindell . The home lead was restored and the sense of relief emanating from blue faithful was almost palpable.

Naturally the match was not over at this point and so both sides continued to attack. Saltney continued their use of the wings and 1876 tried to use a flurry of corners but neither side was able to add further goals to this dramatic league encounter.

FULL TIME – Bangor 1876 5 Saltney Town 4

We thank Saltney for helping to create such a compelling match. Our next league match will feature a visit to Flint as we face Flint Mountain in the Essity Stadium next Friday evening (31st March - note the date of the match has changed from Saturday 1st April to Friday 31st March). The match has a 7.45 kick off, please come along to support our team if you can.