Bananas count towards the recommended five pieces of fruit and vegetables we’re all supposed to consume each day, and Bangor 1876 progressed to the semi-finals of the North Wales Coast FA Junior Cup after a five-nil win at Llysfaen’s Banana Pitch.

The first half was a fairly even contest during which Bangor 1876 managed to create several chances. The best of these fell to Cameron Barry, who shot over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box. The hosts almost came close with an unexpected shot from a long range free-kick.

Six minutes from the interval, 1876 took the lead and it was Shaun Lock who was the key man. The left-back’s long throw-in led to a scramble in the Llysfaen penalty area, and Dafydd Thomas appeared to get the final touch in order to ensure that Bangor 1876 were a goal in front at the break.

The second half was a more lively affair than the first, and featured seven yellow cards, two red cards, a penalty kick, and four goals. Dafydd Thomas doubled 1876’s lead with his second goal of the afternoon in the fifty-eighth minute, heading in another long throw-in from Shaun Lock.

Lock completed a hat-trick of assists from long throw-ins in the seventy-first minute when Llysfaen defender Alec Jones scored an unfortunate own-goal after his header looped over home goalkeeper Cain Folly.

The game then went into something of a lull before re-igniting in an action-packed final ten minutes. Llysfaen almost reduced the deficit with eight minutes left when Joshua Williams headed narrowly over the bar following a free-kick.

The home team were reduced to ten men when Jordan Russell received his second yellow card of the afternoon and was sent off. Shortly after Bangor 1876 were awarded a penalty following a foul on Dylan Williams, Sean Sheridan received a straight red card. Jamie Petrie calmly converted the spot kick to give 1876 a four goal lead with four minutes left.

With only a minute left on the clock, Shaun Lock crowned a fine performance with the goal of the game. After moving forward on the right side of the field, he unleashed a powerful shot that flew into the net from twenty-five yards and made the score 5-0 to Bangor 1876.

In the semi-finals of the Junior Cup, 1876 will play at home to Llansannan on 4 April. Before then, we have a local derby coming up on Saturday 14 March when we make the short trip to Menai Bridge for a Gwynedd League game that kicks off at 2pm. It will be followed by a match at home to Trearddur Bay on Friday 20 March that starts at 7pm.

Llysfaen: 1. Cain Folly, 2. Joshua Smith (18. Callum Ellis, 78), 3. Joshua Williams, 4. Henry Taylor, 5. Jonathan Jones, 6. Alec Jones, 7. Sean Sheridan, 8. Nathan Russell, 9. Reece Kearney (14. Shaun Davies, 70), 10. Jordan Russell, 11. Jake Reynolds.

Bookings: Sean Sheridan (11), Jordan Russell (40, 83), Nathan Russell (52), Jake Reynolds (63), Jonathan Jones (77),
Sendings off: Jordan Russell (83), Sean Sheridan (85)
Bangor 1876: 1. Leon Jones, 2. Harry Jones, 3. Shaun Lock, 4. Luke Steele, 6. Cian Williams, 7. Jamie Petrie (17. Leon Owens, 88), 8. Cameron Barry (15. Dylan Summers-Jones, 74), 10. Dylan Williams, 11. Dafydd Thomas, 12. Jamie Thomas, 14. Ben Owen (16 Jos Lloyd-Jones, 79).
Bookings: Shaun Lock (52), Dylan Summers-Jones (86).