1876 return to winning ways

Bangor looked to return back to winning ways in the FAW Welsh Cup. Under friday night lights and with islanders Holyhead Hotspur FC standing in their way, it promised to be an exciting encounter at The New Stadium against a strong tier 3 outfit.

After an opening period where both sides sought to develop a foothold in the game, Bangor had a lucky break and took the lead in the 15th minute. A corner from the right-hand side caused chaos in the Hotspurs penalty area with the ball glancing off the back of a Holyhead defender's head and into his own net.

As Holyhead grew into the game, they went and searched for an equaliser. At the 25-minute mark, an early cross by James Phillips from the right hand side looked to give Bangor a problem until it was cleared by Tomos Clarke. The resulting corner was almost converted as Alex Jones went up to meet it at the far post but he could only direct his effort wide.

Holyhead came close again just minutes later. After Dylan Summers-Jones was judged to have been fouled just outside the penalty arc, Cory Williams stepped up to take the free-kick - his curling effort was nearly a concern for Bangor stopper Carl Jones as the ball flew just above the crossbar.

Bangor came close to doubling their lead on the 35th minute, again from a corner. Corrig McGonigle delivered a flat corner to the edge of the box and with the ball slightly behind him, Craig Whelan showed great technique to connect with a volley on the half-turn. The effort was directed just wide of the left-post.

HALF-TIME: HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR 0-1 BANGOR 1876

When play resumed for the second half, Holyhead threatened to level the score when Dylan Summers-Jones drove a powerful shot from just outside the box. Goalkeeper Carl Jones was equal to the effort with a terrific stop to his near-post.

In the 51st minute, Bangor's Joe Sullivan walked off with an injury and was replaced by Dan Cox.

Bangor came close to doubling their lead in the 58th minute. Corrig McGonigle's corner from the left side was once again met by Craig Whelan as he peeled away from the near-post but his glancing effort veered just wide.

With the game opening up and both sides creating opportunities, Bangor found themselves a second goal that would settle their nerves. With 72 minutes elapsed, a great ball towards Liam Morris on the inside-left channel had him staring down a Holyhead defender just outside the box. The left-winger pulled the trigger and drove a low effort towards the far post which forced a great save from Hotspur goalkeeper Guto Hughes, but he could only parry it into the path of Corrig McGonigle, who was quickest to pounce onto the loose ball and guided it goalwards to double Bangors' lead.

A few minutes later, Corrig McGonigle found the net again, this time from the penalty spot. The referee awarded Bangor a spot kick after Holyhead were judged to have handled the ball inside the penalty box. The resulting penalty was sent to the goalkeeper's right. Holyhead stopper Guto Hughes guessed the correct way, but he could only palm the ball into his own goal.

With just ten minutes left of the ninety to go, Liam Morris made sure of the victory with Bangors' fourth goal of the night. After neat interplay between himself and Joe Culshaw on the left-hand side of the pitch, Liam found himself with space just inside the penalty box and unleashed a potent strike that proved too hot to handle for the Holyhead keeper.

Holyhead came close to a late consolation in the third minute of added time when Deian Parry fired from just outside the box but saw his effort fly above the crossbar.

FULL-TIME: HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR 0-4 BANGOR 1876

We are back in action on Saturday when we travel to Caersws on Saturday 23 September for a league match that kicks off at 2.30pm.

Our next home match is on Friday 29 September when we welcome Gresford Athletic to Nantporth for a game that will start at 7.30pm.

Many thanks to Gavin Redfern-Jones for writing this match report and to Gareth Jones for providing the photograph.