Whelan header secures late win

On a cold and windy afternoon, Bangor 1876 and Guilsfield played out an entertaining match at Nantporth.

After an even start, it was the visitors who had the first chance. Iwan Matthews controlled the ball on the run following a long ball forward but stabbed his shot narrowly wide from just inside the box.

Midway through the opening period, Bangor had a chance when Mason Blackwell-Jones played a neat pass through to Corrig McGonigle. The striker tried to nudge the ball past Robbie Williams but the Guilsfield goalkeeper saved with his feet.

After 28 minutes, it was the visitors who took the lead following a quick break. Iwan Matthews' initial shot was blocked but Andrew Evans side-footed in the rebound from the edge of the box.

Five minutes after falling behind, Bangor came close to equalising. Sam Jones swung in a corner from the right but Iolo Hughes' header went narrowly over the bar. From another corner moments later, Dan Cox headed the ball goalwards but just wide.

With eight minutes to go before the interval, Bangor drew level. After neat passing between Cai Powell-Roberts and Sam Jones on the right, Jones’ ball across the face of goal was fired in from close range by Corrig McGonigle.

Shortly afterwards, Guilsfield came close to regaining the lead. After a cross from the right, Jamie Hyne headed narrowly wide.

HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1-1 GUILSFIELD

Bangor make a lively start to the second half and created several chances. Sam Jones went closest with a curling shot from the edge of the box that went just over the bar.

Just after the hour mark, Bangor came close to taking the lead. The ball broke to Corrig McGonigle on the edge of the six yard area but Williams saved well from his stabbed effort before the ball was cleared for a corner following a goalmouth scramble.

With just under ten minutes left, Bangor again went close as another goalmouth scramble occurred after Guilsfield goalkeeper Williams failed to claim a corner.

Shortly afterwards Bangor thought they had scored after an inswinging corner from Corrig McGonigle hit the inside of the post. However, the officials ruled that the ball hadn't crossed the line before it was cleared.

Inside the final five minutes, Craig Whelan headed the ball goalwards following a free-kick by Joe Culshaw but his effort drifted narrowly wide.

In the final minute of normal time, Bangor had an opportunity from an almost identical situation. This time, Whelan met Culshaw’s free-kick with a downward header back across goal that found the net.

Eight and a half minutes into injury time, Guilsfield had a chance to get the ball into the box via a free-kick from near the halfway line. A visiting attacker looked set to side-foot in a late equaliser but was denied by a last-ditch challenge by Iolo Hughes. After the ball was cleared, the final whistle sounded.

FULL-TIME: BANGOR 1876 2-1 GUILSFIELD

There's not long to wait until our next match as we're at home to Flint Town United on Wednesday 20 December (7.30pm). We will play our final match of 2023 when we travel to face Porthmadog at 2.30pm on 26 December.