Bangor win against Chirk

On a cold wintry afternoon at Nantporth it was the visitors who threatened first when Jack Edwards broke into the right of the penalty area but Huw Shaw smothered his shot.

It wasn't long before Bangor created a chance at the other end and Jack Edwards did well to turn a shot by Sam Jones round the post after a layoff by Joe Culshaw.

In the ninth minute, Bangor took the lead. Cai Powell-Roberts’s ball across goal took a deflection off a visiting defender and fell into the path of Craig Whelan, who scored from close range.

Both sides continued to press as the play frequently went from one end to another. Just after the midway point of the opening period, Sam Jones saw a shot blocked on the edge of the area.

With 32 minutes gone, Bangor came close to doubling their lead. After a neat pass by Sam Jones, Mason Blackwell-Jones broke into that penalty area and showed neat footwork before his shot well saved by Edwards. The Chirk goalkeeper then pulled off an excellent save to tip Cai Powell-Roberts’s follow up shot over the bar. Tom Clarke then headed narrowly over the bar from the resultant corner.

Edwards was having a busy first half and did well to save at the feet of Mason Blackwell-Jones as the pacy attacker again broke into the box.

Chirk continued to threaten on forrays upfield and captain Matthew Williams had a header on target following a corner that was saved by Huw Shaw.

Seven minutes before the break, the visitors levelled the score. Max McLaughlin turned on the right side of the area and fired in a powerful shot from a tight angle that beat Huw Shaw.

Following some neat passing, Bangor had the chance to regain their lead shortly afterwards when the ball reached Craig Whelan on the edge of the area but he shot over the bar.

In the final minute of the half, Craig Whelan again went close with a header following a corner but the sides returned to the changing rooms at the interval with the score level.

HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1-1 CHIRK AAA

In the opening minute of the second period, the visitors came close to taking the lead. Jack Edwards got in behind the box and chipped the ball just over the bar from 20 yards out.

The visitors continued to threaten in the minutes that followed and a free-kick by Max McLaughlin was deflected out for a corner.

Ten minutes into the second half, Bangor came close to regaining the lead from a familiar source. Joe Culshaw’s chipped ball into the box found Corrig McGonigle but his shot on the half volley was well saved by Edwards.

Moments later, Craig Whelan looked set to break through on goal but unfortunately pulled up with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Dale Davies, who joined recently from Chirk. Minutes after coming on, Davies came close to scoring against his former club following a corner but headed the ball narrowly wide.

Midway through the second half, Bangor regained the lead. After Cai Powell-Roberts had been fouled after breaking forward menacingly, Corrg McGonigle found the bottom right corner of the net with a free-kick from right of the penalty area.

McGonigle came close to doubling the advantage shortly afterwards when he charged down an attempted pass forwards by the visiting goalkeeper Edwards but the stopper recovered to block the striker’s follow-up.

Chirk went in search of a second equaliser and it took a last-ditch tackle by Tom Clarke to deny Jack Edwards as he bore down on goal.

Cai Powell-Roberts then broke into a threatening position on the right but Edwards once again saved well after Corrig McGonigle tried to turn the ball in at the near post.

With twelve minutes left, Bangor did manage to extend their lead. Corrig McGonigle swung in a corner kick from the left and Tom Clarke scored with a powerful header from six yards out.

Inside the final ten minutes, Corrig McGonigle came close to extending the advantage after being played in by Joe Sullivan but Edwards again saved well.

With the clock ticking down, Chirk got themselves right back into the game when Jack Edwards broke into the box and finished well after the visitors won the ball on halfway.

A tense finish ensued but Bangor hung on to claim a precious victory.

FULL-TIME: BANGOR 1876 3-2 CHIRK AAA

Our next game will be away to Holywell on Saturday 20 January (2pm kick-off). We are planning to run a supporters’ to this game and it will leave Bangor Railway station at 11.00am. Cost will be £15.00. Contact Dave Roberts (07517 482182) for booking and payment details.