1876 win in Llanidloes

Gavin Redfern-Jones reports from Powys.....

Bangor 1876 travelled down to Victoria Park for a JD Cymru North league match versus Llanidloes Town. A win for Bangor would secure a fifth-place finish for Michael Johnston's men in their first season of Tier 2 football, whereas Llanidloes Town were destined for relegation no matter the result.

The first real opportunity for Bangor came in the 28th minute. After picking the ball out of the air in the middle of the park, midfielder Craig Whelan picked out winger Liam Morris out to his left. Driving into the box, cutting in and then back out again, he fired a strong shot that required a strong hand from Llanidloes stopper Luke Evans to keep the scores level.

Bangor took the lead 5 minutes later. After Corrig McGonigle's deep freekick was overhit, Iolo Hughes kept the ball in play on the right wing. Harry Galeotti received the ball from his centre-back after offering himself as backup. His drive towards the right byline was followed up by a flat right-footed cross towards the penalty spot, where defender Corey Jones met the ball with a standing header that was aimed just inside the right-post and into the back of the net for Bangors' opening goal.

Bangor almost doubled their advantage minutes later when McGonigle's 40-yard free-kick towards the centre of the box was met on-the-run by Whelan, but his flick on header was inches wide of the goal.

With 5 minutes remaining in the half, Bangor extended their lead. Interplay between full-back Daniel Cox and Morris saw the winger with space to attack the box. After avoiding tackles along the way, his powerful right-footed shot found the top-right corner for Bangor's second.

Bangor went into the half-time break with a two-goal cushion.

Half-time: LLANIDLOES TOWN 0 - 2 BANGOR 1876

Llanidloes came close to pulling a goal back when George Clarke's left-footed volley connected with Gareth Owen's deep cross-field ball. His effort was a whisker away from finding the back of the net

Llanidloes followed up with another close effort minutes later when defender Alexander Jones got on the end of a deep free-kick at the far post. His looping header was inches over the bar.

Half-way through the second half, Mason Blackwell-Jones' hooked clearance from the left touchline found it's way towards the D of the Llanidloes penalty box. Battling with Daffs defender Jones for the loose ball, striker McGonigle shrugged off the challenge and with only the goalkeeper to beat, finished neatly towards the left-post to give Bangor their third goal of the afternoon.

Midfielder Whelan thought he had Bangors' fourth ten minues later when he pounced on the loose ball at the goal-line after Llanidloes keeper Evans fumbled from McGonigles' free-kick, but the referee blew for a foul on the goalkeepeer.

On the 82nd mimute, Evans pulled out a fantastic fingertip save to deny McGonigle a second goal from a free-kick on the edge of the D.

Bangor found themselves a fourth goal in the third minute of added time when Tom Clarke headed back across the face of goal after meeting McGonigles' right-corner at the far-post.

The referee blew for full-time as Bangor secured another memorable away victory. The 3 points secures a fifth-place finish in the JD Cymru North for Michael Johnston's men.

Full-time: LLANIDLOES TOWN 0 - 4 BANGOR 1876