1876 exit cup after late drama

Gavin Lee Redfern-Jones reports on a dramatic afternoon of action

Fellow JD Cymru North side Flint Town United were the visitors to Nantporth in this cup fixture. This was to be the first time that Bangor 1876 have faced The Silkmen this season and on this occasion, a place in the fourth round of JD Welsh Cup was up for grabs.

Bangor almost took an early lead. Full-back Cai Powell-Roberts collected the ball from his own half and showed excellent dribbling skills to drive up through the centre of the pitch and avoid tackles along the way. Approaching the penalty arc, he passed into the path of Corrig Mcgonigle who opted to leave the ball running behind him and into the path of winger Liam Morris. Morris's shot from just inside the left side of the box went over the bar.

Flint came close to taking the lead at the ten-minte mark when full-back Anthony Stephens stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the right-hand side of the box. His left-foot curling effort crashed against the crossbar and was cleared away from danger.

Another opportunity came for Bangor in the 32nd minute. Powell-Roberts was involved again when his lofted ball from the half-way line found forward Sam Jones with his back towards goal and marked tightly. After fending off a challenge from a defender, Jones used his close-control quality to turn and penetrate the left side of the box and get a shot off, but his low effort was directed just wide of the left post.

Minutes later, Joseph Williams came close to giving Flint the lead when he fired from a tight angle on the right with an shot across the face of goal. Bangor stopper Carl Jones was relieved to see the ball drift just outside the left post.

Bangor reacted with another close effort almost immediately. After initially attacking the right wing, Liam Morris decided to reset the posession and play the ball back to Powell-Roberts who in turn found Bangor midfielder Joe Sullivan on the inside-right channel. After steadying the ball, he guided a cross towards the centre of box, where it was met in the air by fellow midfielder Craig Whelan. However, his header crept just wide to the left of the goal.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock and both went into the half-time break with the scores goalless.

HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 0-0 FLINT TOWN UNITED

Ten minutes after the restart, Flint came close to taking the lead. Full-back Jake Phillips attacked the space on the left wing but was closely tracked by Bangor captain Jamie Petrie. Unable to get round the outside of his marker, Phillips cut back inside and onto his right foot to deliver a low cross into the path of forward Joshua Jones. He applied a delicate, first-time flick that was inches wide of the right post.

Flint took the lead in the 67th minute via Elliott Reeves. After avoiding a challenge from Bangor centre-back Corey Jones inside the box, Reeves's low shot went across the face of goal and found the bottom right corner to give the visitors the lead.

With less than ten minutes remaining, Bangor went in search of an equaliser. A great opportunity came from Joe Culshaw's corner on the left. With Flint goalkeeper Rhys Williams failing to make a punching clearance and Bangor substitute Dan Cox almost making a connection with a header, the ball fell to Corey Jones at the back-post. But he was unable to apply the finishing touch as his effort flew beyond the crossbar.

Deep into injury time, Bangor found themselves an equaliser from an unlikley source. Having been given license to go up for an attacking corner, Bangor stopper Carl Jones fired home the leveller from within the six-yard box following a goal-mouth scramble after a Corrig McGonigle corner.

With the 90 minutes of regular time over and the scores level at 1-1, the result was to be decided via a penalty shoot-out.

Bangor were handed an early advantage in the shoot-out when Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro fired Flint's first penalty over the bar. This advantage was cancelled out when Flint goalie Williams saved Gethin Thomas's spot-kick after he stepped up to take Bangor's fourth penalty. When Solomon Forde's penalty gave Flint an 8-7 lead in the shoot-out, it was Cai Powell-Roberts's turn to try and level the scores, but he could only drag his spot-kick wide of the left post.

After a valiant effort in what was a competitive cup tie, Bangor 1876 were knocked out of the JD Welsh Cup as Flint Town United progressed into the fourth round.

FULL-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1 - 1 FLINT TOWN UNITED (Flint Town United won 8-7 on penalties)