Welsh Cup classics No 17: Bangor City v Glantraeth (2003-04) – huge upset!

Bangor City 0
Glantraeth 0
(aet – Glantraeth won 7-6 on pens)

Welsh Cup second round – October 4, 2003

Although Glantraeth have achieved some marvellous results in their 36-year history this Welsh Cup victory at Farrar Road in October 2003 probably ranks as their best.

Paul Whelan, then manager of the Anglesey club, was already a Bangor folk hero having scored for the Citizens at Wembley in the 1984 FA Trophy Final against Northwich Victoria. The match ended 1-1 and City lost 2-1 in the replay.

So a return to Ffordd Farrar was always a special occasion for Wheelo whatever the circumstances, but this one with Glantraeth even more so as his players pulled off a truly stunning result over their Welsh Premier hosts.

Bangor were stifled, smothered and eventually put to the sword by a well-organised visiting team whose players – by and large – lived within a mile or two of the city.

Glan’s giant left winger Les Davies, from Maesgeirchen, produced a couple of dangerous early runs before Kenny Burgess had City’s first chance with a volley from Peter Hoy’s right wing cross, then Lee Hunt headed off target as Bangor seemed to be getting on top.

The visitors’ Mark Thomas produced a superb cross-field ball which invited Mark Owens’ cross, but Richard Owen headed wide.

Hunt raced in behind the impressive pairing of Warren Gibbs and the pacey Ryan Davies, but blasted high into the Farrar End.

Bangor midfield maestro Ricky Evans sent a glancing header narrowly wide before Ross Jefferies enjoyed his best moment of the match on the stroke of half time with a 20-yarder which Paul Pritchard did well to save.

Half Time 0-0

City opened the second half with something to prove and duly forced four corners inside 10 minutes, but the nearest these came to any real reward was a 22 yard dipping volley from Evans which sped over the bar.

The 18-year-old Les Davies then inspired the visitors once again with a powerful run which resulted in two corners.

With 64 minutes gone City’s Clayton Blackmore replaced winger Gary Roberts, then seconds later Owain Jones sent a 30-yard curler narrowly wide.

On 75 minutes Hunt veered on goal with Gareth Owen at his heels. The resulting pull ended Hunt’s advance and should surely have seen the full-back head for an early shower, but the card was yellow despite his last man position.

In injury time, Bangor’s Eifion Jones was rightly red carded for a trip on the edge of the home box.

90 minutes 0-0

Into the first period of stoppage time and Paul Gedman saw his shot pushed over. The hosts pressured, but failed to hit the target often enough.

The second period saw Gedman race into the box but pull his shot narrowly wide, then Evans’ 20-yarder was pushed away by Pritchard at the foot of the post. Les Davies then saw red after a kick out at Alan Goodall.

120 minutes 0-0

The penalty shoot out was astonishing, with the first six on each side all converted convincingly.

Rae Ingram then stepped up and Pritchard pushed his effort onto the post – he was making match-winning penalty saves 17 years ago too.

Rob Williams took Glantraeth’s seventh spot-kick and converted to send the Anglesey aces through – what a shock!

One positive to emerge for Bangor from this otherwise lamentable day was the fact it led to them signing Glantraeth star Les Davies.

The rest, as they say, is history with Davies going on to become a City legend in every sense of the word.

Bangor City: Phil Priestley, Peter Hoy, Alan Goodall, Eifion Jones, Gary Roberts, Rae Ingram, Kenny Burgess, Owain Jones, Lee Hunt, Ricky Evans, Ross Jefferies. Subs: Paul Gedman, Paul Friel, Clayton Blackmore

Glantraeth: Paul Pritchard, Gareth Owen, Darren Jones, Warren Gibbs, Ryan Davies, Neil Roberts, Mark Owens, Mark Thomas, Rob Williams, Richard Owen, Les Davies. Subs: Kevin Roberts, Paul Whelan, Carl Thomas.

In the next stage, Glantraeth won 3-0 at Flint Town United before losing 3-2 at Welsh Premier Welshpool in round four.

However, the Lilywhites withdrew after discovering they had fielded an ineligible player in an earlier round, so Glantraeth were reinstated and became the first Anglesey club to reach the Welsh Cup quarter-finals since Holyhead Town in the 1960s.

Glan made the trip to The New Saints in the last eight and were beaten 4-1.