Flashback – 10 years ago: Bangor City see off TNS in seven-goal cracker

Bangor City 4 (Alan Bull 24, Jamie Brewerton 44, Jamie Reed 61, Les Davies 77)
The New Saints 3 (Steve Evans 16, Alex Darlington 85, Craig Jones 90)
Welsh Premier League – October 2, 2010

On this day 10 years ago Bangor City were absolutely on fire.

Neville Powell’s side swept to an eighth straight league win in a seven-goal thriller against reigning champions TNS.

Bangor started well but on 16 minutes the visitors had the lead. A corner from the right by Ritchie Partridge seemed over-hit, but Danny Holmes retrieved and crossed for Steve Evans to head home.

On 24 minutes City pulled level when Michael Johnston’s free-kick from halfway was headed down by Les Davies for Alan Bull to guide home from six yards.

The pacey Craig Jones was a threat throughout for the full-timers, and his battle with former Buckley team mate Chris Roberts was one to watch.

Jones ran from midway to cross deep for Partridge whose header was punched away by Paul Smith, with Matty Williams blasting the rebound high and wide.

Bangor countered with Nicky Ward gathering a short pass off Bull and forcing Harrison to push his rising drive over for a corner.

In the 37th minute the all-blues won a free-kick to the right of the box and Ward forced a good low save from Harrison.

As half time beckoned Craig Jones went into overdrive, first a bursting run from the left which ended in a clean strike saved by Smith, then a repeat effort culminated in a calm pass to Jamie Wood but he delayed and James Brewerton slid in to block.

The final minute was a bad one for young defender Connel Rawlinson who conceded a corner on the right and then failed to mark his man as Brewerton headed home at the back post.

Half-time: Bangor City 2 TNS 1

Although neither side made a change at the interval only four minutes had elapsed when Peter Hoy limped off in favour of Clive Williams, who took over at right back. Ten minutes in Christian Seargeant replaced Barry Hogan for the visitors.

On 61 minutes Bangor increased their lead. Jamie Reed ran round Rawlinson and flashed the ball over Harrison who perhaps went to ground too early.

TNS responded by introducing leading goalscorer Alex Darlington for Matty Williams.

Eddie Jebb came on for Bull with Matt Berkerley replacing Partridge.

City went 4-1 up in the 77th minute when a long throw from the left from Roberts glanced off Les Davies and bounced inside the far post.

Davies then came off and Sion Edwards entered the fray.

Game over? Not quite!

With five minutes left TNS closed the gap as Craig Jones crossed from the right and substitute Darlington headed home from close range.

The visitors pressed and pushed forward but Reed found space on the counter to step inside Evans only for Harrison to save comfortably,

Sion Edwards then latched onto a poor clearance from Evans but scuffed his shot.

Still 4-2 and into the last minute. Berkeley crossed from the right, and Craig Jones tapped home despite looking well offside.

The fourth official declared three minutes of added time. Finger nails beware, but it was Bangor who went closest when Reed broke down the right and squared to Edwards whose strike hit the helpless Harrison and crashed away to safety.

It mattered not. Referee Kevin Parry whistled and the 1,030 strong crowd celebrated loudly at three more points and a rare win over the Shropshire club.

Bangor stretched their winning run to 15 matches before eventually landing the Welsh Premier title on the final day of the campaign, beating TNS 1-0 at home to make it two triumphs over the Park Hall outfit at Farrar Road that season.

Teams

Bangor City: Paul Smith, Chris Roberts, Peter Hoy (Clive Williams 48), Dave Morley, Jamie Brewerton, Les Davies (Sion Edwards 77), Jamie Reed, Michael Johnston, Alan Bull (Eddie Jebb 70), Nicky Ward, Chris Jones. Subs not used: Tom Dix, John Owen.

The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Danny Holmes, Tommy Holmes, Scott Ruscoe, Steve Evans, Barry Hogan (Chris Seargeant 53), Connel Rawlinson, Craig Jones, Matty Williams (Alex Darlington 61), Jamie Wood, Ritchie Partridge (Matt Berkeley 70). Subs not used: Marcus Giglio, Charlie Proctor.