Flashback – 10 years ago: 19th straight Welsh Cup win for Bangor City

Bangor City 2 (Brewerton 6, Reed 65)
Bryntirion Athletic 1 (R Williams 16)
Welsh Cup round three – November 6, 2010

Bangor made it 19 straight wins in the Welsh Cup under Nev Powell at the expense of battling Welsh League underdogs Bryntirion 10 years ago this weekend.

In a strangely subdued first half at Farrar Road, the opening goal came in the sixth minute.

A cross from the left by Nicky Ward was nodded in by James Brewerton and a comfortable win seemed on the cards.

Athletic goalkeeper Peter Blain was all at sea minutes later as he flapped wildly at a Peter Hoy long throw from the right.

Gradually though the Bridgend-based side fought their way back into the match and on the quarter hour Brian Burke’s deflected shot forced Paul Smith to clear with his feet for a corner.

Burke crossed and centre-back Rhys Williams headed home at the near post to stun the home fans and delight the noisy Bryntirion contingent.

Chris Jones and Jamie Reed went close for Bangor, then two minutes before the interval Brewerton headed wide from a corner.

Half-time: 1-1

Playing towards the St Paul’s End after the break, the momentum was with Bangor and Les Davies’ guided header found Reed, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

In the chaos that followed City won four successive corners, had two noisy handball appeals turned down by referee Mike Jones, and finally saw the ball go out for a goal-kick.

Alan Bull then cut in from the left and found Reed but his attempted hook was held by Blain who – having looked wholly out of sorts – was now more calm and composed.

On the hour, Bangor pushed the visitors back again with a couple more corners with a shot cleared off the line before the ball was cleared.

In the 61st minute Craig Garside came on for Chris Jones.

Soon after, the Citizens regained the lead. Hoy’s long throw was half cleared to Dave Morley who found Reed, and he slid the ball home at the second attempt.

With 20 minutes remaining right winger Eddie Jebb came on for Bull.

Bryntirion were still very much in with a chance though, none more so than when Anthony Rawlings hit the post from Richard Hodge’s inch-perfect cross from the right.

Sion Edwards replaced Ward and took up his customary left-wing berth with a quarter of an hour left.

Garside and Chris Roberts went close, then Sion Edwards shot over from the left.

Athletic threatened when Burke thought he was about to score but again captain Brewerton was on hand to clear the danger.

Bryntirion pushed for the equaliser, but it was Bangor who went closest when Reed’s instinctive header hit the post after Hoy’s long throw again disturbed the visitors’ defence.

Bangor City: Paul Smith, Peter Hoy, Chris Roberts, Dave Morley, James Brewerton, Les Davies, Jamie Reed, Michael Johnston, Alan Bull (Eddie Jebb 69), Nicky Ward (Sion Edwards 75), Chris Jones (Craig Garside 61).
Attendance: 432.

Many thanks as always to Mike Smith of the Citizens Choice website for match-day information