Flashback – 10 years ago: Jamie Reed hits five in Bangor City 8-1 rout

Bangor City 8 (Reed 5, Hoy 2, Garside)
Port Talbot Town 1 (Grist)
Welsh Premier League – December 4, 2010

An unforgettable day for many reasons.

On this date 10 years ago, Bangor City made it 14 straight Welsh Premier wins with a ruthless 8-1 caning of hapless Port Talbot at Farrar Road.

It was an afternoon where the lights went out in Bangor due to a major power cut, meaning the game could start but was not certain to finish.

Proceedings were thankfully completed, and perhaps the biggest headline of the day was Jamie Reed’s five-goal haul.

Attacking the Farrar End, Bangor forced three corners in the opening five minutes but young goalkeeper David Burnett was up to the challenge.

Port Talbot broke and forced Dave Morley to time his tackle perfectly as Martin Rose ran into the box.

Ten minutes in and the visitors’ first corner was quickly cleared but Burnett saved Reed’s long range sighter.

A fourth Bangor corner on 11 minutes resulted in the opening goal. Nicky Ward crossed deep from the right and Reed nodded home from close range.

Three minutes later City doubled their advantage as Burnett could not hold Les Davies’ 30-yard rocket and Reed was again on hand to nod home from the left.

The game was still quite open and the sure-footed Michael Johnston stood firm for City when threatened.

After a quiet spell where neither side could hold on to possession, a roar from the Farrar End meant the tea bar light was on!

The power was restored, which meant we were in business to finish the game under lights.

A minute before half time Bangor went three-up.

Ward’s shot was blocked but rolled back to the left peg who shot again, Burnett saved, but Craig Garside tapped in from close range.

HALF TIME 3-0

On the hour Bangor went close as Peter Hoy collected Davies’ deep cross but Alan Bull’s point blank shot was blocked. Moments later Hoy’s 30-yard effort was deflected wide.

In the 67th minute, against the run of play Port Talbot replied with a goal from Lloyd Grist.

Bangor fans might have wondered if the nature of the game was about to change. Two further corners settled any nerves before on 71 minutes it was 4-1.

Ward crossed and Hoy rose highest to head home from close range.

It was soon 5-1 when Reed’s long range free-kick took a wicked deflection and beat Burnett all ends up to make it a hat-trick.

With 15 minutes left Bangor seemed to up a gear, the ball fizzing around on the skiddy surface, Ward and Garside prominent.

From City’s lucky 13th corner Hoy was credited with his second as Bangor went 6-1 ahead.

Three home substitutions followed in quick succession. Sion Edwards came on for Chris Roberts, Eddie Jebb for Bull, and finally young Clive Williams into centre midfield for Garside.

No sooner had the final sub come on than an 81st minute strike from Reed, a near post flick after a strong run down the left from Edwards, made it seven.

Finally, on 90 minutes and with some supporters ambling home, Burnett saved Edwards’ low shot but Reed slotted home a fifth and ended the proceedings with the match ball firmly grasped to confirm a superb individual performance.

Bangor City: Paul Smith, Peter Hoy, Craig Roberts (Sion Edwards 79), Dave Morley, Michael Johnston, Craig Garside (Clive Williams 82), Jamie Reed, Alan Bull (Eddie Jebb 81), Les Davies, Nicky Ward, Chris Jones.

Many thanks to Mike Smith of the Citizens Choice website for another great report