Flashback – 5 years ago: Bangor City see off Robins at Nantporth

Bangor City 3 (S Edwards 25, R Edwards 33, Ahmadi 89)
Newtown 0
Welsh Premier League – January 8, 2016

Bangor did the double over Newtown at Nantporth five years ago today – and for good measure repeated the 3-0 scoreline achieved at Latham Park three months previously.

City gave a debut to recent signing Steve Lewis but it was the Edwards’ boys, Sion and Ryan, who scored the goals which all but sealed the important win, with Rio Ahmadi adding a late decider.

Lewis had looked effective before the Citizens delivered the breakthrough on 25 minutes.

Ryan Edwards squared to Lewis who twisted and turned the Newtown defence. His goalbound shot was blocked, but fell for Sion Edwards, who crashed home despite the slithery underfoot conditions.

In the 33rd minute City doubled their lead.

Dec Walker crossed from the right and Newtown could only clear to Ryan Edwards, who pounced and beat Dave Jones all ends up.

Midfielder Edwards was in the mood for more, but his long range piledriver flew over the crossbar.

Then some controversy where Bangor’s Sam Hart caught Tom Goodwin as both flew in wholeheartedly for a 50-50 ball.

Newtown players reacted angrily as Goodwin came off worse, but referee Ryan Stewart took the view that it merited nothing more than a yellow card and the injured man was able to continue after treatment.

Goodwin and Jason Oswell went close, but City stood firm and the danger passed.

Half-time: Bangor 2 Newtown 0

Newtown came out all guns blazing after the interval and might have cut the deficit in the opening minutes.

First Neil Mitchell fired just over before Oswell headed wide from a Craig Williams corner.

City’s Damien Allen had most of the crowd on the edge of their seats as his fierce strike took a deflection and drew a flying save from Dave Jones in the Newtown goal.

With 13 minutes left to play a weary Lewis received a noisy ovation from the blues faithful as he left the field with Ahmadi taking his place.

Bangor fans had their hearts in their mouths moments later as a challenge from Walker brought down substitute Craig Harris in the blues box. Referee Stewart was not impressed and waved play on. A close call. perhaps.

Newtown were far from beaten as subs Harris and Marc Griffiths both had half chances they could not capitalise on.

In the final minutes Ashley Young picked out Ahmadi, who turned his marker on the edge of the box and slid the ball under Jones to add a third goal for the hosts.

Bangor City: Connor Roberts, Dec Walker, Sam Hart, Ryan Edwards, Adam Cummins, Anthony Miley, Chris Jones (Shaun Cavanagh 90), Damien Allen, Steve Lewis (Rio Ahmadi 77), Ashley Young, Sion Edwards (Christian Langos 81).
Attendance: 361.

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