Guest statistician Andrew Edwards revives amazing game from 19 years ago today!

Flexsys Cefn Druids 3 (Jefferies, Davies 2, 1 pen)
Bangor City 7 (Lloyd Williams 5, Blackmore, P Roberts)
League of Wales – March 15, 2002

We usually feature reports from 5, 10, 15 and 20 years ago, but thanks to Grassroots North Wales’ top statistician Andrew Edwards from Gwersyllt we are able to share a 10-goal thriller from Plaskynaston from this date back in 2002.

Andrew writes:

Nineteen years ago this evening (2002), my old club Flexsys Cefn Druids lost 7-3 at home at Plaskynaston Lane in a Friday night fixture to Bangor City.

Marc “Jiws” Lloyd Williams scored five on his way to being Europe’s top scorer with 47 league goals in 2001-02. He scored 13 in three matches against Druids that season, including a hat-trick in the Welsh Cup semi-final at Belle Vue, Rhyl on Saturday 6th April.

Clayton Graham Blackmore scored a brilliant free kick in the first half in the 7-3. There will be one camera footage of it from BBC Wales as it was shown on Wales on Saturday the next afternoon.

Incidentally, it was second time in just over 13 months that Druids had lost a home Welsh Premier fixture 7-3.

On the other occasion, Steve O’Shaughnessy’s (who was Ancients player-boss by the Bangor City 7-3) Oswestry Town recorded this score at Plaskynaston Lane on Tuesday 30th January 2000.

Druids were 2-1 up a minute before half time. Oswestry keeper Dave Blower, who was in Druids goal for the Bangor City match a year later, saved a second half penalty from Aled Rowlands, who had an excellent spot-kick record hitherto to this.

Dave Cunnah, who kept Robbie Savage out of the Ysgol Bryn Alyn school team in Gwersyllt, was sent off for Druids for a second booking. That Bryn Alyn era also included the Zambian born Whitley brothers, who both played for Manchester City, Wrexham and Northern Ireland.

Citizens Choice match report – Druids 3 Bangor 7

City started at a pace with early chances created for Clayton Blackmore, Aled Rowlands and Owain Jones, but gutsy Cefn showed their determination on 10 minutes when Graham Brett was forced to clear off the line from the lively Mike Davies.  

On 17 minutes the visitors earned a penalty when Steve Cowap felled Kenny Burgess in the box. To the astonishment of all concerned Marc Lloyd Williams shot weakly and keeper Dave Blower guessed right.

As the home fans roared their relief City simply stepped up the pace, driven on by the centre midfield combination of Owain Jones and Simon Davies.  

A minute later, allowed a measure of time and space in the area, Lloyd Williams turned and placed the ball past Blower, this via a Rowlands cross from the left.

Minutes later another foul on the impressive Burgess led to a free kick which Blackmore placed in the top left corner from 22 yards.

On the half hour Lloyd Williams made it 3-0 with a right footed tap-in after good work from Paul Roberts on the left.

HALF TIME 0-3

With Bangor fans anticipating a bagful Cefn stole their thunder with a quick reposte courtesy of a calm finish from Ross Jeffries on 51 minutes, but on 54 Lloyd Williams completed his hat-trick to make the score 4-1 after a great right wing run by Paul Roberts.  

On 56 minutes Mike Davies converted a pretty unlikely penalty to pull Cefn back into contention at 4-2.

Oddly there then followed 10 minutes of relative calm before Lloyd Williams netted his fourth after a blistering run from halfway by Paul Roberts.  

The selfless striker beat four home defenders before teeing up his free-scoring team mate who finished with a neat clip over the towering Blower.

On 71 minutes Cefn again fought back as Davies raced past the injured Brett to fire through Phil Priestley from 15 yards, 5-3 and a few nerve ends jangling… 

With a fine sense of timing Paul Roberts chased a long ball down the right and scored from a tight angle to establish a 6-3 advantage on 72 minutes.  

After 75 minutes Cunnah was sent off for a second yellow offence, punching the ball away.

The last word went to – yes you guessed – Marc Lloyd Williams whose headed fifth came from a fine cross from the left off substitute Chris Boulton.

City: Phil Priestley, Owain Tudur Jones, Alan Goodall, Graham Brett, Aled Rowlands, Huw Griffiths, Marc Lloyd Williams, Clayton Blackmore,  Paul Roberts, Simon Davies, Kenny Burgess. Subs: Sean Hazelden, Chris Boulton, Steve Cooper

Druids: Dave Blower, Steve Cowap, Mark Allen, Aled Rowlands, Paul Morris, Steve O’Shaughnessy, Dave Cunnah, Craig Wilkinson, Mike Davies, Ross Jeffries, Kevin Breeze. Subs:  Dave Powell, C.Davies, Alan Williams