Flashback – 15 years ago: Bangor City edge tight win over determined Druids

Bangor City 2 (Paul Roberts 42, Paul O’Neill 74)
Cefn Druids 1 (Mike Heverin 83)
League of Wales – March 21, 2006

Fifteen years ago today Bangor had to resist a late rally from Druids to hold on for three points at Farrar Road.

Citizens player-manager Clayton Blackmore gave a debut to new goalkeeper signing Ian Havard, who had joined from Shrewsbury Town.

The Ludlow-based stopper had played for Colwyn Bay in their double header the previous weekend.

Cefn fashioned the first chance of the match inside 30 seconds when Mike Heverin raced clear but could not find the target to the relief of the Bangor faithful.

City fought back with a free kick from Blackmore which lanky Slovakian Peter Pahulyi held, as he did from Mike Linnecar whose run ended with a weak shot.

With Kieran Killackey working hard in midfield, City finally took the lead on 42 minutes.

Kyle Jones took a throw in on the right, and Linnecar and Carl Jones were involved before Pahulyi fumbled Blackmore’s shot into the path of Paul Roberts who netted from close range.

Into stoppage time and City thought they had doubled the advantage but Carl Lamb saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line.

Half-time: Bangor 1 Druids 0

Bangor looked to build on their lead but Pahulyi saved Roberts header after a good cross from Lamb.

On the hour Layton Maxwell replaced 16-year-old Carl Jones who had enjoyed a promising debut in front of ‘veteran’ left back Ben Ogilvy.

In the 74th minute Bangor finally scored the vital second.

Lamb was fouled on the edge of the box by centre-back Mark Hobson, who was shown the yellow card. Blackmore struck the free kick which was blocked in the goalmouth, but Paul O’Neill reacted first to stab home.

As City fans thought they could relax they were quickly proved wrong as the visitors reduced the deficit on 83 minutes through Heverin, who capitalised on a defensive slip at the back post.

Some nervous moments followed but Bangor deservedly held on – despite lengthy injury time – to secure the win and three points.

Bangor City: Ian Havard, Clayton Blackmore, Ben Ogilvy, Kieran Killackey, Adam Docker, Paul O’Neill, Carl Lamb, Kyle Jones, Paul Roberts, Mike Linnecar, Carl Jones (Layton Maxwell 60).

Cefn Druids: Peter Pahulyi, Aled Rowlands, Chris Roberts, Gareth Roberts, Mark Hobson, Gareth Barton, Paul McDonnell, Mattie Cook, Kevin Leech, Mike Heverin, Osian Jones.

Attendance: 201

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