Flashback – 15 and 10 years ago: Bangor 3 Port Talbot 2 (2006); Bangor 2 Port Talbot 2 (2011)

Bangor City 3 (Lamb 43, Roberts 67, K Jones 90)
Port Talbot 2 (Pridham 27, Griffiths 71)
Welsh Premier – March 25, 2006

Trailing 1-0 until close to half time, Bangor fought back to beat sixth-placed Port Talbot 3-2 thanks to a last gasp goal from substitute Kyle Jones.

With a breeze aiding the visitors as they attacked the St Paul’s End, Bangor forged an early chance for student Mike Linnecar.

Port struck back through Lee John and Rob Cockings, but neither unduly troubled recalled goalkeeper Andrew Price.

On 27 minutes though the visitors went ahead. A long clearance out of defence was latched onto by Craig Hanford who launched a wind-assisted punt into the Bangor box.
Chris Pridham reacted first, controlled and calmly chipped Price from the edge of the box for a deserved lead.

The Citizens fought back and seized the initiative with right winger Linnecar making progress along the touchline. Adam Docker, a tower of strength in the centre of defence, launched a long throw from the left which Carl Lamb headed on, but Paul Roberts could not latch onto the half chance.

Chris Priest set up Clayton Blackmore, but Talbot goalkeeper Neil Thomas punched away in spectacular style.

Carl Jones then crossed from the left but Lamb headed wide under pressure from Neil Thomas.

A foul on Carl Jones on the left yielded a free kick sent goalwards by Blackmore. The ball dropped to Linnecar who was half tackled, Paul O’Neill darted in to find Priest, whose low cross invited a volley from Lamb which beat Thomas all ends up.

Half-time: 1-1

The breeze now assisted City, but it was Port Talbot who went close with Matthew Rees heading a corner onto the Bangor crossbar.

As play switched upfield, Carl Jones fired right footed from 20 yards but saw his goalbound effort blocked, then an almighty scramble in the Bangor box ended in Price finally clutching the ball on the deck.

On the hour Bangor won their first corner and minutes later replaced Kieran Killackey with Kyle Jones whilst the visitors sent on Gareth Phillips for Cockings.

In the 67th minute City had the lead.

Paul Roberts gathered the ball on halfway and passed to Priest who in turn found Lamb. His return pass seemed intended for Priest. but it was Roberts who regained possession and beat Thomas from 20 yards.

Bangor promptly introduced Layton Maxwell for Linnecar but on 71 minutes the visitors were level.

A dubious free kick allowed Tom Hooper a shot at goal which Price saved well but the rebound fell to Rhys Griffiths who netted from close range.

Port’s Lee John had a penalty claim turned down before on 90 minutes Priest kept his feet on the right before crossing to the edge of the box where substitute Kyle Jones headed down and beyond Thomas to the delight of the home support.

Bangor City: Andrew Price, Clayton Blackmore, Ben Ogilvy, Kieran Killackey (Kyle Jones 60), Adam Docker, Paul O’Neill, Mike Linnecar (Layton Maxwell 71), Chris Priest, Paul Roberts, Carl Lamb, Carl Jones (Kwame Barnett 87).
Attendance: 226.

Bangor City 2 (Bull 20, Moss 50)
Port Talbot Town 2 (Bowen 44, Grist 90)
Welsh Premier League – March 25, 2011

Title-chasing Bangor made it no wins in four after a very late goal from Lloyd Grist cost them two points at home to Port Talbot.

Having whipped the South Walians 8-1 at Farrar Road earlier in the campaign, and beaten them 3-0 away in the Welsh Cup, Neville Powell’s men would have felt very confident before kick off on this March night 10 years ago, yet the much expected home win was not to be.

The big surprise pre-start was the return of Lee Kendall in goal for Port, whilst Chris Oldfield kept his place for City.

On the quarter hour an unpleasant incident saw David Brookes needlessly kick and barge Bangor defender Michael Johnston into the perimeter fence. Referee Huw Jones adjudged it worthy of a yellow card, a touch lenient perhaps. The blues defender needed stitches at pitch-side and managed to continue.

Twenty minutes up and Bangor had the lead. A big clearance from Paul Smith was helped on by Les Davies for Alan Bull, who ran goalwards before beating Kendall with a well-placed shot.

City could have been further ahead before Talbot’s Luke Bowen found the roof of the net from close range.

Half-time: 1-1

The visitors came into the game far more after the interval, but five minutes in City went ahead again as Darren Moss headed home Nicky Ward’s right wing corner.

In the 78th minute, Moss appeared to be felled in the box. This sparked a frenzy of activity as Ward saw red and Davies yellow as Mr Jones reacted to – presumably – comments passed.

Bangor looked set to hang on before, in the second of four added minutes, Grist’s volley crashed off Peter Hoy and over Oldfield to make it 2-2.