Flashback – 15 years ago: Injury to keeper turns derby in Rhyl’s favour

Bangor City 0
Rhyl 3 (Hunt 70, Moran 88, Horan 90 +)
Welsh Premier League – April 11, 2006

This game played 15 years ago today at Farrar Road turned on an injury suffered by City keeper Ian Havard after 65 minutes.

Teenager Havard spent the night in Ysbyty Gwynedd with concussion after a collision with Rhyl striker Lee Hunt.

Bangor’s leading goalscorer Paul Roberts took over in goal and was beaten three times in the remaining half hour.

The visitors started brighter and Havard was in the thick of the action as Tommy Harrison and Paul O’Neill were at full stretch to cope with Hunt and Andy Moran. The Lilywhites won nine corners as City creaked but did not crack in the face of intense pressure.

City’s best moments in the first period belonged to 16-year-old winger Carl Jones who forced a clearance from George Horan and a good save from John Gann.

However, the whistle blew and the goalless scoreline gave grounds for optimism for the overworked Bangor defence.

Half-time: 0-0

Former Bangor striker Hunt was the central figure in the second period.

His close range miss seemed an early let-off for the blues but his apparent elbow on 18-year-old Havard saw the young goalkeeper leave the field to be replaced by Roberts between the posts, with Kenny Burgess on in his place.

With the Bangor defence under pressure Hunt’s 20 yard strike opened the floodgates on 70 minutes.

City sent on young striker Mike Burke for the tiring Layton Maxwell, but this did not change the course of events.

A late strike from Moran doubled the lead and deep into added time former City defender George Horan settled the scoring as the visitors ran out comfortable winners.

This was a dress rehearsal for the Welsh Cup final four weeks later and Rhyl triumphed on that occasion too.

Bangor: Ian Havard, Kieran Killackey, Ben Ogilvy, Kyle Jones, Tommy Harrison, Paul O’Neill, Carl Lamb, Chris Priest, Paul Roberts, Layton Maxwell, Carl Jones. Subs: Kenny Burgess, Mike Burke, Kevin Roberts.

Rhyl: John Gann, Mark Connolly, Stuart Graves, Greg Stones, George Horan, Tim Edwards, Mark Powell, Andy Moran, Lee Hunt, Chris Adamson, James Brewerton. Subs: Marc Limbert, Chris Sharp, Chris Taylor.

Attendance: 450

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