Flashback – 20 years ago: Keeper Paul Evans shines for Bangor City

Bangor City 1 (Lloyd Williams 73)
Aberystwyth Town 1 (Mardenbrough 65)
League of Wales – May 1, 2001

Llangollen-based keeper Paul Evans produced one of his best performances in a Bangor shirt as a succession of great saves kept Aberystwyth at bay.

With both teams scoring once and failing to convert numerous other chances a draw was probably about right in this end of season run out at Farrar Road played 20 years ago today.

Evans had a good career between the sticks, spending time in his younger years at Liverpool and Aston Villa before going on to represent Caersws, Welshpool Town, TNS, Bala Town and Llangollen Town, as well as Bangor.

Aber started the stronger with Gavin O’Toole prompting from midfield but it was a 25 yard screamer from Paul Roberts on the right that rattled the visitors crossbar as keeper Jason Matthews could only stand and watch.

After 20 minutes Aber’s Glyndwr Hughes missed a golden opportunity when he headed “down and over” from six yards, then Evans made a good save from his identical namesake from 15 yards.

Next City’s keeper pulled off a tremendous one-handed save from Jon Tappin whose 25 yarder seemed destined for the back of the net.

Evans made another good stop from a Gari Lewis effort before the break.

Half-time: 0-0

After largely surviving the first period Bangor grew in confidence following the break, as Marc Lloyd Williams shot at Matthews from close range in the first minute. However, Evans was soon needed to perform more heroics – this time from an O’Toole 30 yarder.

Moments later the keeper let the ball slip from his grasp but help was on hand.

On 50 minutes Lloyd Williams raced past Mark Gornall on City’s left and crossed to the oncoming Rhodri Giggs whose shot was too close to Matthews.

An hour had passed when Evans again shone after Chris Hammond drove cleanly from 25 yards.

However, the blacks and green soon took the lead when former Wolves man Steve Mardenbrough chased a through ball to clip home as home defenders failed to intercept.

Aber might have gone 2-0 up but for some brave defending, young Paul Sellers to the fore, and another stop from Evans following an O’Toole shot.

Evans had a narrow escape as he dropped a right wing cross which Andrew Caree skied from close range.

Moments later on 73 minutes Lloyd Williams latched on to a superb through ball from Giggs to beat Matthews from 15 yards.

Bangor might have snatched a victory when Giggs bewildered defender Hammond to supply Lloyd Williams, who untypically missed from 5 yards.

Bangor: Paul Evans, Graham Brett, Clayton Blackmore, Sean Hazelden, Paul Sellers, Richard Owen, Marc Lloyd Williams, Matthew Bishop, Paul Roberts, Rhodri Giggs, Aled Rowlands. Subs: Steve Cooper, Craig Roberts, Mark Thomas.

Aberystwyth: Jason Matthews, Chris Hammond, Aneurin Thomas, Gavin O’Toole, Steve Pope, Gari Lewis, Glyndwr Hughes, Nigel Nicholas, Paul Evans, Steve Mardenbrough, Mark Gornall. Subs: Andrew Caree, Jon Tappin, Sean Hayes.