Battle of the Giants has all the makings of a classic

BIG MATCH PREVIEW

NORTH WALES COAST WEST PREMIER DIVISION

BODEDERN ATHLETIC v BANGOR 1876
(2 PM – CAE TY CRISTION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20)

It is undoubtedly the Premier Division’s match of the season to date with two unbeaten sides going head-to-head.

Top of the table Bangor 1876, who are on 37 points from 13 games visit Bodedern Athletic, lying second with a 100 percent record of 12 straight wins.

Here is the TALE OF THE TAPE

Bodedern Athletic

League games: 12
Wins: 12
Goals scored: 57
Goals Against: 9
Points: 36
Biggest win: 12-0 v Pentraeth (home – Oct 30, 2021)
Top scorer (league only): Marc Evans 18
Top scorer (all competitions): Marc Evans 36

Bangor 1876

League games: 13
Wins: 12
Draws: 1
Goals scored: 68
Goals against: 5
Points: 37
Biggest win: 10-0 v Amlwch Town (home – Nov 6, 2021)
Top scorer (league only): Les Davies 16
Top scorer (all competitions): Les Davies 21

Last outings

Could not be more contrasting. Bangor 1876 recorded their biggest league win of the campaign on November 6, thrashing Amlwch Town 10-0 at Treborth, while Bodedern edged past fellow high-flyers Penrhyndeudraeth 2-1.

In the game before Penrhyn, Boded enjoyed their heaviest league win to date. walloping Pentraeth 12-0 at Cae Ty Cristion.

Overall records this season

In league and cup, 1876 have played 18, won 16, drawn 1, lost 1, goals for 95, goals conceded 14. Their only loss was a 3-1 defeat at Llannefydd in the FAW Trophy.

On October 16, Penrhyndeudraeth became the first team ever to take a league point off Bangor. The fan-owned club had won all previous 26 league games.

Bodedern have been exceptional since day one…

Their full record in league and cups combined in 2021-22 so far reads: Played 22 Won 21 Lost 1 Goals scored 113 Goals conceded 19.

Athletic’s only defeat came against Cymru North side Ruthin Town in the Welsh Cup. Ruthin led 5-0 only for Boded to fight back and lose just 5-4 in the end.

The islanders have won their last nine on the bounce and were also victorious in their opening 12 matches.

Players to watch

You could pick just about anyone from either side, such is the quality of the two squads.

An obvious threat will be posed by 1876 top-scorer Les Davies, who is on 21 goals for the campaign and is a prolific assist-maker as well as net-finder.

Bodedern have an exceptional goalkeeper in Carl Jones. Some of the Bangor side who previously represented City might remember Jones in goal for Holyhead Hotspur in their famous 2015 Welsh Cup win over the Citizens.

Tomos Clarke is a defender for 1876 who can be a real danger at set pieces. He has netted eight goals already this term and some Bodedern players will be familiar with him through his Anglesey connections, having played for Glantraeth and Holyhead Hotspur.

Following captain and key defender Jordan Taylor’s bad shin injury suffered against Penrhyn, which is likely to keep him out for some time, Bodedern manager Ricky Williams needed a replacement.

He has brought in Declan Jones from Gwalchmai.

Williams said: “Dec fits the bill perfectly. I’d heard a lot of good things about him and I saw first hand in pre-season when he played for us away at Hotspur, then I was impressed with him when we travelled to Gwalchmai.

“He’s an old school defender, he loves a tackle, good in the air and can read the game, and can also pick a pass which is vital for the way we like to play. He also brings good leadership qualities with him being the captain at Gwalchmai.”

Of course no preview can pass by without mentioning the dynamic duo – Bodedern’s twin strike force of Marc Evans and Asa Thomas.

The pair have amassed 67 goals between them in all competitions so far and will be a threat from minute one to 90.

Meanwhile, 1876’s Jamie Petrie and Chris Jones have bags of Welsh Premier experience and certainly know where the goal is.

Previous meetings

Just the one, and it was not in a competitive game.

On August 6, 2019, newly-formed 1876 won 3-2 at Bodedern in a pre-season meeting.

Jordan Taylor put Athletic in front, but Benn Lundstram (pen) and Les Davies made it 2-1 to the visitors, a score which remained up until the 87th minute.

Dean Redmond’s headed goal looked to have earned Bodedern a draw, but Dylan Summers-Jones won it for 1876 from a penalty awarded for a foul on Jamie Petrie.