Flashback – 10 years ago today: Prestatyn Town FC celebrate their finest hour

FLASHBACK – 10 YEARS AGO TODAY

2012-13 WELSH CUP FINAL – MAY 6, 2013

Bangor City 1 Prestatyn Town 3

Ten years ago today Prestatyn Town Football Club celebrated the greatest achievement in their history.

For the first – and to date only – time in their now 113-year existence, the Seasiders lifted the famous Welsh Cup, beating eight-time winners Bangor City in the final at Wrexham’s Racecourse ground.

It was a beautiful, sunny day. The King crowned that day was Prestatyn manager Neil Gibson, who had led the club into the top-flight Welsh Premier for the first time ever five years earlier.

Sadly, some who either celebrated or lamented that Bank Holiday Monday are no longer with us.

One who stands out is Mark Jones, former journalist, as well as secretary and media officer for Prestatyn Town, who passed away in December.

Mark was immensely proud that day. His involvement with the club began in their Clwyd League days of the 1980’s and 90’s. 

When we used to talk football in those times, neither of us would even dream about Town winning the Welsh Cup.

However, the club’s rise from tier 3 Welsh Alliance to tier 1 Welsh Premier in two amazing years suddenly made this distant fantasy a possibility, especially as the Football League clubs in Wales had been banned from the competition since 1995.

In that 2012-13 season, Bangor City had finished third in the WPL, with Prestatyn occupying fifth spot.

So based on status at that time, there wasn’t much between the sides in the betting, however City’s far greater record in the national knockout made them favourites.

Bangor had reached their fifth Welsh Cup final in six seasons, Chris Jones scoring the semi-final winner which eliminated The New Saints. In the other last four tie, Prestatyn had outscored Barry Town 2-1, Andy Parkinson and Jason Price on target.

Like they so often did against other clubs, the Citizens’ fervent fan base was expected to drown out whatever noise Gibbo’s Army could come up with inside the famous Racecourse.

That’s not how it turned out, however. The Prestatyn supporters more than held their own in the sound department – an absolute credit to the club.

So, to the game….

And it was Prestatyn who calmed any nerves by stealing an early lead.

A swinging cross from right wing-back Chris Davies was palmed out unconvincingly by keeper Lee Idzi, and Ross Stephens picked out the unmarked Jason Price, who prodded home from four yards.

Inside 10 minutes Bangor were awarded a somewhat fortunate penalty when referee Kevin Morgan ruled Anthony Stephens had shoved Chris Simm to the ground.

Up stepped Dave Morley, who fired his spot-kick to the right, but Jon Hill-Dunt guessed the correct way and made a fine save.

Hill-Dunt had to be sharp again soon after when he tipped over Liam Brownhill’s over-hit cross, which looked like sneaking in under the crossbar.

Prestatyn might have gone two-nil up when Stephens crossed low from the left and Price got his feet tangled, missing a glorious opportunity.

Hill-Dunt produced his best save yet, when he acrobatically kept out a Les Davies bullet header from a byline Ryan Edwards cross.

Half-time: Bangor 0 Prestatyn 1.

Early in the second half it was Hill-Dunt to the rescue again when he held a Chris Jones volley blasted from the edge of the box.

On the hour it was all-square when Simm latched onto a flick on and his shot across goal went in off Prestatyn’s unfortunate Chris Davies.

Town rallied and Gibson found Michael Parker with an exquisite chip, but Idzi pulled off a brave point-blank stop.

Simm lashed just over and Hill-Dunt saved brilliantly low down from Ryan Edwards as the all-blues pushed.

The all-reds remained dangerous on the break, Parkinson drilling just wide after combining well with Price.

Substitute Sion Edwards swung over a good cross for Neville Powell’s men, but the rising Davies’ header narrowly missed the target.

90 mins: Bangor 1 Prestatyn 1.

Into extra time and it was proving not to be Les Davies’ day. The big striker had a great chance from a Robbie Booth chip but nodded wide.

Then came the moment that swung the final.

Michael Johnston was somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled Parkinson on the left.

Referee Morgan produced a second yellow and red for Johnston, which appeared unfair.

That Prestatyn scored from Parkinson’s free-kick, Stephens claiming a vital touch, added insult to injury.

Six minutes into the second period Price made it 3-1 after smart combination play with Parkinson.

And that secured an amazing first Welsh Cup win for Prestatyn.

RIP Mark Jones – this memory was for you !

Teams

Bangor: Lee Idzi, Liam Brownhill (Peter Hoy 105), Chris Roberts, Dave Morley (Robbie Booth 65), James Brewerton, Michael Johnston, Chris Jones (Sion Edwards 59), Damien Allen, Les Davies, Chris Simm, Ryan Edwards. Unused subs: Corey Jones, John Owen.

Prestatyn: Jon Hill-Dunt, Chris Davies, Anthony Stephens, Dave Hayes, Greg Stones, Gareth Wilson (Rhys Owen 106), Michael Parker, Neil Gibson, Andy Parkinson, Jason Price (Rhys Lewis 119), Ross Stephens. Unused subs: Dan Evans, Carl Murray, Adam France.