Match of the Day: Bangor 1876 beat Denbigh Town to remain top of Cymru North

JD CYMRU NORTH MATCH OF THE DAY

Bangor 1876 2 (S Jones 4, Petrie 33)
Denbigh Town 1 (Pritchard 54)
Report: Jonathan Ervine

Three games into the new season and promoted Bangor 1876 are top of the Tier 2 Cymru North League with a 100 percent record.

Of course it is early days, and no-one at Nantporth will be getting carried away, but it is still a very encouraging start from Michael Johnston’s men, who recorded their best result yet today when they beat old rivals Denbigh Town 2-1.

Last season’s Ardal North West champions, Town defeated 1876 three times in league and cup during 2022-23, but it was the all-blues who got the better of things in Saturday’s hard-fought contest.

Bangor were first to press. Inside the first two minutes, Jamie Petrie broke into the right side of the penalty area but his powerful shot was tipped over the bar by Aaron Jones

With just under four minutes on the clock, the hosts took the lead. A tremendous ball from midfield by Corey Jones landed perfectly into the path of Sam Jones who controlled on the run before beating Aaron Jones with a low shot from just inside the box.

At the other end, Denbigh’s Craig Pritchard headed over the bar following a quick break.

Town’s Morgan Thomas-Sadler had to be stretchered off after sustaining what looked like a painful injury. All at 1876 wish him a speedy recovery.

After the game went into something of a lull, the next chance fell to Bangor. Following some neat lead-up play, Craig Whelan side-footed the ball narrowly over the bar..

In the 33rd minute it was 2-0. Sam Jones broke down the right, dribbled along the byline and his pass across the goalmouth was turned in from close range by Petrie.

A few minutes later, Carl Jones had to show sharp reactions to tip over a cross from Sion Jones that looked like it was dipping under the bar.

With two minutes of the first half remaining, Bangor went close to a third when Corrig McGonigle crossed into the box from the left and a header by Tomos Clarke was cleared off the line.

In first half injury time, after a neat pass from Sam Jones, a shot by McGonigle struck the face of the bar and rebounded to safety.

Clarke then headed in Joe Culshaw’s free-kick but was flagged offside.

Half-time: Bangor 1876 2-0 Denbigh Town

Inside the opening minute of the second half, Denbigh nearly halved the deficit. After Ben Lockley crossed from the right, Carl Jones saved well with his feet to keep out a powerful low shot from Nathan Brown.

In the 52nd minute, Denbigh did manage to find the net when Pritchard curled a fine shot over Carl Jones and into the net from 20 yards.

Shortly before the midway point of the second half, McGonigle played the ball on from the left and Sam Jones’ flicked shot went narrowly wide.

With 20 minutes left Joe Sullivan went close to his first goal for Bangor after cutting in from the right, but Aaron Jones did well to tip his shot from 25 yards over the bar.

Late on, 1876 substitute Liam Morris’ low 25 yard effort forced Aaron Jones into a fine save.

Morris again went close before Bangor withstood some late pressure to secure a hard-earned victory.

Denbigh assistant-manager Kristian Pierce was shown a red card in the 90th minute.

Attendance: 368

BANGOR 1876

Carl Jones
Joe Sullivan (Les Davies 73)
Dan Cox (Luke Steele 60)
Joe Culshaw
Iolo Hughes
Tomos Clarke
Jamie Petrie (c – Liam Morris 73)
Craig Whelan
Corrig McGonigle (Harry Galeotti 90+1)
Sam Jones
Corey Jones

DENBIGH TOWN

Aaron Jones
Ben Lockley
Sion Jones (Danny Clarke 90+1)
Dan Parry-Jones
Morgan Thomas-Sadler (Craig Rogers 21)
Ryan Kershaw
Craig Pritchard
Keiron Roberts (Harry Lockley 48)
Jake Walker (Tom Weir 66)
Paul Fleming
Nathan Brown