Thrilling game on the pitch not the only talking point at Bastion Gardens!

JD CYMRU NORTH

Prestatyn Town 3 (A Williams 12, Wiltshire 44, Joyce 48)
Bangor 1876 4 (C Jones 4, McGonigle pen 7, D Davies 54, Blackwell-Jones 73)

What happened on the pitch – seven goals and a lead which changed hands three times – was more than enough to keep the crowd of 262 at Bastion Gardens entertained on Friday night.

But away from the action there was another talking point which had some in the main stand befuddled!

Whenever Bangor were attacking the Central Beach Club end in the second half, the sound of what resembled a much bigger crowd than was present emerged.

Not only that, it appeared the roars were coming from OUTSIDE the ground.

Did someone in one of the adjoining houses have a live game on their TV blasting through the speakers in an attempt to compete with the fans inside Bastion Gardens?

Or was there a vast group of latecomers who were refused entry into the ground so instead cheered on their team from the road outside?

That’s what it sounded like.

At the end of the game, however, as they made for the exit, it was more obvious that the large gathering of 1876 followers alongside the right-wing area of the pitch were responsible for the inspiring roars.

But what made their audibility carry to the other side of the ground like a whirlwind? How do those acoustics even happen? Someone far more scientifically gifted than I may have the answer.

It was certainly a talking point running alongside the game itself, which was a thriller.

Bangor took a fourth minute lead when Iolo Hughes firstly headed against the post from a Corrig McGonigle corner. McGonigle fed the ball back into the box and Corey Jones nodded home powerfully.

Three minutes later, McGonigle was brought down in the box by Tom Kemp – instant penalty no dispute from the home side.

McGonigle fired in his 25th league goal of the campaign and 28th in all to ensure 1876 got off to a real flyer.

Prestatyn soon found their feet and in the 12th minute Alec Williams made it 2-1 from a Tyler Joyce assist via the left.

A minute before the break, Kemp found Luke Wiltshire, who worked the ball onto his right foot and drilled past keeper Carl Jones for 2-2.

All to play for in the second half, and it looked good for the Seasiders when Keiran Jones’ through ball split the 1876 defence far too easily, allowing Joyce to ride a challenge, round the goalkeeper and finish well to make it 3-2. Had Joyce gone down from the attempted tackle, he would surely have earned a stonewall penalty.

Six minutes later it was all-square again. Joe Culshaw fed a free kick into the box from the right and Dale Davies knocked in the equaliser.

Bangor were now on top, McGonigle going very close with two free kicks in dangerous positions.

And 1876 regained the lead in the 73rd minute when keeper Joe Lawlor was unable to keep out Mason Blackwell-Jones’ shot.

Town skipper Kemp was sent off in the 83rd minute for a second yellow card offence.

That was the end of the scoring and after the final whistle the visiting fans who had made around 50 people sound like at least 500 by a quirk of nature left the stadium smiling broadly and with plenty to shout about.

PRESTATYN TOWN

Joe Lawlor, Conor Davies, Emmanuel Lawal, Tom Kemp (c), Connor Whelan, James Stead, Alec Williams (Tom Weir 69), Luke Wiltshire (Adam Jones 87), Tyler Joyce, Macauley Taylor (Will McKinley 23), Keiran Jones.

BANGOR 1876

Carl Jones, Joe Culshaw, Dan Cox (Liam Morris 64), Corey Jones, Iolo Hughes, Tom Clarke (c), Harry Galeotti, Mason Blackwell-Jones (Dion Jones 85), Dale Davies, Corrig McGonigle, Tom Mahoney (Craig Whelan 16).