Bangor 1876 clinch fabulous fifth spot in debut Cymru North season

JD CYMRU NORTH

Llanidloes Town 0
Bangor 1876 4 (C Jones 35, Morris 42, McGonigle 67, Clarke 90+2)

In their first season at Cymru North level Bangor 1876 have clinched fifth place in the table – a great achievement.

While 1876 have lost six out of six against the elite top-three – Flint Town United, Holywell Town and Airbus UK Broughton – Michael Johnston’s side have won 17 of their 29 league games and more than been a match for anyone below the leading trio.

On Saturday, Bangor travelled to Llanidloes for their penultimate game of the campaign, aiming to complete a double over the relegated Powys outfit, who they whipped 6-0 at Nantporth back in July.

The visitors to Victoria Park knew a victory would ensure they pip fellow promoted side Denbigh Town – who they face in their final match on Tuesday – to fifth spot.

For more than half an hour, chances were very scarce with neither team looking like making the breakthrough.

However, in the 35th minute, the blue and whites took the lead.

Corey Jones displayed – not for the first time by any means – his strength in the air to score with a firm header, Harry Galeotti with the assist.

Three minutes before the break, Liam Morris produced a mazy run into the box before applying the finish for his 10th goal of the season.

Half time and 1876 in command.

Midway through the second half, the away team made it 3-0.

Corrig McGonigle was on hand to notch his 26th league goal of the campaign – making him second highest scorer – and 29th in all competitions.

McGonigle produced a typically calm finish from a Mason Blackwell-Jones assist to all but secure the points for Bangor.

And the visitors were not finished as defender and substitute Tomos Clarke headed in number four two minutes into added time from a McGonigle delivery.

Bangor could mathematically still grab fourth place on goal difference if they win their final game at Denbigh by 10 clear goals, but against a side as good as Town that is highly unlikely to happen.

Fifth place is a superb accomplishment for a team which only formed in 2019-20 and have risen from Tier 5 to Tier 2 within three seasons.

Bangor 1876

Huw Shaw
Dan Cox (Dion Jones 68)
Joe Culshaw (c)
Corey Jones
Iolo Hughes
Mason Blackwell-Jones
Craig Whelan
Dale Davies
Corrig McGonigle
Liam Morris
Harry Galeotti (Tomos Clarke 83)