Change of fixture for Bangor 1876 follows great win over fellow fan-owned FC United

There has been a change of opponent for Bangor 1876’s next friendly.

On Tuesday evening (9 July) Michael Johnston’s side will now face Penmaenmawr Phoenix rather than Porthmadog. Kick-off versus Phoenix is 7.30pm and it’s on Treborth 3G.

Bangor will be aiming to repeat the good form shown on Saturday, when they beat FC United of Manchester 4-2 at Nantporth Stadium.

Five years previously, United had been 1876’s first-ever opponents in a friendly at Broadhurst Park, Manchester.

A far more experienced home side won 12-1 that day, but it was still a grand occasion for a newly-formed, fan-owned visiting team playing their first-ever game of football together.

Quite a contrast in 2024, when a now established 1876 which has risen three levels up the Welsh pyramid from Tier 5 to Tier 2 Cymru North, defeated their English pyramid Tier 7 Northern Premier League Premier Division visitors 4-2 in front of a large crowd at Nantporth.

Jonathan Ervine describes the match action

Bangor made a lively start. Corrig McGonigle took a quick free-kick that found Mason Blackwell-Jones, but the midfielder’s shot across the face of goal went narrowly wide.

At the other end, the visitors threatened on a quick counter attack but Huw Shaw saved a powerful shot.

Just after the half-hour, Blackwell-Jones’ shot from the edge of the box was saved well. McGonigle fired towards goal on the rebound, but an FC United defender cleared off the line.

On 41 minutes, Bangor took the lead. Cai Parry-Roberts played in a low cross from the right and McGonigle scored from close range.

FC United were also playing some neat football and went close to scoring either side of the Bangor opener via efforts from their lively attacker, Germany-born 18-year-old Bob Jammeh.

HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1-0 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER

After a series of Bangor substitutions at half-time it was FC United who made the better start to the second period.

They drew level after 53 minutes when Jammeh broke into the left side of the box and scored with a well-placed low shot.

Bangor quickly broke to the other end and Ben Owen jinked past an opponent before curling a shot over the bar from 25 yards out.

However, 1876 were soon back in front. A corner kick from the right after 56 minutes by Blackwell-Jones reached Corey Jones near the penalty spot and the defender scored with a well-placed volley.

Two minutes later, McGonigle dispossessed a visiting defender on the edge of the box but saw his shot turned onto the post by the goalkeeper. However, a member of the Trialist family – who had representatives on both sides – tucked away the rebound.

Midway through the second half McGonigle scored his second and Bangor’s fourth. Dan Cox broke forward and played a neat pass to the attacker who found the net with a powerful shot into the top right corner.

After 83 minutes, FC United managed to score their second through Lewis Gilboy.