FLASHBACK – 20 years ago: Owain Tudur Jones stars in Bangor City beating of Aberystwyth

FLASHBACK: Tuesday, December 7, 2004

Welsh Premier League

Bangor City 4 (Baker 33, P Roberts 38, O Jones 78, Gray 90)
Aberystwyth Town 2 (Thomas 15, Moore 85)

Report: Mike Smith, Citizens Choice website

On this date 20 years ago City needed a 90th minute net-finder from Tony Gray to finally see off the strong challenge of a more than decent Aberystwyth side at Farrar Road.

Bangor boss Peter Davenport replaced the injured Paul Friel with former Manchester United midfielder Simon Davies, with Les Davies retaining his left wing berth.

Visitors Aber were fastest out of the blocks and newcomer Paul Moore hit the woodwork from 20 yards before many supporters had taken their seats.

A foul by Bari Morgan on Gray yielded a free-kick which Clayton Blackmore delivered, Town keeper Lewis Solly flapped and then clutched nervously as Owain Jones could only shin his goalbound effort.

On 15 minutes the Ceredigion travellers went ahead as Aneurin Thomas’ long range free-kick deflected past Richard Acton into the net to the delight of half a dozen noisy Aber fans.

This served as a wake up call for Bangor who, driven on by the towering Owain Jones, saw Solly save well from Kevin Scott with the follow up from Jones deflected wide for a corner.

Second and third corners followed which Les Davies got his head to, but failed to direct on target.

Paul Roberts headed wide from another Blackmore free-kick. Solly then sliced a clearance which Roberts gathered but again missed the target, this time from the right. With Bangor fans starting to contemplate the worst, the equaliser arrived.

On 33 minutes, ex-Wales midfielder Blackmore sent a free-kick into the Aber box which Solly fumbled.

Owain Jones shot on target, Morgan cleared off the line but only as far as the lurking Phil Baker who crashed home from six yards.

Five minutes later City had the lead. Owain Jones was now dominating the middle and his crossfield ball picked out Roberts on the right, with only Aneurin Thomas for company.

Bangor’s top scorer ran at – and then flatfooted – the back-peddling defender before beating Solly with a fierce left footed drive from 10 yards. It was the Criccieth Cannonball’s 17th goal of the campaign in all competitions.

It should really have been 3-1 at the interval but some heroic defending and maverick goalkeeping somehow kept out efforts from Mark Connolly and Owain Jones before referee Kevin Parry whistled for half time.

H-T: 2-1

After the break Aber defended with courage and conviction and seemed on course to keep the scoring down.

On 55 minutes, Connolly rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from Scott’s cross.

Bangor were well on top, but the nagging suspicion that there was a sting in the tail persisted, and when Roberts’ overhead kick flew high over the bar, the feeling grew.

With 20 minutes to go, Blackmore shot well over after good approach play from Les Davies and Simon Davies on the left.

Aber then stole the initiative and Blackmore was responsible for a goal-line clearance as Acton failed to deal with a high centre.

On 78 minutes home fans thought the match was won as the lead stretched to 3-1. Simon Davies powered onto the edge of the box, won a couple of 50-50 challenges before looking up to find the ever available Owain Jones who picked his corner and beat Solly with ease from 10 yards.

Aber were not quite finished, though. Five minutes from time, Moore chased a long ball down the middle, ran to the right and beat Peter Hoy to drive across Acton and see his effort go in off the post.

Home nerves were jangling, but with less than a minute remaining the long striding Owain Jones raced 50 yards down the right touchline and boomed over a superb cross which landed at the feet of Gray. The young striker’s control was good and the finish even better with Solly again beaten by a low drive.

A word for Owain Jones. Outstanding.

Bangor: Richard Acton, Clayton Blackmore, Kevin Scott, Peter Hoy, Phil Baker, Simon Davies, Mark Connolly, Owain Jones, Paul Roberts, Tony Gray, Les Davies. Subs: Chris Short, Eifion Jones, Frank Mottram, Ben Ogilvy.

Aber: Solly, Evans, Burrows, Thomas, James, Lewis, Hughes, Morgan, Moore, Allen, Hinton-Jones. Subs: O.Thomas, Gornall,

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

• Bangor City finished third in the Welsh Premier League that season and qualified for the Intertoto Cup.

• Owain Tudur Jones, then aged 20, joined Swansea City the following season and went on to play for Swindon Town, Norwich City, Yeovil Town, Brentford, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hibernian and Falkirk. He also won seven senior caps for Wales.

• Aberystwyth Town finished a more than respectable eighth at the end of 2004-05.

• Bangor beat Aber 4-2 at home and 2-1 away in the WPL that season.

• Paul Roberts scored 30 goals across all competitions for City in 2004-05. Midfielder Owain Tudur Jones hit 15, Les Davies and Tony Gray nine each, Frank Mottram eight.