FLASHBACK – 15 years ago: Reed double earns City hard-fought victory over Porthmadog

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE – DECEMBER 27, 2009

Bangor City 2 (Reed 25. 90+3)
Porthmadog 0

Report: Mike Smith, Citizens Choice website

On this weekend 15 years ago Jamie Reed struck at the double to earn Bangor City the honours against Porthmadog at Farrar Road

This tough local derby was in the balance until the third minute of added time when Reed completed his brace – and 10th WP strike of the season.

Attacking the Farrar End, Bangor opened brightly and Reed was in the action early on with a shot on the turn from Ashley Stott’s cross. Inside the first five minutes a Sion Edwards corner was headed over by Peter Hoy, who started in midfield alongside Dave Morley.

Dave Swanick went close from a second City flag-kick before Gareth Parry was denied by Paul Smith for a corner for the visitors which ended in Ceri James shooting low on target but too close to the leeper.

On 25 minutes though Bangor had the lead. A storming run down the right by full back Swanick led to a pacey low cross and a close range finish from Reed.

Bangor continued to press. Sion Edwards got the better of Port goalkeeper Richard Morgan but a third blues corner was cleared.

Then as the game switched end to end Aden Shannon sent a dipping volley onto the roof the Bangor net.

Chris Jones caused a problem or two on the right and his effort flew over the St Paul’s crossbar.

Chris Sharp was shown the yellow card by referee Kevin Parry before Chris Jones again tested Smith with a clean low strike from the right.

HALF TIME 1-0

Before the restart Craig Garside replaced Hoy in central midfield. Almost immediately Mike Foster was yellow carded for a foul on Reed.

Worse was to come for Bangor as Swanick was helped off with what looked like an ankle injury. Young Marc Evans replaced Mike Thompson for Port on 49. Two minutes later Clive Williams took over at right-back from Swanick.

Porthmadog now threw caution to the wind and won a couple of corners, the second of which fizzed across the goal with no-one alert enough to take an easy chance.

The Citizens rallied, Sion Edwards launching a telling run from the right only to be blocked by Ryan Davies, but the ball ran to Ashley Stott whose shot lacked power.

Port pressed again and Jamie Brewerton and Michael Johnston were at full stretch to contain the visitors. Young Evans was causing problems down the right.

A long range free kick from Shannon forced Smith to palm over and City were relieved to see the corner turned away . A 10th Bangor corner 10 minutes from time saw Stott denied twice in quick succession.

Reed then caught the eye with a long range lob from the right which had Morgan back pedaling furiously.

Port pressed once more and City were grateful to Clive Williams’ clearing header but the ball was soon back and this time it was Chris Roberts who hacked away.

Into injury time Reed gathered the ball inside the visitors half, ignored cries of “take it to the corner” and sent a 22 yard curler beyond Morgan – courtesy of a deflection – and into the corner of the net!

And that was it – a 2-0 win which was never as comfortable as the scoreline might suggest.

TEAMS

Bangor City
Paul Smith, Dave Swanick (Clive Williams 51), Peter Hoy (Craig Garside 46), Chris Roberts, James Brewerton, Michael Johnston, Dave Morley, Jamie Reed, Chris Sharp, Ashley Stott, Sion Edwards (Marc Limbert 65). Unused subs: John Owen, Mark Smyth.

Porthmadog
Richard Morgan, Euron Roberts, Mike Foster (Jack Jones 82), Dan Pyrs, Ryan Davies, John Keegan, Chris Jones, Ceri James (Marc Gornall 63), Aden Shannon, Gareth Parry, Mike Thompson (Marc Evans 49). Unused subs: Meilir Ellis, Dylan Williams.

ATTENDANCE: 678

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

• Bangor City won the return at Porthmadog in April, also 2-0 with goals from Reed and Lee Hunt.
• The Citizens finished fifth in the Welsh Premier and qualified for the Europa League through winning the Welsh Cup for a third season in a row.
• Porthmadog were one of 5 clubs relegated at the end of 2009-10 due to a restructure of the Welsh pyramid which meant reducing national league membership from 18 to 12. The Traeth outfit would have survived in any other campaign, finishing fourth from bottom.
• Jamie Reed notched 24 Welsh Premier goals that season and was second highest-scorer in the league behind Llanelli’s Rhys Griffiths (30).
• Bangor’s Neville Powell was named WPL Manager of the Season. Michael Johnston featured in the league’s Team of the Season.
• Powell won Manager of the Month for December. Keeper Paul Smith was the league’s November Player of the Month and Reed scooped the April award.