FLASHBACK – 10 years ago: Bangor City earn first home win of season at 11th attempt thanks to Healey decider

Welsh Premier League – January 10, 2015

Bangor City 2 (R Edwards 29, Healey 65)
Port Talbot Town 1 (Bowen 31)

Report: Mike Smith, Citizens Choice website

Ten years ago this weekend Bangor City secured their first home league win of the 2014-15 season at the 11th attempt thanks to debutant Lee Healey’s second half decider.

City had made an uncharacteristically awful start to the campaign at Nantporth Stadium, suffering painful home defeats to Newtown, Airbus, Carmarthen, Cefn Druids, Connah’s Quay, The New Saints and Bala Town alongside three draws before their barren run finally ended against Port Talbot.

New faces brought in during the January transfer window made a big difference for the all-blues – one of them being match-winner Healey.

All the new players impressed on debut, but perhaps more importantly the 10 at the club a lot longer raised their game, clearly buoyed by the fresh signings.

But it could have gone badly wrong for Bangor when Michael Johnston mistimed an early challenge on Corey Thomas and was relieved to see a yellow card in referee Ashley Jones’ hand.

On 10 minutes Ryan Edwards burst into the box, was checked by a Port defender and the crowd at the Antelope End roared for a penalty but nothing doing.

Healey threatened when Les Davies passed to Ryan Edwards, who split the visitors defence and the shaven-header striker’s shot crashed into the side-netting.

Talbot, led by Luke Bowen and Martin Rose, put Bangor under some pressure but the centre-back pairing of Anthony Miley and Chris Roberts stood strong, ably shielded by captain Johnston.

Then a breakthrough for City when Callum Morris delivered a corner from the left which was half cleared to Ryan Edwards whose low shot from the edge of the box beat Steven Cann into the corner of the net via a slight deflection on 29 minutes.

There were loud celebrations but before these had died down the visitors drew level. Bangor attacked down the right, Davies and Ryan Edwards set up Morris, but Cann saved.

The keeper then boomed a clearance which December WP Player of The Month Bowen controlled on the right and lifted the over debutant goalkeeper Connor Roberts into the far corner of the net.

Bangor went close through Healey before goalscorer Bowen nearly repeated the effort but this time the ball bounced to safety.

So one-all at half time and much to play for.

One change at the interval as Liam Caddick came on for Johnston.

This saw a change in shape as Caddick took over a right wing berth and the midfield three now became two with Morris and Ryan Edwards up to the challenge.

Bangor looked more purposeful with this shape as Healey continued to impress with a firm strike into the side-netting before Caddick tested Cann with a low shot.

Another promising sign for City as Davies flicked on for Healey who ran to the right but fired over.

On 65 minutes promise was fulfilled as Sion Edwards released Davies who crossed from the left for Healey to steer a low shot beyond Cann into the Port Talbot net.

Port Talbot rallied and forced a few corners, but City defended them well.

Finally came the final whistle which meant so much. A first home win of the season, three points and a step off the bottom of the Welsh Premier at the expense of fellow strugglers Prestatyn, defeated on the day by TNS.

BANGOR CITY: Connor Roberts, Dec Walker, Chris Roberts, Michael Johnston (Liam Caddick 46), Ryan Edwards, Anthony Miley, Callum Morris, Sam Hart, Les Davies, Lee Healey (Chris Jones 90), Sion Edwards (Jamie Petrie 90).

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Bangor had lost 2-0 at Port Talbot in October before Nev Powell’s side got revenge in January
• City finished fourth out of six in the bottom-half Play-Off Conference
• Port Talbot ended the season fifth in the top-half Championship Conference