FLASHBACK – 20 YEARS AGO: Davenport’s last game in charge of Bangor ends in loss at Rhyl

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE – DECEMBER 4, 2005

Rhyl 4 (Moran 2, Hunt, Stones)
Bangor City 1 (Hay)

Report: Mike Smith, Citizens Choice website

It is still almost impossible to accept that 20 years on from this day in 2005, these two giants of Welsh football no longer exist in the form where both became multiple Welsh Cup winners and league champions in the Welsh and English pyramids across many decades.

This December Welsh Premier encounter 20 years ago turned out to be Peter Davenport’s final match in charge of Bangor City and ended in a heavy defeat at Belle Vue to a Lilywhites side inspired by a commanding performance from former Blues favourite Ricky Evans.

The early exchanges saw re-signed Kenny Burgess cross from the right and Paul Whitfield save from Clayton Blackmore before City stopper Andrew Price gathered comfortably from Andy Moran, who latched onto Chris Adamson’s curling cross.

The sparring came to an abrupt end on 19 minutes when Lee Hunt found the back of the net from a tight angle at the back post after a deep cross from the left by Adamson.

Bangor fought back and thought they had won a penalty when Burgess was clearly tripped in the box, but referee Mark Whitby thought otherwise and yellow carded the winger for diving.

Moran stung Price’s hands with a 25 yard screamer before John Hulse’s Rhyl doubled their advantage on 27 minutes. A straightforward corner from the right dropped into the six yard box and Moran crashed home, unmarked, to the delight of the noisy home contingent.

With Ricky Evans a dominant force in the middle of the park, City found it difficult to establish any kind of creative platform. When Bangor sought to reply Alex Hay crossed from the left but Paul Roberts stooped to head over from six yards with Whitfield at full stretch.

On the stroke of half time Paul Roberts fired a free kick from the right which was not cleared and watched as Paul O’Neill failed to make clean contact and Whitfield just managed to gather on the ground.

HALF TIME 2-0

Three minutes after the interval the game was over as a contest. A Mark Powell free kick dropped in the penalty area where unmarked Greg Stones waited to drive home from eight yards.

Five minutes later a booming deep cross from the right from the outstanding Ricky Evans was headed home emphatically by Moran who left Price with no chance from the left.

By now former Bangor favourite Evans was in full flight and – in that sort of mood or form – is clearly the best midfielder in the league bar none. For Bangor, O’Neill stuck to his task resolutely along with Martin Beattie and midfielder Paul Friel.

On 55 minutes Bangor forced a reply when Hay was first to react after Blackmore’s corner was turned goalwards by Roberts.

Hay rushed forward on the left to send a low rasping drive wide of the left hand upright but was replaced moments later in a double substitution along with Chris Priest; Kyle Jones and Mike Burke entering the field.

Young Price pulled off a tremendous save from Mark Powell who had latched onto a deep cross. Burke shot on target from 25 yards out but Whitfield held comfortably enough.

And to a large degree that was that. Bangor sent over a number of crosses that no one in particular managed to get on the end of, Rhyl forced a couple more saves from Price who generally played well behind a defence which allowed the Lilywhites forwards too much time and space.

• Before the match a minute’s silence was held in honour of Phil Stanley, long-serving sports reporter on the North Wales scene and a regular face at Belle Vue over many years dating back to the late 1960’s. who passed away that week, aged 58.
  Phil will forever be remembered and is still very much-missed by his many friends and colleagues.

Rhyl: Paul Whitfield, Mark Powell, Stuart Graves, Greg Stones, George Horan, Gareth Wilson, Marc Limbert, Andy Moran, Lee Hunt, Ricky Evans, Chris Adamson. Subs: James Brewerton, Tommy Mutton, Gary Powell.

Bangor City: Andrew Price, Clayton Blackmore, Martin Beattie, Lee Martin, Paul O’Neill, Paul Friel, Kenny Burgess, Chris Priest, Paul Roberts, Alex Hay, Carl Lamb. Subs: Mike Walsh, Mike Burke, Darren Gowans, Ben Ogilvy.

ATTENDANCE: 672

OTHER MEETINGS THAT SEASON

Sep 13, 2005: Bangor City 2 Rhyl 4 (League Cup)
April 11, 2006: Bangor City 0 Rhyl 3 (Welsh Premier League)
May 7, 2006: Rhyl 2 Bangor City 0 (Welsh Cup Final)