WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR: Subs strike late to send Bangor 1876 into quarters

JD WELSH CUP ROUND 4 – DECEMBER 13

CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876 2 (Smith 84, S Jones 90+3)
Trefelin BGC 0

A tremendous crowd of 1,376 saw Bangor City 1876 eliminate higher-tier Trefelin and reach the Welsh Cup quarter-finals thanks to two late goals from substitutes Jack Smith and Sam Jones.

The visitors, second in Cymru South, were favourites for Saturday’s last 16 tie at Bangor City Stadium, but paid a price for being reduced to 10 men after just 19 minutes when Jasper Jones irresponsibly took out James Barry after he intercepted a poor kick-out from the keeper.

Trefelin made a good start and almost took a fourth-minute lead Declan Morgan-Evans’ 20-yard free kick was spilled by Carl Jones and the ball was bound for the goal until the keeper turned swiftly and retrieved it before it crossed the line.

Jones’ dismissal did not initially deter the travellers, who should have scored the opener when Morgan Thomas delivered to the back post where an unmarked and stooping Lewis Ware somehow headed wide.

Bangor began to make their man advantage count from the midway point of the first half, Jamie Reed firing straight at keeper Scott Coughlin on the turn before Cai Powell-Roberts’ low cross from the right was handled on the ground by captain Tyler Brock, but referee Alex Livesey saw no offence.

Josh Carey was really threatening down the right for the hosts and his effort came back off keeper Coughlin before an heroic block from Kori Parker foiled Barry.

In stoppage time at the end of the half, Louis Caramella-Gerrard volleyed against the top of the bar for Trefelin, who were still well in this contest.

Half-time: 0-0

Bangor tried to press on in the second half, but came up against some strong defending.

Carey climbed well to meet a Tommy Creamer cross but his downward header was off target.

A whipped Carey corner from the right then somehow missed everyone in the six-yard box and skidded wide of the post.

Finally, on 84 minutes, the breakthrough.

A Trefelin corner led to an 1876 counter-attack. Creamer released Dylan Summers-Jones, whose low centre from the right was finished off superbly by sub Smith.

Shaun MacDonald somehow cleared off the line to deny Reed before Michael Johnston’s men clinched a famous win in the 93rd minute.

Summers-Jones’ low drive came back off the post and fell perfectly for 88th minute sub Sam Jones to find the empty net.

That makes it 22 unbeaten for the season in all competitions for the amazing Citizens.