All hail Bangor City 1876 – only the second third-tier club in history to reach the Welsh Cup semi-finals!
Underdogs 1876 played like cast-iron favourites as they stormed into the last four at the expense of higher league Caerau Ely.
A huge crowd of 2,814 was at Bangor City Stadium where the Tier 3 Ardal North West leaders hosted Cardiff-based opponents currently fourth in Tier 2 Cymru South.
Michael Johnston’s blues looked a class above their visitors, not only scoring three goals but also hitting the woodwork on three occasions during 90 electric minutes.
Top-scorer Corrig McGonigle blasted over from a low Cai Powell-Roberts cross before Tommy Creamer unleashed a screamer just wide for the hosts in the opening stages.
The deadlock was broken after 14 minutes with a goal that had a slice of luck about it, but was also down to the determination of the outstanding Powell-Roberts.
Ely keeper Harry Irving rolled out to team-mate Hywel Davies, but in a flash Powell-Roberts steamed into a tackle, fired goalwards and the ball took a strange curve before finding the net.
The South Walians were level on 21 minutes, Daniel Griffiths scoring with a great header from a Bubacan Sama cross.
Bangor regained the lead on 24 and that man Powell-Roberts was involved again when his low delivery from the right was lashed home by the razor-sharp McGonigle – his 27th goal of the campaign.
City were now all over their visitors, Tomos Clarke heading wide before nodding against the post, Irving needing two attempts to hold a Carey strike and McGonigle whipping into the side-netting.
The start of the second half saw 1876 stay on top, McGonigle unable to convert from an angle after latching onto a long kick from keeper Carl Jones before Dylan Summers-Jones headed against the crossbar.
In the 58th minute it was deservedly 3-1 when another Powell-Roberts killer ball was bundled into his own net by Lewis Harrison, Summers-Jones making sure it crossed the line.
Sub Declan McManus, the recent marquee signing making his debut, struck the upright with a shot on the turn and Carey had a late effort cleared off the line.
Huge day for the city and the City!
Carl Jones
Cai Powell-Roberts
Louis Corrigan
Cai Owen
Tomos Clarke (c)
James Barry (Jack Smith 60)
Dylan Summers-Jones (Sam Jones 88)
Corrig McGonigle (Declan McManus 70)
Tommy Creamer (Jamie Reed 88)
Dion Donohue (Iolo Hughes 70)
Josh Carey
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