FLASHBACK – 20 YEARS AGO: Robbo double delivers the points for Bangor City at Carmarthen

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE – FEBRUARY 18, 2006

Carmarthen Town 0
Bangor City 2 (Paul Roberts 2)

Report: Mike Smith – Citizens Choice website

Bangor were worthy winners in this televised match as two-goal Paul Roberts produced a Man of The Match performance alongside noteable newcomer Mike Linnecar.

With Kieran Killackey and Carl Lamb unavailable, manager Clayton Blackmore drafted 18 year old Kyle Jones into midfield and student Linnecar up front. Both played a big part in this away win and in particular the galloping academic was a thorn in Carmarthen’s side until his late substitution.

Bangor took the early initiative with Paul O’Neill setting Linnecar up but his effort went across the face of goal. Carmarthen looked dangerous through Nathan Cotterrall and Wayne Jones on the left with Blackmore at full stretch to keep them out.

O’Neill had to be alert to foil Carmarthen out on the left before referee Ray Ellingham showed his yellow card to home defender Craig Lima for a foul on Paul Roberts on the edge of the box. Roberts hit the free-kick against the wall and the visitors broke upfield through Jones and Cotterall but O’Neill cleared the danger.

City’s centre half then saw a shot blocked with the hosts again looking dangerous on the break with Tommy Harrison defending well deep in his own half.

Harrison went close for Bangor, Cotterrall rounded Andy Price but Blackmore cleared, Paul Roberts saw his shot blocked and again Carmarthen broke – this time through Sacha Walters – but Price made a good low save.

In the 31st minute, Bangor had the lead. Kyle Joes sent Linnecar galloping down the left wing. The tall student cut inside and fired a fierce drive on target which Andrew Delve fumbled into the path of Paul Roberts who beat Wayne Jones to the loose ball for a close range finish, Cwmbran 2000 style.

On 36 minutes Wayne Jones was carded for a late challenge on Kenny Burgess and then Bangor boss Blackmore followed him into the book for a blatant check on Cotterrall.

Into the one minute of stoppage time and a goal which never was as Paul Roberts raced through to score – only to find the whistle had blown a couple of seconds earlier!

HALF TIME 0-1

Town manager Mark Jones replaced Richard Carter with Mark Dodds as what seemed like a declaration of intent but the powerful striker played just about everywhere other than up front.

On 51 minutes quick thinking – and a very long throw -by Linnecar set Roberts up in the Carmarthen six yard area but he hesitated and the chance went. Minutes later Kyle Jones squeezed the ball through to Linnecar but his close range strike hit Delve on the legs.

But on 56 minutes it mattered not as City doubled their advantage. A corner on the left delivered deep by Blackmore was misjudged by Delve and Roberts kept his eye on the ball to calmly head home from beyond the back post.

Carmarthen showed the strength of their squad as 100-goal marksman Mattie Davies came on for Martyn Giles on the hour mark, but it was Bangor who should have gone further ahead when Mike Walsh played in Roberts but he took one touch too many.

Mattie Davies sent Danny Thomas through but he lifted his shot over the bar then on 77 minutes Kaid Mohammed stirred from an otherwise quiet debut to run into the Bangor box but could only shoot at Price whilst under pressure from the ever alert Martin Beattie.

On 80 minutes Chris Priest was harshly yellow-carded for a trip on Walters before Burgess shot wide after good build up play involving Roberts and Blackmore.

Two minutes of stoppage time and the final whistle blew on a deserved Bangor win at Richmond Park, with two goal striker Paul Roberts once again the hero.

There were also great performances from Paul O’Neill, Martin Beattie and Chris Priest, but this was a fine team performance and one which lifted City to seventh in the table.

BANGOR CITY

Andrew Price, Clayton Blackmore, Tommy Harrison, Kyle Jones, Martin Beattie, Paul O’Neill, Kenny Burgess, Chris Priest, Paul Roberts, Mike Linnecar, Mike Walsh. Subs: Mike Burke, Layton Maxwell, Ben Ogilvy.