FLASHBACK – 25 YEARS AGO: Jiws scores a hat-trick for Bangor City – and finishes the match in goal

THE LEAGUE OF WALES – FEBRUARY 20, 2001

Oswestry Town 3 (Rogers 2, J Jones)
Bangor City 3 (Lloyd Williams 3)

Report: Mike Smith, Citizens Choice website

Marc Lloyd Williams scored a hat-trick for Bangor and ended the match in goal on this date 25 years ago.

‘Jiws’ delivered another treble for City before ensuring they held on for a point at Park Hall by keeping a clean sheet after replacing sent-off keeper Paul Evans late on.

The hosts made a bright start when Rhodri Giggs robbed Paul Langley on the dead-ball line and squared to Lloyd Williams who tapped in the simplest of chances.

Ten minutes later, as Oswestry conceded frequent free kicks, Clayton Blackmore forced a good save from Dave Blower.

Then controversy! Steve Cooper was fouled and – having received treatment – he was obliged to leave the pitch. With City down to 10 men and referee GM Davies refusing his frantic attempts to get back on the pitch, Steve Rogers thrashed home an equaliser from 15 yards.

Amazingly Cooper was not allowed to return even when play stopped and then restarted from the centre circle. His absence – of around three minutes – was to prove costly for Bangor.

Giggs was booked for dissent, then on 37 minutes Rogers repeated the super finish of earlier when the Bangor defence froze once more.

Rogers was proving to be a difficult opponent for young Mark Thomas and company. Perhaps City tended to defend too deep which also suited Rogers, often a thorn in Bangor’s side over the years.

HALF TIME: Oswestry 2-1 Bangor City

Five minutes after the interval Lloyd Williams charged down the left and crossed for Craig Roberts whose powerful strike hit the crossbar from 18 yards.

Then it was the Llanberis lad’s turn to fire a free kick from the right which was well saved by Blower.

A couple more bookings followed, Rogers for a foul on John Paul Roberts and Lloyd Williams for dissent., but the striker had the last laugh as he pounced on some hesitancy in the home defence to convert a close range chance.

On 70 minutes Lloyd Williams completed his hat-trick and put City ahead when a lofted crossfield ball from Aled Rowlands caused panic in the home defence.

With Mark Thomas warming to the task of marking Rogers, Bangor held out until the 83rd minute when Blackmore failed to cut out a hopeful through ball to allow Jon Jones the chance to chip Paul Evans for a deserved equaliser.

Oswestry huffed and puffed, sending the ball forwards and – fortunately for Bangor – giving away some needless free kicks.

Then on 90 minutes Rogers collided with Paul Evans. Free kick to Bangor, but the keeper literally saw red with a shove at Rogers – red card.

Who else but the larger than life Marc Lloyd Williams went in goal for the remaining three minutes of mystery time and ensured it stayed 3-3.

BANGOR CITY

Paul Evans, Steve Cooper, Aled Rowlands, Emrys Williams, Mark Thomas, Clayton Blackmore, Marc Lloyd Williams, Paul Sellars, Craig Roberts, Rhodri Giggs, John Paul Roberts. SUBS: Richard Owen, Karl Roberts, Sean Hazelden.

OSWESTRY TOWN

Dave Blower, Justin Bridges, Jamie Fairhurst, Steve O’Shaughnessy, Brett Jefferies, Paul Langley, Ross Holtom, Neil Wenham, Steve Rogers, Jon Jones, Jason Jones. SUBS USED: Ross Jeffries, Ryan Jeffries, Adam Burgess.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Bangor City lost the reverse fixture at Farrar Road 1-0. The scorer for Oswestry? You’ve guessed it, Steve Rogers.
• The Citizens were particularly poor at home in the league this season, losing nine of their 17 matches at Ffordd Farrar.
• Final League of Wales positions in 2000-01 – Bangor 14th, Oswestry 15th. Barry Town were crowned champions for a fifth time.