FLASHBACK – 15 YEARS AGO: Bangor City reach Welsh Cup semi-finals for fourth year in a row

WELSH CUP QUARTER-FINAL – FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Port Talbot Town 0
Bangor City 3 (Moss 48, Morley 74 pen, Bull 78)

Report: Mike Smith, Citizens Choice website

A repeat of the 2010 Welsh Cup final, won in gloriously late fashion by Bangor in a 3-2 thriller, saw the Citizens emerge triumphant again versus Port Talbot at the following season’s quarter-final stage of the national knockout.

Neville Powell’s side were made to battle all the way but, at the final whistle, had run out three-nil winners, recorded a 21st straight win in the Welsh Cup and reached the semis for the fourth year in a row.

The blank first half saw Port Talbot enjoy a share of possession and force the blues defence, shorn of captain Jamie Brewerton by a late FAW ruling, stand firm to protect Paul Smith.

Bangor’s best chance of the first period came when Les Davies sent Alan Bull clear but on loan goalkeeper David Cornell saved with his feet as an early lead beckoned.

Port Talbot midfielder Liam McCreesh went close twice midway through the half but failed to break the deadlock. Luke Bowen and then Lee John shot wide from a difficult angle on the left with no forward in sight in the box.

The closest ‘Talbot came to a breakthrough saw Lloyd Grist’s inviting cross from the left headed cleanly by Bowen, but Smith – as often before in the Welsh Cup – pulled off an excellent save and the danger passed.

It remained goalless at the break and posed the question as to whether The Steelmen would rue those wasted chances.

HALF TIME 0-0

With just three minutes of the second half gone Bangor had the lead. Nicky Ward’s corner was fumbled by Swansea loanee Cornell and headed home by Darren Moss for his second Welsh Cup goal in as many matches to the delight of the travelling blue horde.

McCreesh robbed Michael Johnston on halfway, but the determined centre-back recovered and thwarted the danger with a little help from Chris Roberts.

On 68 minutes Chris Jones replaced Craig Garside.

It got worse for Port on 74 minutes as Gary Bansor felled substitute Jones as he ran into the box and referee Huw Jones signalled a penalty kick. Up stepped penalty regular Dave Morley but his kick flew over – only for Mr Jones to rule that the home defender Grist had encroached and that the kick be retaken.

This time Morley made no mistake. Bansor and goalkeeper Cornell were yellow-carded for their part in the dramatics.

Ward sent a deep free kick into the box but Bull saw his header hit the post with Cornell rooted to the spot.

The outcome was still in doubt but not after Bull robbed the dawdling Holland, cut in from the left and beat Cornell with a low drive to put City three-up with 12 minutes to go.

At the final whistle, Bangor fans could start to contemplate semi final venues and arrangements, for an amazing fourth year in succession.

BANGOR CITY

Paul Smith, Peter Hoy, Chris Roberts, Dave Morley (Sion Edwards 79), Michael Johnston, Darren Moss, Craig Garside (Chris Jones 68), Nicky Ward, Les Davies, Eddie Jebb, Alan Bull (Michael Jukes 83).

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Bangor City, winners of the Welsh Cup in 2008, 2009 and 2010, reached a fourth successive final, but lost 4-1 to Llanelli
• City went on to lift the Welsh Premier title on the final day of the season, beating The New Saints in a championship decider at Farrar Road. It was the third time the Citizens had been crowned champions, having finished top of the tree in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
• Top scorer for Bangor this season with 17 goals in all competitions was Jamie Reed, who departed for Conference Premier side York City in January 2011. Alan Bull scored 16 for the Citizens.