Archive Classics: North Wales football’s final fling before Covid struck – Llysfaen v Bangor 1876 (2020)

Having covered North Wales football for close on 40 years. I’ve attended and reported on hundreds if not thousands of games across the pyramid.
Here’s another in a series of classics from the archives

Not the happiest of memories with this one…..
The game occurred during the final weekend before Covid took over and wiped out football below Tier 1 for well over a year.
Bangor 1876 won comfortably at Llysfaen to reach the NWCFA Junior Cup semi-finals, but the competition had to be scrapped at that last four stage.

NWCFA JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL 2019-20

Llysfaen 0
Bangor 1876 5 (J Jones OG 39, D Thomas 58, A Jones OG 71, Petrie pen 85, S Lock 88)
March 7, 2020

It was fitting that Shaun Lock delivered the goal of the game with two minutes left as his long-throws had done so much to set 1876 up for victory in this Junior Cup quarter-final at the Banana Pitch.
Lock’s fierce left-foot drive put the seal on what was eventually a comfortable win for the visitors over their Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Division One hosts.
Llysfaen, previously undefeated across 18 matches in all competitions this term, held the runaway Gwynedd League leaders to 0-0 up until the 39th minute and were still right in the contest at half time.
However, Bangor’s ceaseless attacking in the second half brought them four more goals, while the home team’s frustrations got the better of them, leading to two sendings off and several yellow cards.
In front of a large crowd, this last-eight tie played in difficult, windy conditions saw Cameron Barry blast an early effort over for 1876 before Jamie Petrie was denied by a great reaction save from Cain Folly.
Llysfaen’s best attempt of the half was an audacious long range strike from captain Alec Jones which did not miss the target by much.
With home centre halves Alec Jones and Jay Jones in awesome form, the travellers did not make the breakthrough until six minutes from the interval.
Lock launched a long throw into the box and Dafydd Thomas appeared to get the final touch as the ball hit the net, but it was later confirmed as a Jay Jones own goal.
Half time: Llysfaen 0 Bangor 1876 1

Soon after the restart, Ben Owen went close with a header before Petrie’s shot from eight yards was brilliantly kept out by Folly.
A second goal was needed for the hosts and it came on 58 minutes when another mighty touchline release from Lock was missed by Folly and Thomas headed into an empty net.
Barry had a header cleared off the line before in the 71st minute another Lock missile into the box was back-headed in over his own keeper by the unfortunate Alec Jones.
Joshua Williams was not far away with a header for Llysfaen, but tensions were ever rising in this very physical encounter and in the 83rd minute the home team’s Jordan Russell was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Moments later the hosts were down to nine when top-scorer Sean Sheridan received his marching orders.
A minute after Nathan Russell pushed over Dylan Williams in the area and a penalty was awarded which Petrie dispatched for his 43rd goal this season.
Two minutes from time, Williams laid the ball back nicely for Lock, who hit an unstoppable 20-yarder to make it 5-0.
Bangor 1876 were due to host Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Premier Division side Llansannan in the semis on April 4, with Menai Bridge Tigers entertaining Abergele in the other last-four clash.
Of course, neither game happened.
Llysfaen will not remember the biggest game in their history with much affection, but it was pleasing to see a bumper crowd of about 300 at the Bananabeu, boosted by the ever-present in their droves 1876 travelling faithful.

Teams

Llysfaen: Cain Folly, Joshua Smith (Callum Ellis 78), Joshua Williams, Henry Taylor, Jay Jones, Alec Jones, Sean Sheridan, Nathan Russell, Reece Kearney (Shaun Davies 70), Jordan Russell, Jake Reynolds.

Bangor 1876: Leon Jones, Harry Jones, Shaun Lock, Luke Steele, Cian Williams, Jamie Petrie (Leon Owens 88), Cameron Barry (Dylan Summers-Jones 74), Dylan Williams, Dafydd Thomas, Jamie Thomas, Ben Owen (Jos Lloyd-Jones 79).

ALSO FEATURED SO FAR IN ARCHIVE CLASSICS……

Prestatyn Sports 2 Llandudno Albion 1 (May 23, 2015)
Prestatyn Town 7 Carmarthen Town 1 (May 23, 2015)
Rhyl 3 Aberystwyth Town 1 (Aug 31, 2016)
Halkyn United 0 Denbigh Town 2 (Apr 6, 1996)
Prestatyn Town 5 Caernarfon Town 0 (Sep 2008)
Glantraeth 2 Penrhyndeudraeth 1 (May 2017)
Penrhyndeudraeth 4 Glantraeth 1 (May 2016)
Holywell Town 1 Caernarfon Town 3 (9.3.2019)
Chirk AAA 2 Penlan Club 1 (8.4.2017)
Rhyl 4 Porthmadog 5 (6.1.2018)
Bala Town 2 Differdange 03 1 (9.7.2015)
Denbigh Town 1 Bangor 1876 0 (24.2.2023)
Holywell Town 4 Penrhyndeudraeth 2 (19.4.2015)
Rhyl 1 Wrexham 4 (12.5.2004)
Rhyl 5 Goytre United 2 (4.3.2006)
Prestatyn Town Reserves 2 Gwalchmai 1 (30.4.2010)
Bethesda Athletic 3 Rhyl 2 (9.2.2008)
Llanfairpwll 2 Prestatyn Town 3 (5.4.2008)