Novira Cymru North: Rhyl battle back from two-down to earn draw at Bangor

NOVIRA CYMRU NORTH – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Bangor City 1876 2 (McManus 41, 49)
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 (Cockerline 56, Jones 60)

Rhyl fought back from two goals down to earn a point in Saturday’s much-awaited coast derby at Bangor City Stadium.

The Citizens looked to be well on the way to victory when a Declan McManus double either side of half time put them two-up, but a pair of goals four minutes apart from Dan Cockerline and Joshua Jones got the Lilywhites back on terms.

After that, the game could have gone either way. but the general consensus from post-match discussions is that a draw was probably just about a fair result.

The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute when a cross came into the box and McManus fired home powerfully with his right foot.

Four minutes into the second half, it was 2-0 when Josh Carey cut the ball back from the byline for McManus, who blasted into the top corner for his seventh goal of the season.

The game looked to be in Bangor’s control, but Rhyl were far from finished.

In the 56th minute, Cockerline latched onto a poor back pass, rounded keeper John Danby and found the net.

Four minutes later, Ben Lightfoot stole the ball about 10 yards inside the City half and advanced before feeding a neat pass to Jones. the advancing Danby was heading towards Lightfoot, and Jones was able to find the empty net.

And that was the end of the scoring! Rhyl will no doubt have ended up the happier of the sides having fought back so well to grab a point.

BANGOR CITY 1876

John Danby, Cai Powell-Roberts (c), Isaac Godwin, Guto Williams, Josh Carey, James Barry, Declan McManus, Haci Ozlu (Dion Donohue 67), Max Purvis (Jack Burman 67), Tommy Creamer, Adam Long.

CPD Y RHYL 1879

Luke Riley, Ryan Austin, Reece Fairhurst (c), Roco Hewitt, Morgan Murray, Ben Lightfoot, Joshua Jones (Archie Jones 75), Joe Ly, Dan Cockerline (Max Moore 90+1), Jordan Brett, Dan Apantaku (Joel Giblin 75).

ATTENDANCE: 1201