Novira Cymru North: Bangor hit for six, Ruthin end barren run
NOVIRA CYMRU NORTH – SEPTEMBER 25
Bangor City 1876 2 (Godwin 11, Creamer 21)
Buckley Town 6 (Guest 3, 27, Nicholas 45+3, Mariette 62, Burgess 78, Afful 90+2)
To quote Inspiral Carpets, playing just down the road in Bethesda tonight: No one ever said it was gonna be easy
If Bangor City 1876 were not already fully aware how difficult getting up to the Cymru Premier will be, they were given a stark reminder of how tough Tier 2 life is in Friday night’s encounter with Buckley Town.
You cannot afford an off-day, or off-night, at this level. Most teams are capable of dishing out a hammering and that’s what Buckley did at Bangor City Stadium.
The warning signs were there from just the third minute when Ben Guest finished off a nice move with a bottom corner strike to put the Bucks one-up.
Isaac Godwin equalised for Bangor direct from a corner on 11 minutes and Tommy Creamer had the home fans cheering wildly when he made it 2-1 to the hosts with 21 gone.
Buckley were back on level terms after 27, Guest scoring with a magnificent free kick.
And before the break, Dave Evans’ side were in front through a Billy Nicholas effort following a corner.
All to play for in the second half, but it was Town who drew first blood when a rapid counter attack led to a smart finish from Luke Mariette on 62.
Things looked very grim for the Citizens in the 78th minute when Danny Burgess headed in a corner at the back post.
And the visitors applied the icing to their cake when Guest set up Caleb Afful for a sixth away goal.
This was Bangor’s heaviest defeat since a 6-1 thrashing at Mold in 2024-25, the last time they were in the Cymru North.
On tonight’s evidence, new City manager Huw Griffiths has plenty of work to do.
Ruthin Town 2 (Mann 38, Davies 71)
Penrhyncoch 0
Ruthin ended a run of five straight defeats with a vital win over winless basement boys Penrhyncoch.
Despite Dave Forbes missing a 32nd minute penalty, Thomas Mann edged the home side in front with 38 on the clock.
And the points were sealed when Ethan Davies made it 2-0 on 71. It was just a second win of the campaign for Ruthin.