A late late winner settled this north v south encounter on a wind swept afternoon on the banks of the Menai Straits.

With Ryan Edwards laid low by food poisoning manager Powell went for the minimum number of changes from the team which drew at Prestatyn.
And despite playing into the fierce wind it worked well with City carving enough chances to have taken a half time lead.

To set the scene, the wind was blowing from the Bridge End and it was in Afan Lido's favour in the first half. And to be fair to the south coast visitors they did not look like a team bottom of the table for much of the afternoon.

After Jamie Petrie and then Dec Walker went close for Bangor from outside the box it was a Ryan Batley header from six yards which first tested Lee Idzi. Bangor pushed forward once more with Les Davies denied from six yards after Dec Walker carved an opening for Jamie Petrie to cross from the right. Moments later Dec Walker firedover from outside the box.

On 22 minutes leftback Joe Culshaw was yellow carded - the first of eight - for a foul on Alex Chrysanthou. Then Dec Walker cut in from the right but lifted his left footer over Craig Richards' crossbar.

Bangor had a grip in midfield thanks to Rob Jones and Damien Allen with Lido resistance co-ordinated by Kieran Howard sporting a very impressive beard.

Yet on the half hour Lido should have gone ahead. Lanky number ten Keyon Reffel sped down the left and pulled the ball back invitingly for Alex Chrysanthou but he sliced well wide form twelve yards out with the goal beckoning. Phew!

After a couple of Bangor corners Chris Jones tested Richards with an overhead shot which he did well to keep out before the rampaging Dec Walker headed just wide before in the final moments of the first half the former Wrexham defender crashed a twenty yarder wide. Inbetween, the all action figure of Damien Allen also fired over into the wind. Alex Gammond was cautioned for a foul on Rob Jones as Bangor pressed and pressed for the all important breakthrough goal.

City had totted up seven corner to one despite the elements in the opening period but to no avail.

HALF TIME 0-0: No changes at the interval.

At the interval even the hardiest blues followers sought shelter as the wind strengthened and the rain fell more persistently.

Lido had the first chance as Alex Gammond shot across goal but from then on it was pretty much one way traffic with Rob Jones going close before Sion Edwards rained several shots on and off target which kept Richards busy in the deluge. These included a powerful 35 yarder saved by Richards, a 30 yard effort which smashed just wide and a speculative but threatening missile fired from fully 45 yards!

Bangor won a ninth corner of the afternoon but Dec Walker headed just over before Sion Edwards fired just wide from 35 yards.

The Nantporth surface was in remarkable condition as the weather worsened further still Ryan Batley was carded for a foul on Sion Edwards before Dec Walker forced a good save from Richards which brought about a tenth corner.

Lido dangerman Chris Hartland cut a subdued figure throughout and it was no surprise when he was replaced on 65 minutes with young Scott McCoubrey trotting on. Two minutes later a half cleared freekick dropped to Rob Jones but he fired wide.

Anthony Miley was shown the yellow card for a foul on half way but moments later, with some fifteen minutes to go Referee Petch had to consult with linesman Steve Hughes after Reffel appeared to spark an ugly scene but the cards shown were yellow rather than red. Reffel in particular could have walked.

Moments later young Jamie McDaid came on for Jamie Petrie and his fine run set up Damien Allen but he fired over.

Reffel was still on and still a threat with his pace and it took a last ditch sliding tackle from Michael Johnston to halt his progress as Lido countered. In the closing ten minutes Bangor took their corner tally up from ten to sixteen but with Richards and his defence standing firm it looked like they would frustrate City.

And then in the second minute of the two added a foul by Mark Crutch on Dec Walker on the right, twetny yards out, yellow card and freekick.

The kick was arched over left footed by Sion Edwards for Les Davies to head home from six yards to the delight of the blues and disbelief of the reds. Despite the raging gale the players celebrated in style!

There was scarcely time for the game to restart before the referee blew - and conditions worsened further still - but no one in blue cared too much as City players celebrated noisily on the pitch. There were happy scenes in the stand too!

After the whistle a hardened Bangor fan observed that it was hard not to feel sorry for the visitors who faced a long miserable trip home.

True enough - but rather them than us!