Bangor had more of the play but Rhyl did what mattered most, put the ball in the back of the net.

Blues boss Nev Powell stuck with the starting eleven at Newtown but scarcely had City fans taken their seats than the hard working Dave Forbes ran into the box at the Bangor end and was tripped by Lee Idzi. Penalty to Rhyl. Up stepped former blue Paul McManus to send Idzi the wrong way and give the visitors a fourth minute lead. Referee Lee Evans opted for a yellow card presumably given there was cover on the goal line.

Three minutes later City were level. Dec Walker's cross was half cleared to Rob Jones whose 25 yard shot flew past eighteen year old Louis Gray and into the bottom corner of the net. But if home spirits were raised by that superb strike they were quickly quashed as Paul McManus reacted first to a deflected cross from the right to crash home from eight yards.

Barely a quarter of an hour gone and two one to The Lilywhites. Dec Walker spotted a freekick from the right but blasted wide. City forced four corners in five minutes but big centrebacks Ryan Astles and Chris Rimmer dealt comptently with any aerial threat.
With Woodward, Cadwallader and Forbes also over six foot the black & whites certainly held a physical advantage. Nonetheless Bangor pressed but on the half hour Jon Bathurst found time and space on the left but shot across goal.

The determined Walker cut in from the right and shot left footed on goal but loanee goalkeeper Louis Gray saved well. Seven minutes from the interval Dave Forbes was yellow carded for a foul on Rob Jones and as Bangor built up a measure of pressure Jamie McDaid won a fifth corner which Gray struggled to deal with but Rimmer took command.

Three minutes from time rightback Matty Woodward was yellow carded for blocking Sion Edwards. Freekick taken by his opposite number Dec Walker and fumbled by Gray but cleared by the visitors defence. In the final minute of normal time a sixth Bangor corner and in three minutes of added time two more flag kicks but again the big Rhyl rearguard held firm.

An unfair scoreline perhaps as City trailed two one despite having the majority of possession and eight corners to nil. But goals are what count and Rhyl had two.

HALF TIME 1-2

Two changes at the interval. Chris Jones and Jamie Petrie replacing Damien Allen and Jamie McDaid.

City now attacking the Bangor end and again looking to press for an equaliser.
Inside two minutes Dec Walker's fierce cross shot from the right just evaded Chris Jones before midfielder Ryan Edwards turned and shot but the stubborn Rimmer deflected for a ninth Bangor corner which was again duly cleared. City continued to press - a tenth corner came and went - but Rhyl pressurised Michael Johnston on the Bangor right and his underhit backpass tempted a strong challenge from the powerful Dave Forbes who got the better of Lee Idzi and netted calmly.

Just after the hour Bangor pushed forward again, forced two more corners, the second of which Anthony Miley headed over. A thirteenth followed which was also cleared before on 70 minutes former blue Mike Walsh replaced Jon Bathurst to stiffen the visitors midfield.
Five minutes later Dec Walker was shown the yellow card for a foul on Mark Powell before Michael Johnston - who had injured himself in a last ditch tackle moments earlier - was replaced by young Luke Gibson. With ten minutes left on the clock Bangor kept on pushing the visitors back and Les Davies headed just over from a 14th home corner.

The hard working Sion Edwards crossed onto the roof of the net as frustration grew on and off the field.

With ninety minutes up a deflected shot ran to Sion Edwards on the left who took his time before lashing the ball into the roof of the net and closed the score to 3-2. Three added minutes flashed up on the fourth officials electronic board. Jamie Petrie crossed from the right but Gray held cleanly.

With what turned out to be the last chance of the game Dec Walker crossed from the right but Jamie Petrie headed over from six yards. To waste a few seconds Rhyl sent on Danny Lafferty for Mark Cadwallader but despite Lee Evans adding a minute to those shown Bangor could not threaten the visitors goal and the scoreline stood at 2-3.

Rhyl created very little but took each chance - no law against that - whilst Bangor have defensive woes after Michael Johnston's early departure. Rough justice perhaps but since when was football fair.