Bangor City 1-0 Newtown

 

A Chris Jones goal in the 57th minute was enough to separate the two teams and earn Bangor City a place in the play-off final against Rhyl next Saturday (3pm, the Book People Stadium).

Newtown had the first real attempt on goal in the 3rd minute as Craig Williams struck a 30 yard freekick that sailed wide of 'keeper Jack Cudworth's post. After this early scare Bangor began to put the pressure onto Newtown and in the 6th minute Declan Walker powered a header goalwards from Sion Edward's inswinging corner, but the ball was just too high and landed on top of the Newtown net. The next Newtown attack saw a Zach Evans cross coming close to 'keeper Cudworth, but as he tried to claim the ball a late lunge from Tom Goodwin left the stopper in a heap on the ground. 

Les Davies and Declan Walker were both in action for the home team with Walker's 30 yard free-kick missing the target by inches in the 29th minute. Newtown tried to work their way into the game and only a good tackle by Rob Jones denied Neil Mitchell an easy goal before Cudworth saved a free-kick from Zach Evans as the game reached the half-time interval.

Bangor started the 2nd half brightly and after just 3 minutes Chris Jones was unlucky to see his diving header go wide of the post from a Sion Edwards corner. In the 53rd minute a clumsy tackle on Sion Edwards by Max Penk saw referee Huw Jones showing the yellow card to the Newtown player. Just a minute later City took the lead. As the home fans appealed for a free-kick just inside their own half, the referee waved advantage and a brilliant back heel by Les Davies allowed Chris Jones through on goal. Jones made no mistake as Mullock raced from his goalline and put the ball round him and into the net.

Les Davies was now the centre of attention as City searched for their second goal. In the 61st minute Davies hit a header on the crossbar and as the ball rebounded out Sion Edwards was the first to react and volleyed the ball into the net only for the linesman to adjudge that he was offside. 4 minutes later Davies was again in action as he struck the post. On 76 minutes Davies again found the woodwork form a Chris Jones corner. On 80 minutes Penk found himself in trouble when he hacked down Chris Jones in front of the Bangor dugout. Referee Huw Jones went to his pocket and a second yellow for Penk saw Newtown down to 10 men.

The final few minutes saw City go close to scoring on numerous occassions. Sion Edwards perhaps should have squared the ball in the 87th minute with both Mcdaid and Davies unmarked in the 18 yard box, but Edwards decided to go alone and Mullock was quickly down to claim the ball.

Bangor City are now just 90 minutes away from a return to the Europa League. Next week's final against Rhyl will take place at 3pm on Saturday. Manager Nev Powell has again urged the fans to turn out in force. 

"We're at home and we have good games against Rhyl. We talk about the importance to the fans, and they are going to be there cheering the fans on. It was a great atmosphere here today. They give the lads an extra half a yard without a shadow of a doubt. It's great to see the fans going home happy and hopefully there will be plenty more of them here next week to help us to victory"