City won 2-1 at Park Avenue on Saturday and were good value for all three points. Manager Peter Davenport re-instated Phil Priestley behind a three man defence of Eifion Jones, Peter Hoy and Jim McNulty.

Elvis held his crosses and marshalled the defence well but in truth had precious few saves to make as the three man defence stood firm. In midfield Clayton Blackmore, Gareth Williams and Alan Goodall generally got the better of an Aber contingent including a lacklustre Ricky Evans who looked uncomfortable in the wrong colour shirt!

City enjoyed the wind at their backs, attacking the Dias Stand End in the first period, whilst Gary Finley's powerful clearances held up to offer some hope to his three man attack of Marc Lloyd Williams, Lee Spike and Bagger Wright.

The opening goal came in the 13th minute courtesy of Aber goalkeeper Jon Worsnop whose attempted punch went the wrong way. Bangor paired Les Davies and Kenny Burgess upfront and the big Maesgeirchen winger went close twice in succession from the edge of the box, his second effort producing a fine dave from Worsnop and City's fourth corner. City then saw Alan Goodall strike the post from 30 yards with Worsnop saving well from Gareth Williams and Les Davies as his defence could only stand and watch.

Eifion Jones was enjoying a fine afternoon for City and got the better of lanky striker Lee Spike whose flick ons were largely ineffective. Kenny Burgess found himself in space on the right but Worsnop made a good stop at his near post.

On the half hour a fifth bangor corner saw Eifion Jones latch onto Kenny Burgess' flick but sky the ball from six yards. With half time approaching Les Davies saw his twenty yarder held by Worsnop before Steve Hitchen had to be alert in defence as Marc Lloyd Williams looked to get in behind the Bangor defence.

The closest Aber came to troubling Phil Priestley was a cross from Andy Lee which found Marc Lloyd Williams but his effort was blocked by the alert Peter Hoy who gave a powerful and committed display in the City defence.

Within the first minute of the second half Bangor indicated that playing into the wind would not be a big problem as Gary Finley was yellow carded for a foul on Kenny Burgess but Clayton Blackmore saw his free kick comfortably saved by Worsnop. Gareth Williams then ran on goal and shot from twenty yards but again Worsnop held cleanly. Aber hit back though Ricky Evans whose long range effort was also cleanly collected by Phil Priestley.

Ten minutes after the restart Wright and Ben Jones combined on the right but the near post cross was turned wide by Marc Lloyd Williams. On 57 minutes though City doubled their interval lead when Alan Goodall collected the ball on the left hand edge of the box, ran to his left before crossing beyond Gareth Williams for Les Davies to drive home from ten yards. Aber responded with a free kick five minute later but Phil Priestley again held cleanly.

The home side then forced a series of four corners which saw Steve Hitchen head calmly over at one point and culminated in Ben Jones sending a controlled drive wide from the edge of the box.

The closing twenty minutes saw City fail to convert a stream of chances as Les Davies and Kenny Burgess expolited the lack of pace in the home defence. The seventh bangor corner came when Clayton Blackmore fed Kenny Burgess but Worsnop again proved himself an outstanding shot-stopper. City's left wingback Gareth Evans capped a fine display with some important headers but with then minutes left his short pass to Kenny Burgess saw the hard working winger fire over from 20 yards. Moments later Les Davies sent a fierce effort off target from the same position. Big Les then raced down the left, brushing aside the home defender before sending a curling pass towards the unmarked Burgess but Worsnop raced out to gather.

With five minutes remaining John Lawless forced an eighth Aber corner as Phil Priestley tipped over before the home side halved the deficit on 88 mins with an low drive from the right by Bagger Wright which shot under Phil Priestley. Unhappily for Aber this produced some ugly scenes as Phil Priestley held onto the ball, was kicked by Lee Spike. As referee Whitby sought to restore control he red carded John Lawless for a headbut and then Spike for the kick.

City played out the remaining minutes in the Aber half against the nine men and claimed three well deserved points. Credit to the all eleven players for a genuinely impressive display but the man of the match had to go to Eifion Jones who won his headers and generally got the better of Lee Spike and co.

Bangor City: Daniel Evans, Peter Hoy, Alan Goodall, Jim McNulty, Eifion Jones, Gareth Evans, Kenny Burgess, Les Davies, Clayton Blackmore, Steve Hitchen, Gareth Williams
Subs: Mark Connelly, Frank Mottram, Paul Roberts

Aberystwyth: Worsop, Short, Lee, Jones, Finley, Baker, M.L Williams, Wright, Spike, Evans, Lawless
Subs: Hennigan, L.Hughes, Lewis, Spain

Report by: Mike Smith