Bangor slipped to a disappointing defeat against a Port Talbot side who in the previous 24 hours had beaten visitors Cefn Druids 3-2 and then travelled for five hours in a coach.

There could be no hard luck stories or blame attached to the woeful officials as - despite the dreadful incompetence of Mike Jones & Co - Port Talbot deserved to win. Bangor started brightly enough winning a corner on the right which Eifion Jones headed wide from eight yards. But it was the lanky Gavin Beddard who sent as dipping volley over the Bangor bar to fire the first warning and left back Allan Clark should have scored when he blazed wide inside ten minutes.

Alan Goodall sent a freekick over the bar after a foul on Kenny Burgess as City attacked the Farrar End, unhindered by a stiff breeze. Frank Mottram and Clayton Blackmore then combined to set up Mark Connolly but the young midfielder sent his effort off target. Next Paul Gedman pounced on a loose ball on the right, ran inside courtesy of a lucky bounce and beat three Talbot defenders but shot wide. Midway through the first period Richard Carter was yellow carded for kicking the ball away when Bangor tried to take a quick freekick. Paul Gedman set up a shooting chance for Mark Connolly which he fired off target again, with Les Davies calling from the on the left wing. On the half hour a mistake by Alan Goodall let in Beddard but he also missed the target.

City forced their second corner of the match with five minutes of the half remaining but Mark Connolly's inswinger was cleanly held by the towering Rayner. With time running out Phil Priestley made a superb one handed save from Clark and from the ensuing corner Healey headed onto the Bangor bar. That was about the sum total of a bleak and largely uninspiring first half which deserved the goalless scoreline.

The first action of the second period saw Rayner pull off a smart save from Clayton Blackmore before Frank Mottram lifted a shot over the bar from twelve yards. With the game swinging end to end Richard Carter made a fine run down the right which forced the hard working Eifion Jones to concede a fourth Talbot corner which Jones headed clear. The action raced to the St Pauls End where Rayner raced out to get the better of Les Davies who was chasing a through ball. On 55 minutes the inevitable controvesy as Rayner rushed out of his goal and handled the ball three yards out to the left it ran out of play. With most City supporters debating the colour of the card, bald referee Mike Jones ignored the incident and awarded a corner which the Canadian easily held! Smothers was then yellow carded for a lunge on rightback Steve Hitchen before on 63 mins the visitors took the lead.

A break on the left enabled Wigley to thread the ball through to the lively Mike Waters - two yards offside - to run on goal and thrash home past Phil Priestley. The linesman was too busy rushing along the line to bother checking and the goal was never in doubt. Frank Mottram and Paul Gedman battled to win the ball upfront but the former British University striker shot wide.

Bangor boss Peter Davenport responded by replacing Kenny Burgess and Frank Mottram with Gareth Williams and Paul Roberts. With twenty mintues to go Carter was about to be booked for a foul on Mark Connolly but referee Jones realised he had already taken his name and brushed the offence aside. Gareth Williams upset the visitors defence with a mazey run which offered a chance to Mark Connolly but his shot fired over. That was to be his final action as Paul Friel came on to line up in midfield alongside Clayton Blackmore and Gareth Wiliams in a 4-3-3 formation.

Immediately Gareth Evans sent a superb dipping centre into the feet to Clayton Blackmore but he could not get his shot away and the young Irish substitute launced his effort over from ten yards. Moments later Evans pulled off a great last ditch tackle as Waters raced clear on goal. Waters was duly replaced by Nathan Cotterell. On 82 mins Bangor were level as Clayton Blackmore sent a high ball into the box, Paul Gedman clearly fouled the keeper and hooked the ball home from close range!

With two minutes remaining Cotterell picked race down the right - offside inevitably - but the linesman had a greater purpose to serve as he flagged manicly when Alan Goodall brushed the pacey striker in the box. Referee Jones had waved play on - he had a clear view - but never mind. Nathan Cotterell sent Phil Priestley the wrong way and the match was won, which was fair enough on chances created and for a spirited display by the visitors.

Bangor City: Phil Priestley, Clayton Blackmore, Alan Goodall, Eifion Jones, Steve Hitchen, Gareth Evans, Kenny Burgess, Les Davies, Paul Gedman, Frank Mottram, Mark Connolly

Subs: Paul Roberts, Paul Friel, Gareth Williams Port Talbot Town: Rayner, Cockings, Clark, Smothers, Carter, Healey, Fleming, Wigley, Beddard, Waters, Wigg
Subs: Cotterell, Watkins, Skyrme

Report by: Mike Smith