With seven first team players missing due to injury City were unable to share the spoils with a hard working County side who sneaked ahead seconds before the half time whistle. The absentees were Phil Priestley, Clayton Blackmore, Rae Ingram, Owain Jones, Aled Rowlands, plus strikers Paul Gedman and Paul Roberts. Having said which the players on duty worked hard, never gave up hope and in left wing debutant Les Davies had the outstanding young talent on the pitch.

In a first half of few clear cut chances Bangor thought they had gone ahead on 12 minutes when Les Davies sent in a curling left wing cross which Lee Headed firmly past Lee Kendall but they linesman had already flagged for offside. City were enjoying possession in midfield were young Irishman Paul Friel was busying himself, whilst Gareth Williams was also impressing in a rare outing at left back. The Gresford winger did well to dispossess Rhys Griffiths on the edge of the box before Lee Williams cleanly held a cross from the right wing.

Lee Hunt then worked hard to win possession in midfield, played a one two with Kenny Burgess but scooped the half chance high over Kendall's bar. On the half hour Gareth Williams was shown the yellow plastic for a trip whilst laying prostrate, then Simon Heal shot wide from ten yards after some ineffective defending.

Williams and young Les Davies were combing well on the left, whilst Alan Goodall and Eifion Jones settled into a competitive centreback pairing. Alan Goodall then sent a freekick over from 20 yards but moments later captain Eifion Jones had to be alert to snuff out an attack involving Rhys Griffiths. Haverfordwest then saw Nicky Palmer fire off target but would have been surprised to go in with a one goal advantage. With no real sign of danger Tim Hicks seized on a lose ball soem thirty yars out to the left to fire a dipping volley over Lee Williams and into the roof of the net. There codl be no blame on the "debutant" 'keeper; if Hicks could do that even 7 times in 10 he would be playing down the road for Deryn Brace's old boss Brian Flynn. Then the half time whilst blew.

Bangor started the second period with a corner which was only cleared as far as Alan Goodall, his return was turned goalwards by Kenny Burgess but this flew off target. Five minutes after the break Les Davies beat two defender to fire a fierce volley on target but Kendall's catch was clean, the Gareth Williams picked up a lose ball 25 yards out, danced forwards but saw his low curling shot stray beyond the right post.

Les Davies again impresed with a run and cross which Lee Hunt met at the near post, but his flicked header drifted beyond the far upright. Goalkeeper Lee Williams only had two saves to make in the second period, the best of which was a fine low stop against Robert Jones whose header from a corner looked destined for the net.

On 67 mins a tiring Paul Friel made way for Huw Griffiths in a move which enabled Alan Goodall to switch to leftback and Gareth Williams to move to midfield. Five minutes later Kenny Burgess made way for Gary Roberts who took up his right wing berth and caused County some problems with his ability to cut inside.

The home defence was built around two centrebacks plus player manager Deryn Brace marshalling from sweeper in a wholehearted performance evocative of Graham Brett. Ther former Wrexham defender did as much as anyone to ensure a clean sheet for his County side. In the closing minutes manager Peter Davenport took to the field in place of Ross Jefferies but could not alter the course of events, although he did allow referee Collins to add a new name to his list of cautions. The final whistle saw the home side celebrating deliriously as the travelling contingent were left to reflect on what might have been.

Bangor City: Phil Priestley, Peter Hoy, Alan Goodall, Eifion Jones, Gareth Williams, Paul Friel, Kenny Burgess, Ross Jefferies, Lee Hunt, Ricky Evans, Les Davies. Subs: Gary Roberts, Huw Griffiths, Peter Davenport

Haverfordwest: Kendall, Brace, W.Jones, Heal, Thomas, R.Jones, Palmer, Hicks, Griffiths, Loss, Ryan. Subs: Miller, Chiverton, Blain

Report by: Mike Smith