Bangor moved up to third place in the WP with nine points from four games and silenced those who suggested the side lacked courage or commitment.
Despite leaving Farrar Road at 7.30am Bangor did not arrive at Afan Lido until 2.30pm after being ensnarled in an hour long delay close the Celtic Manor Hotel. Then on 50 minutes the game was stopped as left wingback Gareth Evans received treatment for a worrying head injury. All this without young wingers Les Davies and Morgan Jones who withdrew through injury and the long term absentee Chris Priest whose good luck message arrived before kick off.
It all started brightly enough as Paul Roberts went close but a second corner on ten minutes yielded the breakthrough. Simon Davies sent a corner onto Mark Connolly's head and Frank Mottram reacted first to slide the ball home from close range. But City fans had hardly finished celebrating when the the impressive Karl Reynolds levelled the scores with a clean left footed strike.
On the quarter hour things got worse for City when young Liam McCreesh found time and space on the right to cross for Kevin Bartley to tap in from close range. City won their fifth corner on 25 mins but Paul Roberts saw his chip saved by Brian Thomas before Lido swept up to the other end and forced a good low save from Paul Whitfield as Andre Rickhard's header nearly crept in.
On 31 mins it was all square at two all. A sixth Bangor corner was partly cleared to the right but Frank Mottram's well placed side footer sped in off the underside of the crossbar to the delight of the travelling fans. Three minutes later a seventh corner was delivered by Clayton Blackmore - who had driven from Heathrow after his flight from Azerbaijan - for Owain Jones to rise high above the Lido defence for a clean header home.
Lido forced a couple of corners of their own but the feeling was that City had a chance to seal the win. Frank Mottram might have grabbed his hatrick when he cut in from the left but he hesitated and the defenders pounced.
The first action of the second half saw a left wing cross seem destined for Chris Piper but Gareth Evans bravely headed away at the back post. The former Newtown defender fell to the ground with blood seeping from a wide gash above his left ear after an accidental clash of heads. Within minutes he was being driven to A&E by Lido secretary Phil Robinson with Ken Jones for company.
City regrouped with Gareth Dogan joining the three man midfield and Clayton Blackmore moving to left wingback. The substitute wasted no time in making an impression but after creating an opening he dragged his shot wide from 18 yards. Then right wingback Mark Connolly, who had enjoyed an industrious afternoon - sent over a high swirling cross which Paul Roberts met but headed off target. Young Dogan then controlled a Simon Davies cross but Mark Connolly fired wide from outside the box.
Bangor forced another corner but again Paul Roberts' frustration grew as his shot sailed the wrong side of the upright. Owain Jones then sent a long range effort at Brian Thomas' goal but it span harmlessly wide. Referee Ray Ellingham had enjoyed a peaceful afternoon - he had his hands full coping with two erratic linesmen - but on 67 mins he reached for the yellow card when Paul Evans fouled one of City's teenagers Owain Jones.
Clayton Blackmore ventured forward to fire narrowly wide from 25 yards out on the left with twenty minutes to go, then Frank Mottram deflected a long clearance into the path of Paul Roberts but he shot wide from 18 yards. However Lido must have sensed they were still in with a shout and only a last ditch interception by Simon Davies denied Bartley. The ensuing throw in was crossed invitingly for Chris Piper but his downward effort bounced and cleared the crossbar from five yards! Moments later Piper fired across goal from a great position and was immediately replaced by Chris Pridham.
In the closing minutes Frank Mottram missed the target with a header form Clayton Blackmore's cross before the Welsh International was booked for a foul. Deep into the five minutes of stoppage time Clayton responded with a dipping volley which just missed the far post from the left. Then the final whistle and a job well done, blood sweat and tears, but three points and heads held high.
Report by: Mike Smith
