A brace of goals from twenty year old Les Davies led City to a convincing win over The Planemakers at Farrar Road yesterday.
The team news saw Simon Davies absent with a neck injury and Clayton Blackmore re-instated at rightback in place of Chris Short who took a place on the bench. City went for a quartet of twenty year olds across the midfield which read - right to left - Mark Connolly, Paul Friel, Owain Jones, and last but not least Les Davies.
After a bright start, which tested Richard Acton, the visitors were nearly behind on four minutes when Kevin Scott caused confusion with a long throw from the left which was cleared as to Clayton Blackmore whose twenty yarder sped just over Paul Whitfield's crossbar. A minute later his luck ran out. The much improved Mark Connolly pounced on a loose ball on the right touchline to fire over a cross which Paul Roberts headed home emphatically with the "home coming" keeper rooted to the spot.
City's young midfielders were in command, Owain Jones and Paul Friel to the fore, and it was no surprise when they were involved again on ten minutes when the tall youngster doubled the advantage. Another twenty year old Tony Gray unhinged the 'bus defence with a run and shot which Whitfield did well to parry for a corner. This was cleared to Mark Connolly who fed Clayton Blackmore, his shot was deflected to Owain Jones whose close range finish took his season's tally into double figures.
Whitfield again saved well from Gray before Richard Acton pulled off a full stretch save from former Connahs Quay fullback Steve Hopkins' freekick. But on twenty minutes the lead stretched beyond the visitors. Tony Gray crossed from the right for Les Davies to head home at the back post with only the Farrar Road faithful for company.
Minutes later thirty three year old former Bangor fullback Neil Rigby hit the post with a long range freekick and then fired over from outside the box as City struggled to clear. On the half hour the commanding Owain Jones ran through the heart of the Airbus defence but fired over, then Craig Williams, brother of City winger Gareth, headed over from five yards after a flick on by James McIntosh.
However on 34 minutes Mark Connolly continued his impressive form with a clean cross from the right which Les Davies nodded in, following good work from Owain Jones and a blocked goalbound effort from Paul Roberts. The half time whistle could not come soon enough for Rob Lythe as his beleaguered Airbus side, whilst the blue shirted Bangor side left the field to a warm ovation.
As City took to the field for the second half Frank Mottram came off the bench to replace Mark Connolly who had limped off earlier, the re-shuffle saw Tony Gray move to the right wing and Mottram line up alongside fellow builder Paul Roberts.
Five minutes after the restart Richard Acton saved well from lanky left winger Richard Smart, then Craig Williams shot over from 25 yards out. City replied as Frank Mottram span and fired goalwards from close range but Whitfield saved well. On 57 minutes Simon Andrews replaced Quirk who looked out on his feet. Two minutes later it was five nil. Kevin Scott took a pass from Paul Roberts on the left of goal, shot across Whitfield who could only palm the ball to Frank Mottram who had anticipated just that and slotted home from the right to mark his return the side.
On 62 minutes a moment in time as 16 year old Ben Olgilvy replaced Owain Jones who left the field to warm applause. The 16 year old settled in at leftback with Kevin Scott joining the tireless Paul Friel in midfield. A minute later Eifion Jones replaced Clayton Blackmore. City's 16 year old leftpeg was soon into the action as Les Davies' clever pass invited a forward run which resulted in a fine cross which the visitors scrambled away.
On 65 minutes the towering Stephen Hughes replaced Craig Williams, then Phil Baker took a couple of freekicks on the half way line in front of the City dugout. The first was headed partly clear by Tina Mutanha but Tony Gray smashed the loose ball over from 20 yards. The second found Les Davies but his hatrick celebrations were frustrated as his header drifted wide.
With fifteen minutes remaining Danny Andrews came on for Rigby. City then put together a well crafted move which involved Ben Olgilvy and ended as Tony Gray firing over the visitors bar. Simon Andrews then sent a firm header goalwards but Richard Acton was alert to the danger and conceded a corner as the ball looked to dip in under the bar. As time ran out Les Davies passed to Frank Mottram who duly set up Tony Gray but Whitfield saved comfortably. The final moment of danger for the visitors came into injury time as Paul Roberts fired across goal from the right but with no one able to get a telling touch.
Credit to Airbus who kept playing and never resorted to rough house tactics, and to Richard Acton whose concentration ensured a clean sheet. But the afternoon belonged to the youngsters, none more so than two goal Les Davies and 16 year old debutant Ben Olgilvy who must have enjoyed his debut.
Report by Mike Smith
