Bangor were knocked out of the 2004-05 Welsh Cup by a combination of poor finishing and bad luck at a greasy Treflan this weekend.

Moments before Scott Ruscoe headed home a late winner for TNS an overhead kick from Paul Roberts had struck the post. Robbo might have ended the afternoon with a hatrick. But more of that later. The only change to the Bangor line up a straight swap, Mark Connolly back after suspension to replace the cuptied Neil Thomas. Otherwise Tony Gray continued alongside leading goalscorer Paul Roberts and Phil Baker likewise in midfield next to Owain Jones.

TNS started with purpose and dominated possession in the opening quarter but their one-paced approach play yielded few clear cut chances. City went close when Mark Connolly sent a raking crossfield ball to Les Davies who charged goalwards but crashed his shot off target. After the home side had forced a couple of corners City should have taken the lead. Owain Jones won the ball in midfield and set Paul Roberts clear on goal. He steadied himself to shot over the prone figure of Doherty but was stunned as the Irish keeper pulled off a blinding one handed stop.

Marc Lloyd Williams, once of Bangor, found space in the "reds" box but Phil Preistley comfortably gathered. Then on 28 mins Tony Gray, who had been injured in a collision with Gerard Doherty, was replaced by Frank Mottram.

Bangor forced a second corner of the match which Clayton Blackmore sent deep to Mark Connolly but his goalbound blast was blocked. The ball span to the right post where Paul Roberts and Frank Mottram scrambled vainly to try and convert from close range but had to make do with a corner on the right which Kev Scott delivered too close Doherty.

Chris King swept the ball upfield but the pacey Peter Hoy was on hand to tackle Michael Wilde as he ran into the Bangor box. Hogan then blazed wide from the edge of the box and TNS continued to enjoy periods of possession without creating too much. Ten minutes before the interval a twisting turning Paul Roberts drew Steve Evans and Jimmy Aggrey on the edge of the TNS box. As he lost his footing Roberts slid the ball to the right where the lurking Frank Mottram took one touch, struggled to find firm footing for his left foot whilst blasting a rising right footer at Doherty which might have skimmed the 'keepers gloves on its path over the home crossbar.

As half time drew nearer City forced corners 4,5 and 6 which ended in Les Davies seeing his shot blocked and cleared. Owain Jones sent a long range effort off target and in the dying seconds Marc Lloyd Williams galloped clear on the left but Peter Hoy switched on the afterburners and timed his tackle to perfection as the ginger striker lined up a shot.

Half time, no goals, TNS the greater possession but Bangor the clearer chances. About fair? Just about.

Bangor began the second period attacking the social club end. Big Les Davies created a half chance for Frank Mottram on the left but his fiercely hit effort flew across the face of the goal. A seventh Bangor corner followed, won by Mottram on the left, but Clayton Blackmore saw Doherty handles confidently despite some strange squealing sounds from the seated area. Michael Wilde volleyed wide from the right for TNS.

City again forced the clearer chances despite occasionally finding themselves without the ball for periods. A high ball to the left edge of the TNS box dropped to Les Davies off Paul Roberts, but the winger saw his left footer shoot a couple of yards wide. On 63 mins TNS made a telling change as the ineffective John Toner was replaced by left winger John Lawless. Within three minutes, on 66, the move paid dividends. Lawless and King created a half chance for Jamie Wood on the right edge of the Bangor box. His initial effort was blocked but the rebound invited a pass to Michael Wilde which the burly striker drove hard and low over Peter Hoy's outstretched leg and beyond the diving Phil Priestley.

But Bangor refused to lie down and a patient build up across the midfield involving Phil Baker and Owain Jones supplied Clayton Blackmore in the right back position. His curling pass was neatly controlled by Mark Connolly whose cross was quickly controlled by Les Davies on the left edge of the TNS box. His calm lay off found Owain Jones who bungled the ball past two defenders and fell invitingly for Paul Roberts whose turn and shot took a slight deflection and beat Doherty from eight yards to the delight of the blue horde.

Again TNS strung passes together, again Bangor carved out chances. With less than five minutes to go a long throw from the right, hurled in by the hard working Mark Connolly, was flicked on by Owain Jones and found Paul Roberts who immediately sent an overhead kick goalwards from eight yards. Unfortunately his effort hit the outside of the right post and was scrambled clear.

On 90 minutes John Lawless crossed from the left, Marc Lloyd Williams headed back from the right post to Scott Ruscoe whose firm downward header beat Phil Priestley from six yards. There were a couple of minutes of injury time, but City failed to test Doherty and the whistle blew. Hard done to? Downhearted? Without doubt, a mood of what might have been, but that is football.

Report by Mike Smith