Bangor were beaten by a determined Porthmadog side who were quicker to the ball and well worth their 2-0 win.
In the towering Lee Webber they had the outstanding defender on view and upfront the muscular Mark Williams made his mark on City's centrebacks. Home fans hoping for a third straight win to celebrate the return of Simon Davies were to be disappointed.
Port made the early running with left winger Gareth Caughter who caused problems for Clayton Blackmore and Mark Connolly who had replaced Morgan Jones. On the quarter hour City had an opening as Clayton Blackmore's chipped pass was collected by Owain Jones, but he delayed his shot for a moment and the chance was gone.
Five minutes later Paul Roberts found Frank Mottram in the Port box. His lay-off invited Mark Connolly to shoot, but the rising effort flew into the Farrar End. Minutes later Paul Roberts fired goalwards after a neat passing triangle involving Frank Mottram, Owain Jones and Simon Davies.
Both sides forced corners - nine in all with City one better off - but few clear cut chances ensued. Then on the stroke of half time a bit of luck for the visitors saw a deflected freekick roll unguarded in the Bangor box and local lad Ryan Davies reacted first to fire home from close range. The following five minutes either side of half time and including three minutes of stoppage time shaped the final outcome.
Clayton Blackmore sent a superb freekick over from the right but Paul Roberts saw his header hit the crossbar. Then the stocky striker pounced on a loose ball outside the box but his powerful low drive veered narrowly off target with McGuigan apparently beaten.
However the half time whistle saw the visitors 1-0 ahead. With City anticipating the support of a stiff breeze from the Farrar End there was still room for optimism amongt the home fans queing for a burger in the Farrar end.
To pick up the theme of the closing minutes of the first period, the second goal for Port came on 48 minutes. A Gareth Caughter cross from the left was allowed to sail to the head of Mark Williams whose downward header squeezed past Paul Whitfield at the foot of the "back" post. What is it about players going back to their former clubs?
On 55 minutes it should really have been 3-0, but Carl Owen's cross was headed over by Williams from six yards out. Moments later Williams went close again as City's centrebacks struggled to deal with the two former Citizens.
With around half and hour remaining Paul Roberts sent Owain Jones' pass across goal from the right but Frank Mottram screwed his shot wide. Moments later he was replaced by Aled Rowlands with Les Davies moving to partner Paul Roberts upfront. To be fair, the big winger made little impact against his older brother Ryan and the dominant Webber.
Port forced their seventh corner of the match when Eifion Jones made a good tackle on Carl Owen. Bangor responded with their eighth and ninth corners, but in all honesty could muster little to trouble McGuigan in the Port goal. More subs followed after City's 10th corner as Tom Reynolds replaced Carl Owen and Morgan Jones came on for Mark Connolly who had struggled to make his mark on the right. With around ten minutes remaining Simon Davies saw his clean 20 yarder held by McGuigan.
In the closing minutes Bangor forced their 11th and 12th corners - Port ended up with seven - but no real chances emerged. The final whistle saw understandable joy amongst the visiting contingent with their strong Bangor links. None more so than former City players Osian Jones and Viv Williams who had masterminded a disciplined performance and deserved win. Oh, and Brian Lawler refereed the affair calmly and competently, no scapegoat there, just a poor home performance all said and done.
Report by Mike Smith
