City land long trip to Welsh League outfit
BANGOR City have been drawn away to tier-two Welsh League Division One club Ton Pentre in the third round of the Welsh Cup.
The clubs have not met since the 1996/97 season, at the end of which Ton were relegated from the League of Wales.
Pentre beat City 4-3 at home in that campaign, but Bangor well and truly got revenge in the return, winning 8-1.
Andy Legg’s side continued their good form last weekend in a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of runaway Welsh Premier leaders The New Saints.
Despite the result, the Citizens gave the reigning champions a big test.
However, Legg’s charges were unable to prevent TNS making it 14 straight wins from the start of the season and just one behind Bangor’s modern-day British record 15-0 set at the beginning of 2010/11.
It was also a ninth straight victory for TNS at Nantporth since City moved there in 2012.
After a lively opening with chances at both ends, TNS took a 20th minute lead.
Slick passing led to Robbie Parry and Alex Darlington combining to find Greg Draper, whose deflected shot on the turn beat a wrongfooted keeper Connor Roberts.
City were soon level when Steve Saunders brought down Jordan Davies in the penalty box and Gary Roberts scored from the spot.
Close to the break, Daniel Nardiello created space in the box but his low shot was kept out by Saints keeper Paul Harrison.
TNS began the second half well and Roberts performed marvels to deny Draper before the visitors took a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute.
Ryan Brobbel’s attempt was saved by Roberts, but the same TNS player crossed from the right and Darlington’s header found the net via a deflection.
After that only the heroics of keeper Roberts kept City in the contest, producing wonderful stops from Christian Seargeant and Saunders.
Bangor could have forced a late equaliser when the ball arrived to Nardiello at the back post, but the striker dragged his effort wide.