City want revenge
IAN DAWES believes his Bangor City side is more than capable of avenging last weekend’s Welsh Cup defeat at The New Saints when they return to Park Hall for a league tussle this Saturday (5.15pm kick-off, live on S4C).
The Citizens suffered a 13th consecutive loss to the Saints in the quarterfinals of the national knockout last Saturday, but pushed the holders all the way only to exit 2-1 in extra time.
However, despite being down to 10 men, Bangor took the lead against the full-timers and produced an outstanding performance against the odds.
Dawes said after the game: “We’re looking forward to Saturday and hopefully giving out a little bit of retribution.
“It’s one thing talking to the players, saying believe you are as good as them and can get a result, but it’s another thing experiencing it.
“If we can keep our main shape and our players on the pitch I think we can get a result. We know it won’t be easy as they’re a good side, but we’ll be confident going into the game.”
Brazilian striker Rodrigo Blanco suffered what looked like a bad knee injury against TNS and is likely to be a major doubt, while defender Paul Connolly, who left the action early, needs treatment on a hip area problem.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher is also nursing a knock.
Last Saturday’s lasteight tie saw Daniel Nardiello have a great early chance for the visitors, but his shot was comfortably saved by Paul Harrison.
City were forced into an early reshuffle when Connolly had to depart injured and was replaced by Branco.
Visiting keeper Connor Roberts produced fine stops to deny Wes Fletcher, Aeron Edwards and Scott Quigley before Bangor had a penalty appeal turned down for a challenge on Nardiello.
It was 0-0 at the break, and early in the second period marvellous saves by Roberts from Edwards and Quigley kept the fulltimers at bay.
Harrison then had to perform heroics to keep out a Taylor-Fletcher strike.
City’s Yalany Baio was shown a second yellow in the 86th minute.
Bangor edged in front in the 94th minute when the in-form Henry Jones slotted past Harrison.
Branco was stretchered off and replaced by debutant Christoph Azimale before a breakaway move ended with a Greg Draper equaliser at the end of the first period. Draper then rattled the bar before Adrian Cieslewicz netted the 116th-minute decider.